8/9/2019 Installing and Using Graywater Systems

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Greywater is untreated waste water which has not come into contact with toilet waste. Graywater includes wastewater from bathtubs, showers, bathroom wash basins, washing machines, and laundry tubs. It does not includewaste water from kitchen sinks, photo lab sinks, dishwashers, or laundry water from soiled diapers.

Installing a Permitted SystemYou might want a permit because it increases the resale value of the home and helps increase public acceptancefor the use of greywater.

FIRSTIn Berkeley, in order to install a permitted greywater system you should first plan your greywater system withconsultation from a professional who is familiar with State of California Greywater Standards. At this point thesoil should be tested, the amount of land and water available should be estimated and plans drawn that follow

the Greywater Standards guidelines. It may be helpful to consult the Graywater Guide put out by the CaliforniaDepartment of Water Resources at http://www.owue.water.ca.gov/docs/graywater_guide_book.pdf 

NEXTYou can find a list of professionals in the Bay Area who design and install greywater systems on the EcologyCenter EcoDirectory at ecologycenter.org/directory. The Ecology Center’s EcoHouse greywater system wasinstalled by Dig Cooperative (digcity.coop).

The designer you choose or yourself shouldcontact the City of Berkeley Planning &Development Office Permit Service Center at (510)981-7400 to make an appointment to get zoningapproval and then submit a plumbing permit.

After the permit is issued and the construction hasbeen performed, you should schedule aninspection to make sure the actual system followsthe plan. This process may be difficult and taketime. Thankfully however, the permitting processtends to get more streamlined with each permitissued so by sticking with it you are helping theaccessibility of greywater improve for others. Youcan find the plumbing permit application online,(see Further Resources below).

Outside of Berkeley: Most cities do not have apermitting process in place for greywater. If you are interested in a permitted system you should contact one of the professional designers from the EcoDirectory who can research the code in your area.

DIY/ Guerrilla SystemYou might want to do-it-yourself because you are handy and don’t want to wait or pay for a permit or you maynot own your home. Be aware that according to the State of California It shall be unlawful for any person to

2530 San Pablo Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94702510.548.2220 x233erc@ecologycenter.org 

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Greywater Installing and Using

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8/9/2019 Installing and Using Graywater Systems

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construct, install or alter, or cause to be constructed, installed or altered any graywater system in a building or onpremises without first obtaining a permit. There are many ways to install and use greywater from easy tocomplex.

EASYThere are a few after market accessories that you can purchase which reuse hand washing water to flush yourtoilet including Sink Positive (www.sinkpositive.com), Gaiam’s toilet top sink (www.gaiam.com), and the AQUSSystem (www.watersavertech.com). You can also bucket out your bathwater or take a bucket into the shower anduse it to flush the toilet or water plants.

MEDIUMOne local expert recommends installing a simple system using greywater from your washing machine because it isnot necessary to change the already existing plumbing. To do this put the drain pipe from your washer into alarger pipe (or funnel to a garden hose) out a window or door either straight to the garden or into a holding tanksuch as a plastic barrell so that the water can cool, and then into the garden. Don’t let the water sit for too long.One good way to water plants using this method is by putting the hose into the hole of an upside down terracotta pot that is buried near the plants you want to water. You can bury several pots and move the hose fromplace to place or move the pot instead.

Others like the Greywater Guerrillas, suggest disconnecting your bathroom sink drain pipe from the sewer pipewith a wrench (leaving the P-trap in place) and putting a bucket under it instead. You can then use the greywaterin the bucket to flush the toilet or water plants.

HARDMore complex systems like branched-drain, constructed wetlands and greywater irrigation systems requireplanning and some technical ability, but you can learn what you need to know through books or workshops.Hands-on workshops and classes on installing greywater systems can be taken through the EcoHouse, SF Instituteof Architecture, and Berkeley Institute for Ecological Design. Check the Ecology Center EcoCalendar or call at548-2220 x233 for info on these workshops.

You can also find step-by-step and technical instructions on building a greywater system in Create an Oasis withGreywater by Art Ludwig and the Guerrilla Graywater Girls’ Guide to Water and Dam Nation: Dispatches from theWater Underground by Cleo Woelfle-Erskine, July Oskar Cole, and Laura Allen. You can also find instructions andtips on how to build greywater systems on their websites www.oasisdesign.net and www.greywaterguerrillas.com.

Safety tips for using greywater:o Use greywater from bathroom sinks, tubs, showers, and washing machines and avoid greywater from kitchen

sinks, dishwashers, and toilets.o Don’t use liquid fabric softener or harsh detergents. Look for biodegradable, low-sodium detergents

without phosphates, brighteners, boron, borax, enzymes or bleach. You can find Oasis biocompatible soaps atBerkeley Bowl.

o Avoid storing greywatero Apply greywater directly to the soil, not by spraying.o Root crops that are eaten uncooked should not be irrigated with greywater.o Don’t use greywater on young plants or plants that like acidic conditions.o Water from laundry that includes diapers should not be used.o Don’t use greywater when members of the household have a communicable disease such as staph or hepatitis.

Further ResourcesThe Greywater Guerrillas, www.greywaterguerrillas.com. Online information and workshops.Oasis Design, www.oasisdesign.netCity of Berkeley plumbing permit application available at

www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/onlineservice/planning/Plumbing%20Permit%20Application.pdf State of California Greywater Standards, http://www.owue.water.ca.gov/docs/Revised_Graywater_Standards.pdf.Real Goods, 800-347-0070, realgoods.com. Sells 55 gallon greywater filter system, 3-way valves and other

greywater supplies.Ashby Plumbing, 1000 Ashby Ave., Berkeley, (510) 843-6652. Sells plumbing equipment.Build It Green, 888-404-7336, builditgreen.org. Provides green building advice including greywater.

Fact sheet written by Christine Martin.