Water Reclamation and Reuse

In Virginia, the reclamation of either municipal or industrial wastewater and reuse of the reclaimed water is regulated in accordance with the Water Reclamation and Reuse Regulation. Facilities that will typically require a permit for water reclamation and reuse include reclamation systems, satellite reclamation systems and reclaimed water distributions systems. End users of the reclaimed water will rarely be required to obtain a permit.  For a reclamation system associated with wastewater treatment works that has or will have a surface water discharge, the reclamation system will be covered under the Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (VPDES) permit of the wastewater treatment works. For a reclamation system associated with wastewater treatment works that does not or will not have a surface water discharge, the reclamation system will be covered under the Virginia Pollution Abatement (VPA) permit of the wastewater treatment works. Reclamation systems independent of treatment works and reclaimed water distribution will be required to have a VPA permit. In addition, to either a VPDES or VPA permit application, applicants proposing a water reclamation and reuse project must complete the Water Reclamation and Reuse Addendum (Addendum) for a VPDES or VPA Permit.  The Addendum is not a stand alone application form.

For existing VPDES or VPA permitted wastewater treatment works that will expand or modify their facilities to include water reclamation and reuse, there will be no fee in most cases, for a minor modification of a VPA permit or administrative authorization associated with a VPDES permit to add or attach standards, monitoring requirements and special conditions for water reclamation and reuse. The permittee, however, will be required to submit a complete Water Reclamation and Reuse Addendum and possibly some revised information on the VPDES and VPA permit application forms.

The DEQ has two existing sources of funding for water reclamation and reuse projects. The Virginia Clean Water Revolving Loan Fund (VCWRL Fund) is available for such projects if the facilities are publicly-owned and involve the treatment and reuse of municipal wastewater or sewage. Projects that employ water reclamation and reuse technologies can also receive additional ranking points, as well as slightly reduced interest rates on the loans. The Water Quality Improvement Fund (WQI Fund) of the Chesapeake Bay Program will reimburse the cost for design and installation of nutrient removal technology, including reclamation and reuse, at publicly-owned treatment works meeting the nutrient reduction goal in an approved tributary strategy plan or applicable regulatory requirement, and incurred prior to execution of a grant agreement. Privately owned or industrial facilities are not eligible to receive loans from the VCWRL Fund and or cost share from the WQI Fund.