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Industrial and Confined Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) Water Reuse

Per ORS 537.141 and 537.545, Ground water legally appropriated and used under a water use permit or water right certificate for either industrial purposes or confined animal feeding purposes (CAFO) may be reused for irrigation without an additional water use permit.  The industrial or CAFO wastewater may be reused only if the facility is authorized by an Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) water quality permit to operate an industrial disposal system or an Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) permit to operate a CAFO.  Additionally, the wastewater may only be reused for irrigation during a period when it has never been discharged into a stream.

To qualify for the exemption from obtaining a formal water use permit from the Oregon Water Resources Department (WRD), WRD must receive a copy of the DEQ/ODA water quality permit and a complete OWRD registration form for CAFO or industrial reuse.

More Information

What are the major elements of a registration for reuse of CAFO effluent?

  • A National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) or Water Pollution Control Facility (WPCF) permit number issued by ODA.
  • A complete CAFO reuse registration form signed by ODA.
  • ​A map of water right showing the intended place of use with acreage.
What is the process for approving a registration of CAFO or Industrial Reuse?​​
  • Each person using or intending to reuse industrial or CAFO water must complete a separate registration form and submit it to DEQ (industrial) or ODA (CAFO) along with an application for a NPDES or WPCF permit, respectively.
  • DEQ/ODA will review the application and determine if the reuse is appropriate.
  • DEQ/ODA will send the signed application to WRD’s reuse coordinator in Salem.
  • The WRD reuse coordinator then has 60 days to approve or deny the registration.
  • A letter will be sent to the registrant documenting approval or denial of the reuse.​​

​What are the major elements of a registration for reuse of industrial effluent?

  • A National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) or Water Pollution Control Facility (WPCF) permit number issued by ODEQ.
  • A complete industrial reuse registration form signed by DEQ.
  • A map of water ri​ght showing the intended place of use with acreage.
What is the process for approving a registration of CAFO or Industrial Reuse?​​
  • Each person using or intending to reuse industrial or CAFO water must complete a separate registration form and submit it to DEQ (industrial) or ODA (CAFO) along with an application for a NPDES or WPCF permit, respectively.
  • DEQ/ODA will review the application and determine if the reuse is appropriate.
  • DEQ/ODA will send the signed application to WRD’s reuse coordinator in Salem.
  • The WRD reuse coordinator then has 60 days to approve or deny the registration.
  • A letter will be sent to the registrant documenting approval or denial of the reuse.​
 
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