Transparent Aqua Initiative

Water Recycling that Feels as Clear as It Looks

Build a resilient water future by reclaiming runoff, tailwater, and process flows. Treat, store, and reuse water for irrigation, livestock supply, groundwater recharge, and environmental restoration—while protecting vital ecosystems.

Explore the Process See the Benefits

Reclaim & Reuse

Recover water from runoff, drains, or process streams and treat it for irrigation, livestock, and environmental restoration.

Protect Supplies

Reduce surface and groundwater depletion while improving water quality and ecosystem health.

Fit-for-Purpose

Apply solutions like reservoirs, roof runoff capture, and tailwater recovery to match local needs.

Water Recycling Snapshot

2024

Practice Standards 10+

Key Benefits Water + Habitat

Use Cases Irrigation, Livestock, Recharge

Core practices:

• Roof runoff capture with gutters and downspouts.
• Tailwater recovery for irrigation reuse.
• On-farm recharge basins and buffers.

Why it matters

Recycling water reduces withdrawal costs, protects groundwater levels, and prevents habitat degradation. A transparent, aqua-forward strategy makes sustainable reuse visible and actionable.

Process Overview

A clear, transparent path to water recycling

Water reuse reclaims water from multiple sources, treats it, and returns it for beneficial use— from irrigation and livestock supply to aquifer recharge and environmental restoration.

Reduced depletion • Improved quality • Resilient supply

Source Capture

Collect water from roofs, drainage, tailwater, and runoff to reduce pressure on surface and groundwater supplies.

Roof runoff structures Subsurface drains Tailwater recovery

Treatment & Conditioning

Improve water quality with physical and biological processes so it’s fit for purpose and safe to reuse.

Waste separation facilities Denitrifying bioreactors Amendments for treatment

Storage & Recovery

Store and recover water in reservoirs, tanks, or recharge basins for resilient, on-demand reuse.

Irrigation reservoirs Water harvesting catchments Groundwater recharge basins

Reuse & Distribution

Deliver reclaimed water for irrigation, livestock supply, groundwater replenishment, and habitat restoration.

Livestock pipelines Side inlet irrigation Waterspreading

Why it matters

Recycling water provides alternatives to existing supplies, helps prevent declining water levels, and reduces costs tied to withdrawals—while supporting healthier soils, ecosystems, and communities.

Benefits

Why water recycling matters

Water reuse reclaims, treats, and returns water for irrigation, livestock supply, groundwater replenishment, and environmental restoration—reducing depletion while improving quality.

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Protects water sources

Recycling water reduces surface and groundwater depletion, helping maintain healthy levels for communities and ecosystems.

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Supports agriculture

Reclaimed water can be reused for irrigation, livestock supply, and reservoir storage to stabilize water availability.

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Improves water quality

Treatment steps like denitrifying bioreactors and phosphorus removal systems enhance water quality for fit‑for‑purpose reuse.

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Builds resilience

Catchment, tailwater recovery, and groundwater recharge practices create dependable supplies during dry periods.

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Reduces energy & costs

Reusing local sources lowers pumping needs, reduces withdrawals, and can cut long-term water costs.

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Restores habitats

Recycling water supports environmental restoration by stabilizing flows and protecting wildlife habitat.

At a glance

Recycled water can be stored in irrigation reservoirs, captured from roof runoff, or routed through treatment structures to provide clean, fit‑for‑purpose water throughout the year.

Practices

Water Recycling Practices in Action

These conservation practice standards help reclaim, treat, and reuse water for irrigation, livestock supply, groundwater replenishment, and environmental restoration.

Transparent Aqua • Conservation Focus

Code 436

Irrigation Reservoir

Stores diverted surface water, groundwater, or irrigation tailwater in a dam, pit, or tank for later use and reuse.

Storage Reuse Irrigation

Code 606 / 607

Subsurface Drain (Field Ditch)

In-field conduits collect and convey excess water for beneficial reuse while improving soil, water, air, and plant relationships.

Drainage Soil Health Reuse

Code 558

Roof Runoff Structure

Gutters and downspouts collect precipitation runoff from roofs to increase available water for other uses.

Harvesting Urban Capture

Code 636

Water Harvesting Catchment

Harvests water from impervious surfaces and stores it in a tank or cistern for livestock, fish, wildlife, or conservation use.

Catchment Storage Conservation

Code 605 / 604

Denitrifying Bioreactor / Saturated Buffer

Reduces nitrate concentration in subsurface agricultural drainage through enhanced denitrification for improved water quality.

Water Quality Treatment Agriculture

Code 447

Irrigation & Drainage Tailwater Recovery

Stores and reuses recoverable irrigation and rainfall runoff to conserve supplies, reduce energy use, and improve offsite water quality.

Recovery Efficiency Runoff

Code 815 / 817

Groundwater Recharge Basin / On‑Farm Recharge

Uses stormwater or surface water deliveries to facilitate aquifer recharge for future reuse.

Recharge Aquifer Resilience

Code 782

Phosphorus Removal System

Reduces phosphorus concentration in subsurface drainage using filtering media for fit‑for‑purpose reuse.

Filtration Nutrients Reuse

Why these practices matter

Water recycling reduces surface and groundwater depletion, improves water quality, and supports resilient agricultural and environmental systems. These standards provide the technical blueprint.

Helping people help the land

NRCS-aligned practices

Case Examples

Water Recycling in Action

Real-world implementations demonstrate how reclaimed water supports irrigation, livestock, cooling systems, and groundwater protection while conserving supply.

Transparent Aqua Theme

Texas Livestock Watering from Roof Runoff

Texas

Rainfall runoff is collected from gutters into storage tanks, then gravity-fed through a livestock pipeline to watering troughs with first‑flush diversion for better water quality.

Roof Runoff Structure (558) Water Harvesting Catchment (636)

Impact: Improves water availability for livestock while reducing reliance on groundwater.

Arkansas Irrigation Reservoir for Rice

Arkansas

A 60‑acre irrigation reservoir captures rainwater and field runoff to support side‑inlet irrigation for rice production.

Irrigation Reservoir (436) Tailwater Recovery (447)

Impact: Conserves water supplies and reduces off‑site water quality impacts.

Florida Nursery Recirculation System

Florida

Evaporative cooling pads drain excess water into a trough and tank where it is recirculated; only evaporation losses are replaced.

Waste Separation Facility (632) Amendments for Treatment (591)

Impact: Cuts water demand while maintaining plant health and cooling efficiency.

Pakistan Bucket Drip Reuse

Pakistan

Reclaimed irrigation water is poured into raised drip buckets and applied through micro‑holes to irrigate a small vegetable garden.

Water Harvesting Catchment (636) Waterspreading (640)

Impact: Supports food production with minimal water use in arid areas.

Looking to implement a reuse practice?

Start with catchment, storage, and treatment steps tailored to your site.