ISO 20760-2:2017

Overview

ISO 20760-2:2017 - "Water reuse in urban areas - Guidelines for centralized water reuse system - Part 2: Management of a centralized water reuse system" provides guidance on managing centralized water reuse systems in urban areas. The standard covers management concepts, principles and methodologies for safe, reliable and sustainable reclaimed water supply from source to end user, including source water, treatment, storage, distribution, operation and maintenance, monitoring and emergency response. Note: specific monitoring parameters and regulatory values are out of scope.

Key Topics

• Standard terms and definitions for consistent terminology in water reuse management (see ISO 20670 vocabulary reference).
• Management principles and methodology, including risk management and reliability considerations.
• Component-level management: guidance for source water, treatment plants, storage systems and distribution systems.
• Distribution system issues: delivery pressure and flow, water quality in pipes, colour-coding and signage, backflow/cross-connection control, leakage and corrosion control, and service connections.
• Monitoring framework: baseline, validation, operational and verification monitoring approaches to support management decisions (but not specific regulatory values).
• Operational and preventive measures: maintenance, process control, corrective actions and periodic review of management plans.
• Incident and emergency management: preparedness, response and communication for unintended discharges or system failures.
• Social and stakeholder aspects: public consultation, awareness, affordability and acceptance.

Applications and Who Uses It

ISO 20760-2:2017 is intended for practitioners and authorities involved in urban water reuse programs, including:

• Water and wastewater utilities and reclaimed water providers
• Urban planners and municipal authorities integrating reuse into water resources management
• Environmental and public health managers assessing risk and system reliability
• Operations and maintenance teams for centralized reuse networks
• Designers and consultants (in conjunction with ISO 20760-1 for system design)

Practical use cases: planning and operating reclaimed water systems for landscape irrigation, industrial uses, toilet flushing, firefighting, street cleaning, environmental enhancement, recreational features and car washing - ensuring fit-for-purpose distribution, monitoring and risk controls.

Related Standards

• ISO 20760-1 (design guidance for centralized water reuse systems)
• ISO 20670 (water reuse - vocabulary)
• References to broader water management frameworks (e.g., river basin planning approaches) are suggested for integrated implementation.

This standard is valuable for organizations seeking to develop, operate or regulate centralized reclaimed water systems in urban contexts while emphasizing system-wide management, risk control and stakeholder engagement.