436
Irrigation Reservoir
The reservoir is used to store diverted surface water, groundwater, or irrigation tailwater in a dam, pit, or tank for later use or reuse.
Water Recycling
Reclaims water from a variety of sources, treats it, and reuses for beneficial purposes like irrigation, livestock supply, groundwater replenishment, and environmental restoration.
Helping People Help the LandDiscover How
What is Water Recycling?
Water recycling (also commonly known as water reuse) reclaims water from a variety of sources, then treats and reuses it for beneficial purposes.
Definition
Water recycling reclaims water from sources like wastewater, stormwater, agricultural runoff, and irrigation tailwater. After treatment, it is reused for irrigation, livestock water supply, groundwater replenishment, and environmental restoration.
Why is it Important?
Water recycling provides alternatives to existing water supplies, reducing surface and groundwater depletion.
- • Decreased water levels in surface water bodies and groundwater
- • Increased water withdrawal costs
- • Deterioration of water quality
- • Land subsidence
- • Stressed vegetation and livestock
- • Degradation of wildlife habitat
- • Negative impacts on neighboring water resources
How Can It Be Implemented?
The following engineering Conservation Practice Standards (CPS) support agricultural water reuse. For more, visit the NRCS National CPS web page or contact your local NRCS Office.
436 Irrigation Reservoir
Stores diverted surface water, groundwater, or irrigation tailwater in a dam, pit, or tank for later use or reuse.
558 Roof Runoff Structure
Gutters and downspouts collect roof precipitation runoff to increase available water for other uses.
636 Water Harvesting Catchment
Harvests water from impervious surfaces and stores it in tanks or cisterns for livestock, wildlife, or conservation.
632 Waste Separation Facility
Reduces solid content in waste streams so liquid can be recycled for irrigation or other uses.
447 Irrigation and Drainage Tailwater Recovery
Storage and reuse of recoverable irrigation and rainfall runoff or field drain water conserves supplies and improves quality.
Interim Practices: 815, 817, 782
Groundwater recharge basins, on-farm recharge, and phosphorus removal systems for improved water quality and reuse.
Real-World Examples
Texas: Roof Runoff for Livestock
Rainfall runoff piped from gutters into storage tanks with overflow. Gravity-fed to livestock troughs using first flush diversion for quality.
Arkansas: Irrigation Reservoir
60-acre reservoir captures rainwater and field runoff to meet rice irrigation needs via side inlet.
Florida: Nursery Recycling
Evaporative cooling pad excess water drains to troughs and tanks for recirculation, replenishing only evaporation and bleed-off losses.
Pakistan: Bucket Drip Irrigation
Reclaimed water poured into raised drip buckets for small vegetable gardens via drip-lines.
Benefits of Water Recycling
Water recycling provides sustainable alternatives to traditional supplies, conserving resources and protecting the environment.
1 Conserves Resources
Reduces depletion of surface water bodies and groundwater, preventing decreased water levels and providing reliable alternatives to existing supplies.
2 Cost & Energy Savings
Lowers water withdrawal costs and reduces energy use through storage and reuse of tailwater, runoff, and harvested water.
3 Protects Ecosystems
Mitigates land subsidence, supports stressed vegetation and livestock, preserves wildlife habitats, and minimizes negative impacts on neighboring water resources.
4 Improves Water Quality
Prevents deterioration of water quality via practices like denitrifying bioreactors, phosphorus removal, and waste separation for fit-for-purpose reuse.
Methods of Water Recycling
Water recycling can be implemented through various engineering Conservation Practice Standards (CPS) that support agricultural water reuse. These practices capture, treat, and reuse water from diverse sources.
606, 607
Subsurface Drain, Subsurface Drain (Field Ditch)
In-field conduits are used to collect and convey excess water for beneficial use or reuse and improve soil, water, air, and plant relationships.
558
Roof Runoff Structure
Gutters and downspouts collect and convey precipitation runoff from roofs to increase available water for other uses.
636
Water Harvesting Catchment
Water is harvested from impervious surfaces and stored in a tank or cistern to provide water for livestock, fish, wildlife, or other conservation purpose.
605, 604
Denitrifying Bioreactor, Saturated Buffer
Structure reduces the concentration of nitrate-nitrogen in subsurface agricultural drainage flow through enhanced denitrification for improved water quality and fit-for-purpose reuse.
632
Waste Separation Facility
Facilities reduce solid content in waste streams so liquid can be recycled for other uses, such as irrigation.
591
Amendments for Treatment of Agricultural Waste
Chemical or biological amendments alter the physical and chemical characteristics of the waste stream for improved water quality and recycling.
640
Waterspreading
Surface spreading of runoff over flat areas facilitates groundwater recovery for future reuse.
447
Irrigation and Drainage Tailwater Recovery
Storage and reuse of recoverable irrigation and rainfall runoff, or field drain water can conserve water supplies, reduce energy use, and improve offsite water quality.
Real-World Examples
Texas
Rainfall runoff is piped from the gutter into the storage tanks where there is an overflow pipe. The water is then transported by gravity through a livestock pipeline to watering troughs to meet the livestock watering resource needs. This system utilizes first flush flow diversion to support enhanced water quality.
Arkansas
Sixty (60) acre irrigation reservoir captures rainwater and runoff from agricultural fields and subsequently meets rice water quantity needs using side inlet irrigation.
Florida
Nursery growers use evaporative cellulose cooling pads where excess water drains into a trough and is routed into a tank to be recirculated and reused utilizing a recycling system. Only as much water is used to replenish what is lost from evaporation and bleeds off for mineral content reduction.
Pakistan
A small vegetable garden is irrigated using a bucket drip irrigation system. Reclaimed irrigation water is poured into the raised drip bucket and applied through small holes in the drip-line to water the plants.
Ready to Implement Water Recycling?
Contact your local NRCS Office to learn more about conservation practices and start reclaiming water for irrigation, livestock, and environmental restoration.
Contact NRCS →