- Home
- Recycled Water
- Agricultural Irrigation
- Recycled Water Quality
Recycled Water Quality
Recycled water production is strictly reviewed and monitored by federal and state regulators. Every day, Monterey One Water tests its recycled water to ensure water quality meets the high standards for food crop irrigation. Laboratory analysis monitors for both process control and compliance assessment.
The permit required to produce recycled water for crop irrigation includes continuous water quality sampling and monitoring. This testing is conducted by certified laboratory and operational personnel and is defined in the Waste Discharge Requirements Order No. R3-2018-0017 (PDF) issued by the California Regional Water Quality Control Board, Central Coast Region for NPDES No. CA0048551.*
Laboratory analysis requires looking for more than 100 substances in the water including microorganisms, pesticides, herbicides, asbestos, lead, copper, petroleum products, and by-products of industrial and water treatment processes. More than 20,000 annual laboratory tests ensure the safety of this important water supply for vital agriculture land.
View the constituents, frequency, and locations monitored (PDF).
*The California Regional Water Quality Control Board, Central Coast Region has incorporated the previously issued Water Reclamation Requirements and Monitoring and Reporting Program Requirements for the Salinas Valley Reclamation Project (Order No. 94-82) into NPDES No. CA0048551 / Order No. R3-2018-0017.
Monterey One Water’s laboratory is located at the Agency’s Regional Treatment Plant. It is certified by the California State Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (ELAP) in the following fields of testing:
- Microbiology of Drinking Water
- Inorganic Chemistry of Drinking Water
- Microbiological Methods for Non-Potable Water and Sewage Sludge
- Inorganic Constituents in Non-Potable Water
- Microbiological Methods for Ambient Water
Strict standards require annual accreditation reviews including onsite inspections and proficiency testing studies. ELAP auditors also make unannounced visits to ensure all regulatory codes are being followed.
View Monterey One Water’s ELAP Accreditation (PDF)
For testing of trace organics, pesticides, and metals, Monterey One Water contracts with ELAP-certified laboratories whose fields of testing include these parameters.
| Monterey One Water’s laboratory is dedicated to monitoring the water quality of the Agency’s wastewater and water recycling treatment processes. No public laboratory services are offered at this site. For a listing of commercial laboratories, please visit the California ELAP Certified Laboratories Geographic Information System Map. |
Recycled water produced for the Castroville Seawater Intrusion Project is monitored for water quality and safety by the State Water Resources Control Board and the Central Coast Regions of the California Regional Water Quality Control Board. These regulatory bodies will continue to monitor our recycled water production through the life of the Castroville Seawater Intrusion Project using a transparent reporting system. See the tab on Water Quality Reports.
Prior to starting operations in 1998, these bodies required decades of research to ensure food safety when using recycled water on food crops, including those you do not have to cook to consume like strawberries, broccoli, and fennel. Below you can read the official studies, many of which are used as definitive standards for countries all around the world.
Monterey One Water staff prepare and submit monthly, quarterly, and annual water quality reports to regulators at the California Water Boards. These reports are reviewed by the Central Coast Region of the California Regional Water Quality Control Board who have final approval of the continued production of recycled water. Members of the public can access this data by searching under "Agency Name: Monterey One Water" in the following databases:
- California Integrated Water Quality System Project (CIWQS)
- State Water Resources Control Board GeoTracker
View the Instructions for Public Access to GeoTracker (PDF) to help navigate the portal and find Pure Water Monterey
Certifications |
| Certificate of Environmental Accreditation (PDF) - Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (ELAP) |
CSIP Growers |
| Annual Report information can be found by viewing the CSIP Growers page. |