Recycled Water

Recycled water is a water supply for the future that we can rely on, especially in the face of uncertain impacts of climate change. Recycled water preserves our drinking water supply and benefits the San Francisco Bay by reducing discharges of treated wastewater.

Marin Water was the first water supplier in California to use recycled water for non-agricultural purposes in Northern California. Since the early 1980s, Marin Water have pioneered the use of recycled water for car washes, air-conditioning cooling towers, commercial laundries and toilet flushing in a condominium complex.

Marin Water currently provides recycled water year-round to 330 customers in Terra Linda area of San Rafael for a range of uses including irrigation, industrial cooling, and toilet flushing.

What is Recycled Water?

Recycled water is highly-treated wastewater that is safe for many purposes. Wastewater is treated at the Recycled Water Facility, a state of the art membrane treatment plant located at and operated by the Las Gallinas Valley Sanitary District. Marin Water has a longstanding partnership with LGVSD and helped fund an expansion of their Recycled Water Facility to increase recycled water use.

Once treated, recycled water travels through separate pipelines to end users. Recycled water is continuously monitored and tested to ensure that its quality is appropriate and safe for specific uses approved by regulation.

What is recycled water?

Recycled water is highly-treated wastewater that is safe to use for irrigation and other outdoor uses. Recycled water is not intended for drinking or cooking. Recycled water must meet strict standards set by the California State Water Resources Control Board.

What can I use recycled water for?

You can use recycled water outdoors to water your trees, gardens, vegetables and lawn. You can also use recycled water to wash your outdoor furniture or other hard surfaces such as paths, walls, windows, driveways and sidewalks.

Can I water my plants with recycled water?

Yes, all plants can be watered with recycled water. This includes edible plants such as fruit trees, vegetables and herbs. Just remember to wash all fruits, vegetables and herbs with drinking water prior to consumption. Recycled water tends to have a higher salt content than drinking water, so we advise that you water the roots of the plants instead of the foliage to protect against leaf burn.

Learn more:

Irrigating with Recycled Water - Water Reuse California

What can I NOT use recycled water for?

Recycled water CANNOT be used for: drinking, cooking (or use in the kitchen), bathing or showering, filling swimming pools or spas, children’s water toys, or hooking into household plumbing systems.

Opportunities for Expanding Recycled Water Use

The District is exploring potential opportunities to increase recycled water use for irrigation in areas where it could have the greatest impact on our water supply by replacing potable water use. The District is conducting an alternative analysis for expanding the recycled water system to the Peacock Gap Area and is preparing 30% design drawings.

View Related Materials:

Feb. 15, 2022 Board Meeting documents & video recording - Approval of Professional Service Agreement with West Yost, for Engineering Services in support of the Peacock Gap Recycled Water Pipeline Project
30% Design Report for Peacock Gap Recycled Water Transmission Pipeline Project (October 2022) prepared by West Yost. Note: To request the report appendices, please email Terrie Gillen, Board Secretary, at tgillen@marinwater.org.

Recycled Water Commercial Truck Hauling Program

Marin Water offers a Recycled Water Commercial Truck Hauling Program. Customers with proper hauling vehicles who are interested in getting recycled water for allowed uses can apply for a Recycled Water Use Permit from the District. The recycled water is free for permitted customers to haul to their site, though initial training and other requirements outlined in the application are part of the permit. Please refer to the application where you can read more, including the program guidelines. Application forms must be completed and returned by email along with copies of additional required documents to Recycled@MarinWater.org.

Recycled Water Filling Station for Marin County Residents

During the drought in 2021-22, Marin Water offered a recycled water filling station at Armory Drive in San Rafael, where Marin County residents were able to visit to collect up to 300 gallons of recycled water to transport home to use for watering outdoor gardens and landscapes or for washing outdoor furniture or hard surfaces such as paths, walls, windows, driveways and sidewalks. The filling station was a temporary measure due to severe dry conditions and is no longer in operation.

Please visit Marin Water's Gardening Resource Center webpage for tips and resources on other ways to use water efficiently outdoors.