New Greywater Code for California

This is the new California greywater code that was passed by the building standards commission on Tuesday January 13th, 2010.

For Greywater we Cellibrate

I would like to say it loud and clear GREYWATER IS LEGAL IN CALIFORNIA. Many of you have heard rumors about greywater becoming legal over the past six months. This Tuesday the 13^th Chapter 16 of the Universal Plumbing Code was updated by the Building Standards Commission.

This summer Arnold Schwartznigger mandated the legalization of greywater under emergency drought measures (his best deed ever). The Department of Housing and Community Development wrote the new emergency code. With a few changes it has just been made permanent.

Clothes Washer Systems do not require a permit by state law provided that the meet certain criteria. A permit for a Simple System is required for bath, shower, and lavatory sink. Kitchen sink water is considered blackwater and is not covered by the new code. For systems of over 250 gallons/day a permit for a complex system is necessary. Multi-family dwellings (3 or more) must get a Complex permit, but can still develop a joint greywater system. Residential and commercial buildings both are covered under this code.

Greywater all of the above systems may be used for irrigation of landscape and food crops for which food does not come in contact with soil. This may be done via mulched basins, gravel trenches, underground emitters, or other appropriate designs. Filters and tanks are not required, but a connection to the sewer/septic is. The Clothes Washer Systems have the following requirements (abridged: see the code before proceeding):

1)      Notify the Enforcing Agency (Environmental Health) about the location and installation.

2)      Be able to direct greywater to sewer or septic

3)      No mechanizations (pumps, except for washer’s own) and does not effect building, potable water, egress, fire-safety, etc.

4)      Greywater contained on site

5)      Greywater directed to and contained within disposal field

6)      No ponding or runoff – would be considered a nuisance

7)      Greywater may be directed above soil surface provided that at least 2 inches of mulch, rock, or shield covers it.

8)      Minimize contact with humans and pets

9)      Water used to wash diapers or infectious garments must be directed towards sewer

10)  Shall not contain hazardous chemicals

11)  May not be constructed in a way that violates other codes and ordinances

12)  An operations and maintenance Manuel must be provided for the life of the building.

Simple Systems have a few more requirements, including a permit, but are still quite approachable. The code for both complex and simple systems allow for creative designd, leaving decision making to local jurisdictions. This is the biggest change from the old code, which created a virtual stranglehold on greywater regulation. Now cities and counties will be able to create their own codes and ordinances.

The potential annual water savings is high - 50,000 gallons per family. The actual water conserved would be the amount of irrigation water that greywater replaces. If 5% of the California residents replaced irrigation water with greywater, over 26 billion gallons of water would be saved annually (800,000 acre-feet). That is about 100 Lake Mendocinos when full to the top. If you already let your lawn and yard go brown in the summer, than think of this as potential, guilt-free, irrigation water and create an oasis!