{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/32.1-248.2.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/32.1-248.2.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/32.1-248.2.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/32.1-248.2.html"}],"law_id":56258,"edition_id":1,"section_id":56258,"structure_id":14664,"section_number":"32.1-248.2","catch_line":"Use of rainwater and reuse of gray water; regulations","history":"1998, c. 155; 2018, c. 817; 2025, c. 358.","full_text":"A\n\nThe Board shall adopt regulations regarding the use of gray water and rainwater. The regulations 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 the use of rainwater harvesting systems, including systems that collect rainwater for use by commercial enterprises but do not provide water for human consumption, as defined in § 32.1-167.\n\t\t\tSuch regulations 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\n\nThe Department, in conjunction with the Department of Environmental Quality, shall 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\n\nThe Department, in conjunction with the Department of Environmental Quality, shall consider recognizing rainwater as an independent source of fresh water available for use by the residents of the Commonwealth.D\n\nExisting local ordinances adopted prior to July 1, 2025, governing rainwater harvesting systems shall continue in force; however, in the event of a conflict between a Board regulation and a local ordinance adopted prior to July 1, 2025, the Board regulation shall govern, except when the conflicting local ordinance is more stringent. No locality shall adopt any local ordinance requiring owners of Tier 4 rainwater harvesting systems, as that term is described in the Rainwater Harvesting System Regulations (12VAC5-635), to connect to any municipal water supply or impose any penalty, including condemnation proceedings, on such owner for failing to connect to a municipal water supply. For purposes of this subsection “rainwater harvesting system” means a water system for collecting, storing, potentially treating, and distributing rainwater for the use of water from such system.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":206041,"text":"The Board shall adopt regulations regarding the use of gray water and rainwater. The regulations 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 the use of rainwater harvesting systems, including systems that collect rainwater for use by commercial enterprises but do not provide water for human consumption, as defined in § 32.1-167.\n\t\t\tSuch regulations 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.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":206042,"text":"The Department, in conjunction with the Department of Environmental Quality, shall 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.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":206043,"text":"The Department, in conjunction with the Department of Environmental Quality, shall consider recognizing rainwater as an independent source of fresh water available for use by the residents of the Commonwealth.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":206044,"text":"Existing local ordinances adopted prior to July 1, 2025, governing rainwater harvesting systems shall continue in force; however, in the event of a conflict between a Board regulation and a local ordinance adopted prior to July 1, 2025, the Board regulation shall govern, except when the conflicting local ordinance is more stringent. No locality shall adopt any local ordinance requiring owners of Tier 4 rainwater harvesting systems, as that term is described in the Rainwater Harvesting System Regulations (12VAC5-635), to connect to any municipal water supply or impose any penalty, including condemnation proceedings, on such owner for failing to connect to a municipal water supply. For purposes of this subsection “rainwater harvesting system” means a water system for collecting, storing, potentially treating, and distributing rainwater for the use of water from such system.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C"}},"ancestry":[{"id":14664,"edition_id":1,"name":"Miscellaneous Provisions","identifier":"10","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12941,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:49:13","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:49:13","permalink":{"id":203685,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14664,"identifier":"10","token":"32.1\/6\/10","url":"\/32.1\/6\/10\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12941,"edition_id":1,"name":"Environmental Health Services","identifier":"6","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12727,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:03","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:03","permalink":{"id":203563,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12941,"identifier":"6","token":"32.1\/6","url":"\/32.1\/6\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12727,"edition_id":1,"name":"Health","identifier":"32.1","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:50","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:50","permalink":{"id":201099,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12727,"identifier":"32.1","token":"32.1","url":"\/32.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":81025,"structure_id":14664,"section_number":"32.1-246","catch_line":"Marinas","url":"\/32.1-246\/","token":"32.1\/6\/10\/32.1-246","metadata":false},{"id":80706,"structure_id":14664,"section_number":"32.1-246.1","catch_line":"Signs or notices required on dump stations","url":"\/32.1-246.1\/","token":"32.1\/6\/10\/32.1-246.1","metadata":false},{"id":59496,"structure_id":14664,"section_number":"32.1-247","catch_line":"Vector control","url":"\/32.1-247\/","token":"32.1\/6\/10\/32.1-247","metadata":false},{"id":73020,"structure_id":14664,"section_number":"32.1-248","catch_line":"Closing of waters; modification or revocation of regulation or order","url":"\/32.1-248\/","token":"32.1\/6\/10\/32.1-248","metadata":false},{"id":77839,"structure_id":14664,"section_number":"32.1-248.01","catch_line":"Fish consumption advisories","url":"\/32.1-248.01\/","token":"32.1\/6\/10\/32.1-248.01","metadata":false},{"id":79112,"structure_id":14664,"section_number":"32.1-248.1","catch_line":"Posting of water quality test results by certain recreational facilities","url":"\/32.1-248.1\/","token":"32.1\/6\/10\/32.1-248.1","metadata":false},{"id":56258,"structure_id":14664,"section_number":"32.1-248.2","catch_line":"Use of rainwater and reuse of gray water; regulations","url":"\/32.1-248.2\/","token":"32.1\/6\/10\/32.1-248.2","metadata":false},{"id":75033,"structure_id":14664,"section_number":"32.1-248.3","catch_line":"Environmental Health Education and Training Fund","url":"\/32.1-248.3\/","token":"32.1\/6\/10\/32.1-248.3","metadata":false},{"id":83477,"structure_id":14664,"section_number":"32.1-248.4","catch_line":"Provision by the Department of certain services for onsite sewage systems and private wells","url":"\/32.1-248.4\/","token":"32.1\/6\/10\/32.1-248.4","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":79112,"structure_id":14664,"section_number":"32.1-248.1","catch_line":"Posting of water quality test results by certain recreational facilities","url":"\/32.1-248.1\/","token":"32.1\/6\/10\/32.1-248.1","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":75033,"structure_id":14664,"section_number":"32.1-248.3","catch_line":"Environmental Health Education and Training Fund","url":"\/32.1-248.3\/","token":"32.1\/6\/10\/32.1-248.3","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/32.1-248.2\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1998. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 155<\/a> of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. It has been modified 2 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 2018, chapter 817<\/a>; in 2025, chapter 358<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":[{"id":62333,"section_number":"32.1-167","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/32.1-167\/"}],"permalink":{"id":203711,"object_type":"law","relational_id":56258,"identifier":"32.1-248.2","token":"32.1\/6\/10\/32.1-248.2","url":"\/32.1-248.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/32.1-248.2\/","token":"32.1\/6\/10\/32.1-248.2","dublin_core":{"Title":"Use of rainwater and reuse of gray water; regulations","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 32.1-248.2","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> The Board<\/span> shall adopt regulations regarding the use of gray water and rainwater. The regulations 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 the use of rainwater harvesting systems<\/span>, including systems that collect rainwater for use by commercial enterprises but do not provide water for human consumption, as defined in § 32.1-167<\/a>.\n\t\t\tSuch regulations shall not apply to water not for human consumption, as defined in § 32.1-167<\/a>, 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. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> The Department<\/span>, in conjunction with the Department<\/span> of Environmental Quality, shall 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. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> The Department<\/span>, in conjunction with the Department<\/span> of Environmental Quality, shall consider recognizing rainwater as an independent source of fresh water available for use by the residents of the Commonwealth. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> Existing local ordinances<\/span> adopted prior to July 1, 2025, governing rainwater harvesting systems<\/span> shall continue in force; however, in the event of a conflict between a Board<\/span> regulation and a local ordinance<\/span> adopted prior to July 1, 2025, the Board<\/span> regulation shall govern, except when the conflicting local ordinance<\/span> is more stringent. No locality shall adopt any local ordinance<\/span> requiring owners of Tier 4 rainwater harvesting systems<\/span>, as that term is described in the Rainwater Harvesting System<\/span> Regulations (12VAC5-635), to connect to any municipal water supply or impose any penalty<\/span>, including condemnation proceedings, on such owner for failing to connect to a municipal water supply. For purposes of this subsection “rainwater harvesting system<\/span>” means a water system for collecting, storing, potentially treating, and distributing rainwater for the use of water from such system. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nUSE OF RAINWATER AND REUSE OF GRAY WATER; REGULATIONS (\u00a7 32.1-248.2)\n\nA. The Board shall adopt regulations regarding the use of gray water and\nrainwater. The regulations shall (i) describe the conditions under which gray\nwater and rainwater may appropriately be used and for what purposes; (ii)\ninclude categories of gray water, such as types of used household water and used\nwater from businesses, that are appropriate for reuse; and (iii) include a\ndefinition of gray water that excludes used toilet water. The regulations shall\nalso provide standards for the use of rainwater harvesting systems, including\nsystems that collect rainwater for use by commercial enterprises but do not\nprovide water for human consumption, as defined in § 32.1-167.\n\t\t\tSuch regulations shall not apply to water not for human consumption, as\ndefined in § 32.1-167, including gray water and rainwater, that is produced\nand utilized by any facility that is permitted through a Virginia Pollutant\nDischarge Elimination System permit or General Virginia Pollution Abatement\npermit.\n\nB. The Department, in conjunction with the Department of Environmental Quality,\nshall promote the use of rainwater and reuse of gray water as means to reduce\nfresh water consumption, ease demands on public treatment works and water supply\nsystems, and promote conservation.\n\nC. The Department, in conjunction with the Department of Environmental Quality,\nshall consider recognizing rainwater as an independent source of fresh water\navailable for use by the residents of the Commonwealth.\n\nD. Existing local ordinances adopted prior to July 1, 2025, governing rainwater\nharvesting systems shall continue in force; however, in the event of a conflict\nbetween a Board regulation and a local ordinance adopted prior to July 1, 2025,\nthe Board regulation shall govern, except when the conflicting local ordinance\nis more stringent. No locality shall adopt any local ordinance requiring owners\nof Tier 4 rainwater harvesting systems, as that term is described in the\nRainwater Harvesting System Regulations (12VAC5-635), to connect to any\nmunicipal water supply or impose any penalty, including condemnation\nproceedings, on such owner for failing to connect to a municipal water supply.\nFor purposes of this subsection “rainwater harvesting system” means\na water system for collecting, storing, potentially treating, and distributing\nrainwater for the use of water from such system.\n\nHISTORY: 1998, c. 155; 2018, c. 817; 2025, c. 358.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}