Overview
ISO 20760-2:2025 - "Water reuse in urban areas - Guidelines for centralized water reuse system - Part 2: Management of a centralized water reuse system" provides comprehensive guidance for the management of centralized water reuse systems in urban areas. The standard covers the full system lifecycle - from source water and treatment to storage, distribution, operation, maintenance and monitoring - and focuses on management principles, risk control and operational continuity. It does not prescribe specific monitoring parameters or regulatory values (water quality limits).
Key topics and technical requirements
ISO 20760-2 emphasizes practical management measures and includes guidance on:
- Principles and methodology for reclaimed water management and integration with broader water resources planning.
- Risk management and health-protection strategies tailored to centralized reuse systems.
- Management of each system component:
- Source water characterization and control
- Treatment systems operation and performance monitoring
- Storage systems (location, operational considerations)
- Distribution systems: delivery pressure/flow, colour‑coding, signage, backflow and cross‑connection control, leakage and corrosion control, service connections
- Water quality monitoring frameworks: baseline, validation, operational and verification monitoring (types and roles rather than numerical limits).
- Incident and emergency management: response planning and corrective actions for unintended use or contamination events.
- Supporting recommendations and periodic review of management plans and key performance indicators, including considerations for online data management and process KPIs.
Practical applications and users
ISO 20760-2 is intended for organizations responsible for planning, operating and regulating urban water reuse systems, such as:
- Water utilities and reclaimed water providers
- Urban planners and municipal authorities
- System designers and consultants
- Treatment plant and distribution system operators
- Environmental and public health regulators
- Facility managers for large developments using centralized reuse
Typical applications include landscape irrigation, toilet and urinal flushing, firefighting, street cleaning, industrial uses, vehicle washing, and replenishment of ornamental/recreational water bodies where centralized reclaimed water supplies are provided.
Related standards
- ISO 20760-1 - Design guidance for centralized water reuse systems (complements management guidance)
- ISO 23056 - Design and management of decentralized/onsite water reuse systems
- ISO 20670 - Water reuse vocabulary (terminology used across ISO 20760 series)
- Regional regulations (e.g., EU minimum requirements for water reuse) can inform local implementation although ISO 20760-2 does not set regulatory limits.
ISO 20760-2 is a practical reference for building safe, resilient and fit‑for‑purpose centralized water reuse programs in urban settings, helping stakeholders manage risks, operations and public acceptance while integrating reuse into wider water resource strategies.