I believe it was Mark Twain who said: "The more things change, the more they stay the same". I'm not sure if that completely applies here but a current trend brings the phrase to mind.

In 1992, Greg Herr of the Irvine Ranch Water District in Orange County California was heading a committee for the American Water Works Association to develop a unique and distinguishable color for the identification of components  used in reclaimed water systems. At that time, Sheldon Jacobs, owner of Applied Engineering Products valve box company, worked closely with Greg in testing. The committees desire at the time was to develop a color somewhere in the violet to purple spectrum that could replace green for irrigation control valve boxes and the white or blue coloring of PVC pipe. Pantone #522 was selected for pipe and Pantone #512 was chosen for valve boxes. Applied Engineering Products did extensive testing but was unable to match the Pantone #512 color that would provide more than 3 to 4 years of UV stability. In other words any manufacturers valve boxes made with this pigmentation would break down faster than the standard green boxes.  However AEP's testing with Pantone #522 provided at least 8 years of UV stability.  This was brought to the attention of Irvine Ranch and it was agreed that the Pantone #512 specification for reclaimed water valve boxes would be changed to Pantone #522. Most would agree that the color we have been putting in the ground would fall into the lavender category which now that I think of it rhymes with lavatory. But for as long as I have been selling them people pretty much have called them "purple". 

Well after many years of purple boxes clashing with the landscape, some municipalities are reevaluating the need for the stark contrast. Even green lids with purple tags are falling out of favor. In many cases it is now acceptable to simply molded green box covers with "Reclaimed Water/ Do Not Drink". This solves the  the optics issue while still alerting the maintenance crew that the system is not potable water.  Applied Engineering Products offers these green "reclaimed water" lids for  their valve box models.

Also  AEP will ship purple boxes with green "reclaimed water" covers so if a cover gets lost the box will remind maintenance workers that the system is non potable . Or if you desire both the box and reclaimed cover to be green and are concerned about covers wandering off , AEP makes a green on green box with a captive hinged cover that can be specified with the "Reclaimed Water" markings.

That box is the 1015 - 1G4G.  Check it out. 

Tom Kendall