Graywater Rebate

Posted Tue, 08/17/2010 - 3:19pm by admin

Soquel Creek Water District is offering a $75 rebate for each qualified graywater system installed, up to three connections for a maximum rebate of $225. Effective July 1, 2010. The three types of connections that are eligible for rebates include:

Clothes washing machine or "laundry to landscape" - $75
Bathtub and/or shower - $75
Bathroom sink - $75

What is graywater?

Graywater (sometimes spelled greywater) is wastewater which originates from showers, bathtubs, bathroom sinks, and clothes washing machines only. Graywater may contain fats, oils, grease, hair, lint, soaps, and household cleaners. However, it can safely be used to irrigate most landscapes (except root crops or edible crops that touch the soil) as long as guidelines are followed to prevent potential health threats and environmental contamination.

It is important to note that graywater does not include wastewater from toilets, diaper washing or other laundry soiled with feces, kitchen sinks, or dishwashers. Wastewater from these sources cannot be used because of the risk of contamination by bacteria, viruses and other pathogens. The water from these sources is called "blackwater".

How can graywater be used?

Recent changes to the California Plumbing Code now make it legally possible to capture graywater from showers, bathtubs, bathroom sinks, and clothes washing machines for use in irrigating landscapes. These new regulations apply to single or two-family residential buildings only.

Graywater systems must meet all applicable state and local requirements to prevent potential health threats and environmental contamination. One main criterion is that the graywater must be applied at least 2 inches under mulch or other cover; graywater cannot be sprayed. The local planning agency (i.e., the City of Capitola or the County of Santa Cruz) may also require a permit, depending on the type and size of the system. For more information on requirements and permits, please see the information below.

To help encourage this newly legal water saving method, Soquel Creek Water District is now offering graywater rebates (effective July 1, 2010).

How do I apply for the rebate?

After you install your system in accordance with applicable City of Capitola or County of Santa Cruz requirements, fill out the rebate application. Note the rebate requirements listed below and on the application form. After your system is approved for the rebate via a post-installation inspection, your account will be credited the correct rebate amount. Call (831) 475-8501, ext. 144 or email rond@soquelcreekwater.org if you have questions.

What are the rebate requirements?

Rebate applies to material only, no labor costs.
Original sales receipts for plumbing materials must accompany rebate credit application and must be turned in within 90 days of purchase.
Customer must allow a post-installation inspection.
Follow all applicable state and local laws regarding system design, operation and permitting (see information below for more details).
Other requirements are shown on the rebate credit application.

What are the regulatory requirements for graywater systems?

Both the City of Capitola and the County of Santa Cruz have requirements related to graywater systems. The table below summarizes the permit requirements:

	Permitting Requirements
Type of System:	No Permit Required	Permit Required
Laundry to Landscape	X
Shower/Bathtub/Bathroom Sink to Landscape (Simple = 250 gallons/day)		X
Shower/Bathtub/Bathroom Sink to Landscape (Complex > 250 gallons/day)		X

Local agencies do not require permits for clothes washing machine graywater systems (otherwise known as "laundry to landscape" systems). However, all other types of graywater systems (i.e. shower, bathtub and bathroom sink) require a permit to install.

The permit requirements vary depending on how many gallons of graywater are collected per day. Systems collecting 250 gallons or less per day are classified as "simple" and those collecting more than 250 gallons per day are classified as "complex". In general, simple graywater systems have fewer requirements.

Most water agencies also require backflow prevention if a pump is used to distribute the graywater or if a storage tank larger than 200 gallons is used. Backflow prevention keeps dirt out of your washing machine and protects your water supply.

"Laundry to landscape" systems are those that use a single domestic clothes washing machine with no tanks, pumps or treatment in a one or two-unit family dwelling. As discussed above, "laundry to landscape" graywater systems do not require a permit. However, if you are considering a "laundry to landscape" system, you will need to meet eleven basic requirements. The requirements include the following:

The design must allow the user to direct graywater flow to the irrigation field, or to the sewer or septic system. The direction control of the graywater must be clearly labeled and readily accessible to the user.
The installation, change, alteration or repair of the system may not include a potable water connection or a pump and may not affect other building plumbing, electrical or mechanical components, including structural features, egress, fire-life safety, sanitation, potable water supply piping or accessibility.
The graywater must be contained on site where it is generated.
Graywater must be directed to and contained within an irrigation field.
Ponding or runoff is prohibited and is considered a nuisance. Do not breed mosquitos or let your graywater flow to the creeks!
Graywater may be released above the ground surface provided at least two (2) inches of mulch, rock, or soil or a solid shield covers the release point. Other methods that provide equivalent separation are also acceptable.
Systems must be designed and operated to prevent graywater contact with humans and domestic pets.
Water used to wash diapers or other infectious garments may not be used and must be diverted to the building sewer or septic system.
Graywater may not contain hazardous chemicals derived from activities such as cleaning car parts, washing greasy or oily rags, or disposing of waste from home photo labs or similar hobbyist or home occupational activities.
Exemption from construction permit requirements of this code shall not be deemed to grant authorization for any graywater system to be installed in a manner that violates other provisions of this code or any other laws or ordinances of the Enforcing Agency.
An operation and maintenance manual must be maintained by the owner for all graywater systems. Directions in the manual must indicate the manual is to remain with the building throughout the life of the system and indicate that upon change in ownership or occupancy, the new tenant must be notified that the structure contains a graywater system.

Should special soaps or detergents be used with graywater systems?

To keep your plants healthy, it is best to avoid soap with the following ingredients: chlorine or bleach, peroxygen, sodium perborate, sodium trypochlorite, boron, borax, petroleum distillate, alkylbenzene, "whiteners", "softeners" and "enzymatic" components. To keep our watersheds healthy, buy soaps that say "phosphate free". In general, liquid soaps are better than powdered soaps. For more information check out: http://www.harvestingrainwater.com/greywater-harvesting/greywater-compatible-soaps-and-detergents/

Need help getting started with graywater?

There are so many resources you can use to help determine if graywater will work for you, and if so, to help design an effective system. The best place to start is the California Plumbing Code (CPC) Title 24, Part 5, Chapter 16A, which can be found at the following website:

http://www.hcd.ca.gov/codes/shl/2007CPC_Graywater_Complete_2-2-10.pdf

The CPC provides important information regarding how to build a graywater system, avoiding surfacing or runoff, groundwater contamination and human or pet contact with wastewater.

Local Guidance

The Central Coast Graywater Alliance is a great place to start for local information and guidance. You can request a professional graywater consultation from one of the members of the Central Coast Graywater Alliance to help you design your system. Their contact information can be found on the Ecology Action website:

http://www.ecoact.org/Programs/Pollution_Prevention/Graywater/index.htm

Conservation