Proposed California Regulations for Groundwater Recharge with Reclaimed Municipal Wastewater

Abstract

The proposed California regulations for groundwater recharge with reclaimed municipal wastewater are presented with the basis and rationale for key requirements. The treatment and recharge basin requirements have been developed to control the migration of pathogens, nitrogen, and trace organics in the extracted groundwater. The regulations rely on a combination of controls intended to maintain a microbiologically and chemically safe groundwater recharge operation. These regulations provide uniform statewide criteria that will promote groundwater recharge projects using reclaimed municipal wastewater.