Reclaimed water is wastewater that receives advanced treatment and filtration, resulting in a safely recycled water suitable for lawn irrigation and many other uses.
Reclaimed water can be used for:
- Landscape irrigation
- Hose system irrigation with an approved spigot security device
- Irrigation of citrus
With specific authorization, reclaimed water may be used for:
- Edible crops that will be peeled, cooked or thermally processed
- Decorative fountains
- Fire protection
Reclaimed water may NOT be used for:
- Filling swimming pools, hot tubs, or wading pools
- Washing vehicles, sidewalks, or driveways
- Plumbing inside of any residence
- Irrigating edible crops that will NOT be peeled, cooked, or thermally treated
- Connected to any potable (drinking) water system
- Irrigation on an property served by a potable water well
Even though reclaimed water has been treated, disinfected and is safe for incidental human contact, it is not "drinking water" and has not been approved for human consumption or contact. Reclaimed water cannot be distributed for public use unless it meets strict treatment requirements which means continuous monitoring, sampling, and analysis. For this reason the supply of reclaimed water may be interrupted for short periods, without warning, if the quality drops below these standards.
Reclaimed water plays an important role in the stewardship of Florida's water resources. Irrigation with reclaimed water reduces the need to dispose of sewage effluent in surface waters, such as the Indian River Lagoon, and ground waters.
Additional information on conserving water.