Using Reclaimed Water

Using reclaimed water to irrigate our landscapes is one way to help conserve Florida's groundwater resources. Reclaimed water is a type of wastewater that is specially treated and then used to irrigate residential areas, golf courses, parks, and public school yards.

It provides plants with nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus that they need to grow, though some plants may be sensitive to its salt concentrations. You can irrigate fruit and vegetable gardens with reclaimed water—with the exception of root crops—if you use a drip irrigation system.

If your community has access to reclaimed water, you may be able to irrigate with it. Just remember that reclaimed water isn't safe for drinking. By reusing water we already have, we help preserve our groundwater supplies for future generations.

UF/IFAS Sites

• Reclaimed Water and Plants
• Reclaimed Water: PowerPoint Presentations and Videos

UF/IFAS Publications

• Community Use of Reclaimed Water (PDF)
• History and Current Status of Reclaimed Water Use in Florida
• Reclaimed Water and Florida's Water Reuse Program
• Reclaimed Water for Homeowner Irrigation
• The 3 R's of Water: Reuse, Recycle, and Reclaim (PDF)
• Using Reclaimed Water for Landscape Irrigation

Also on Gardening in a Minute

• Irrigation Water Quality
• Salt-Tolerant Landscapes

Other Sites

• Reclaimed Water--Southwest Florida Water Management District
• Reclaimed Water--St. Johns River Water Management District
• Water Reuse--Florida Department of Environmental Protection
• Water Reuse--South Florida Water Management District