Bill Text: VA HB1949 | 2019 | Regular Session | Prefiled
Bill Title: Rainwater harvesting; water for human consumption.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-02-05 - Tabled in Health, Welfare and Institutions by voice vote [HB1949 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2019-HB1949-Prefiled.html
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §32.1-248.2 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
§32.1-248.2. Use of rainwater and reuse of gray water; regulations.
A. The Board shall adopt regulations regarding the use of gray
water and rainwater. The regulations, which shall (i) describe the
conditions under which gray water and rainwater
may appropriately be used and for what purposes; (ii) include categories of
gray water, such as types of used household water and used water from
businesses, that are appropriate for reuse; and (iii) include a definition of
gray water that excludes used toilet water.
The regulations shall also provide standards for
B. The Board shall
adopt regulations governing the use of rainwater, which shall include standards for rainwater
harvesting systems, including (i) rainwater
harvesting systems that collect rainwater for human consumption, as defined in §32.1-167,
and (ii) rainwater harvesting systems for
use by commercial enterprises
but that
do not provide water for human consumption, as defined in §32.1-167. Regulations governing rainwater harvesting systems
that collect rainwater
for human consumption, as defined in §32.1-167, shall include a provision
recognizing rainwater harvesting systems that produce water that meets minimum
health and aesthetic standards for pure water adopted by the Board
as acceptable sources of water for human consumption,
as defined in §32.1-167.
Such regulations C. Regulations adopted by the Board pursuant to
subsections A and B shall
not apply to water not for human consumption, as defined in §32.1-167,
including gray water and rainwater, that is produced and utilized by any
facility that is permitted through a Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination
System permit or General Virginia Pollution Abatement permit.
B. D. The Department, in
conjunction with the Department of Environmental Quality, shall (i) promote the use of
rainwater and reuse of gray water as means to reduce fresh water consumption,
ease demands on public treatment works and water supply systems, and promote
conservation.
C. The Department, in
conjunction with the Department of Environmental Quality, shall and (ii)
consider recognizing rainwater other than rainwater
collected by rainwater harvesting systems recognized
as acceptable sources of water for human consumption,
as defined in §32.1-167, in accordance
with regulations adopted pursuant to subsection B as an
independent source of fresh water available for use by the residents of the
Commonwealth.
