Dallas, TX Water Use Rules: Recycled Water Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Regulator
- TCEQ Type I reclaimed rules
- Pipe color
- Purple required by code
- Approved uses
- Irrigation cooling industrial only
- Backflow testing
- Annual by certified tester
- Residential service
- Not generally available
Summary
Dallas operates a limited reclaimed-water system supplying treated effluent for golf course, park, and industrial irrigation. Purple-pipe service is not yet available citywide, and cross-connections with potable lines are prohibited.
Sec. 341.039. STANDARDS FOR GRAYWATER AND ALTERNATIVE ONSITE WATER. (a) The commission by rule shall adopt and implement minimum standards for the indoor and outdoor use and reuse of treated graywater and alternative onsite water for:(1) irrigation and other agricultural purposes;(2) domestic use, to the extent consistent with Subsection (c);(3) commercial purposes; and(4) industrial purposes.(a-1) The standards adopted by the commission under Subsection (a)(2) must allow the use of graywater and alternative onsite water for toilet and urinal flushing.(b) The standards adopted by the commission under Subsection (a) must assure that the use of graywater or alternative onsite water is not a nuisance and does not threaten human health or damage the quality of surface water and groundwater ...
Full Breakdown
Dallas Water Utilities treats wastewater at the Central and Southside plants and distributes a portion as reclaimed water through a dedicated purple-pipe network governed by Texas Commission on Environmental Quality Type I rules. Authorized customers include several golf courses, parks, and large institutional landscapes; the system does not yet serve most homes or businesses. New connections require a TCEQ-approved cross-connection control plan, backflow prevention assemblies tested annually, and signage marking purple piping and hose bibs. Reclaimed water is not approved for drinking, food preparation, swimming pools, or irrigation of edible crops eaten raw. Dallas plans incremental purple-pipe expansion through capital projects tied to the Long Range Water Supply Plan.
Violations & Fines
Cross-connecting reclaimed lines to potable plumbing is a serious public-health violation that can trigger TCEQ enforcement, mandatory disconnection, and fines from Dallas Water Utilities. Failure to test backflow assemblies annually voids reclaimed-water service authorization until the customer cures defects.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I tap reclaimed water for my home garden?
Is reclaimed water safe to touch?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Dallas
Texas rules heatmap·Compare Dallas to another location·View the Texas water use rules overview
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Recycled Water Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Dallas County handle recycled water rules.