Greywater, green jobs, and ecological landscaping Laura Allen Greywater Action
How many gallons of water per day does the World Health Organization recommend  each person have to meet their basic health and sanitation needs? 13 gallons
How many gallons does the "average" American use in one shower? 10 minutes x 2.5 gallon/min=  25 gallons
How many people worldwide do not have any water within a 15-minute walk of their homes? One billion
Who said, "Whiskey is for drinking; water is for fighting over"? Mark Twain
How many billions of gallons of raw or partially treated sewage flows into our waterways each year? 850 billion gallons
% of Total Energy used in CA related to WATER (pumping, heating, cleaning)‏ 19% of all electricity  32% of all natural gas
Per capita daily water consumption (gallons per day)‏
Where does our water come from?
 
 
Where does it go?
Sustainable water use practices Harvesting rainwater Reusing greywater Waterless (composting toilets)‏
 
from Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands
 
 
 
Millions of gallons per day of savings for So. Cal (MGD)‏ Washers Showers  and washers Showers, washers, sinks 100%  10%  1% 383 672 964 38 67 96 4 7 10 From UCLA's report: Graywater- A Potential Source of Water Offsets need for  desal plant
Greywater is a resource Saves water Saves energy  Saves money/energy/chemicals at the treatment plant Encourages healthy product use Connect people to their backyards Facilitates local food production Protects rivers Redefines our relationship to water Creates green jobs
Greywater regulations Greywater is sewage  Greywater is a resource 1992- CA writes 1 st  greywater code, but treated it as a waste product/sewage (disposal code)‏ 1992-2009 Almost zero compliance rate- code out of line with intent (irrigation source) and practical nature of greywater  2009 DHCD (department of Housing and Community Development) writes new code. Greywater is starting to be viewed as a resource.
New Code Highlights No permit required for washing machine system (that don't alter household plumbing and following guidelines)‏ Discharge depth raised to 2 inches Mulch basins allowed for distribution Edibles okay- no touching edible portion of crop Two tiers of systems "simple" (under 250 gpd) and "complex" (over 250 gpd)‏
Greywater-  From sinks, showers, washing machines (not from toilets or diaper washing)‏ 1. Outdoor use- Landscape direct (low tech) ‏ No pumps when possible, no filters, not connected to domestic water supply 2. Outdoor use- For drip irrigation (high tech)‏ Needs pumps, filters, connected to domestic water supply, automatically operated 3. Indoor use Needs filtering and disinfectant, needs a pump, automatically operated
Greywater Basics Don’t store it more than 24 hours Minimize contact with it Infiltrate into mulch- no pooling/ponding Best for trees (fruit), shrubs,- can be used for other plants as well Use only ecological products (no salt, or boron)‏ Know what you put down the drain! Don't use if your near a creek
Mulch basin Image from "Create an Oasis with Greywater" by Art Ludwig
 
Laundry to landscape-  permit exempt  ( $100-200 materials only, $700-2,000 complete installation)‏
3-way diverter valve "auto" vent  (prevents a siphon from draining machine as it tries to fill)‏ 1" pipe Sewer connection Greywater goes to landscape Diverter  valve Anti-siphon
Bury and stake tubing Discharge under 2"  into mulch ½ inch lines irrigate off main 1" line
Code compliant- GW discharged under mulch shield Not code compliant
 
System details: Materials- $150 Machine- 15 gallons/load, 3 loads a week. to 6 locations  Each tree gets 9 gallons a week Labeled 3-way valve Mulch basins around trees, GW discharged under 2", onto mulch. Laundry irrigates 6 fruit trees around yard. City water irrigates vegi beds .
Requirements for  permit exempt  system from Ch. 16A  Do Have 3-way valve Label system Discharge under 2" mulch/rock/cover Direct water to irrigation or disposal field Minimize contact Have a maintenance manual Don't Have ponding or runoff Discharge into neighbor's yard (1.5 ft. setback)‏ Connect to potable water supply Include a pump Violate other codes/laws Damage building Use diaper wash water or hazardous chemicals (oily rags, etc.) *EDUCATION
Image from "Create an Oasis with Greywater" by Art Ludwig Shower and Sink  Systems
Installing a 3-way valve (requires a permit)‏ Sewer Greywater 1. 2. 3. Greywater enters
Branched Drain System-  $150-300 materials only, $1,000-3,000  complete installation Flows by gravity No moving parts No external filters Flow is divided using flow splitters ¼ flow ¼ flow ¼ flow ½  flow ½  flow ½  flow 1/8  flow Final outlets receive a few gallons each use- system is sized to match plant needs.
Future tree Greywater in Flow splitter divides flow in half
Flow splitter divides flow in half Branched drain system from a high use sink: divided to 4 outlets
Greywater outlet, irrigates drip line of tree. Mulch basin will be filled to top when complete. Image from Create an  Oasis with Greywater
Sand filter to drip irrigation High-tech/high-end systems $8,000-10,000 I mage from Watersprout.org
High tech- drip irrigation  RP Backflow preventer Rewater system
 
Composting Toilets
Earthen Closet
 
Urine reuse in Sweden Image: Sustainable Sanitation
Sewerless public bathroom Clivus Multrum composting toilets Foam flush toilets inside Subsurface greywater irrigation
More resources  [email_address] Web info greywateraction.org greywater.net greywateralliance.org Books Create an Oasis with Greywater  by Art Ludwig Training Greywater Action- greywateraction.org Green Gardener Program (Ecology Action) ecoact.org Installers Greywateraction.org/installers
Laundry to landscape 4 Groups 1 st  Match parts used with their name. Say what the part does in the system Take turns! 2 nd  Create a mock-up of the inside 3-way valve connection (using the image provided)‏

Water education

  • 1.
    Greywater, green jobs,and ecological landscaping Laura Allen Greywater Action
  • 2.
    How many gallonsof water per day does the World Health Organization recommend each person have to meet their basic health and sanitation needs? 13 gallons
  • 3.
    How many gallonsdoes the "average" American use in one shower? 10 minutes x 2.5 gallon/min= 25 gallons
  • 4.
    How many peopleworldwide do not have any water within a 15-minute walk of their homes? One billion
  • 5.
    Who said, "Whiskeyis for drinking; water is for fighting over"? Mark Twain
  • 6.
    How many billionsof gallons of raw or partially treated sewage flows into our waterways each year? 850 billion gallons
  • 7.
    % of TotalEnergy used in CA related to WATER (pumping, heating, cleaning)‏ 19% of all electricity 32% of all natural gas
  • 8.
    Per capita dailywater consumption (gallons per day)‏
  • 9.
    Where does ourwater come from?
  • 10.
  • 11.
  • 12.
  • 13.
    Sustainable water usepractices Harvesting rainwater Reusing greywater Waterless (composting toilets)‏
  • 14.
  • 15.
  • 16.
  • 17.
  • 18.
  • 19.
    Millions of gallonsper day of savings for So. Cal (MGD)‏ Washers Showers and washers Showers, washers, sinks 100% 10% 1% 383 672 964 38 67 96 4 7 10 From UCLA's report: Graywater- A Potential Source of Water Offsets need for desal plant
  • 20.
    Greywater is aresource Saves water Saves energy Saves money/energy/chemicals at the treatment plant Encourages healthy product use Connect people to their backyards Facilitates local food production Protects rivers Redefines our relationship to water Creates green jobs
  • 21.
    Greywater regulations Greywateris sewage Greywater is a resource 1992- CA writes 1 st greywater code, but treated it as a waste product/sewage (disposal code)‏ 1992-2009 Almost zero compliance rate- code out of line with intent (irrigation source) and practical nature of greywater 2009 DHCD (department of Housing and Community Development) writes new code. Greywater is starting to be viewed as a resource.
  • 22.
    New Code HighlightsNo permit required for washing machine system (that don't alter household plumbing and following guidelines)‏ Discharge depth raised to 2 inches Mulch basins allowed for distribution Edibles okay- no touching edible portion of crop Two tiers of systems "simple" (under 250 gpd) and "complex" (over 250 gpd)‏
  • 23.
    Greywater- Fromsinks, showers, washing machines (not from toilets or diaper washing)‏ 1. Outdoor use- Landscape direct (low tech) ‏ No pumps when possible, no filters, not connected to domestic water supply 2. Outdoor use- For drip irrigation (high tech)‏ Needs pumps, filters, connected to domestic water supply, automatically operated 3. Indoor use Needs filtering and disinfectant, needs a pump, automatically operated
  • 24.
    Greywater Basics Don’tstore it more than 24 hours Minimize contact with it Infiltrate into mulch- no pooling/ponding Best for trees (fruit), shrubs,- can be used for other plants as well Use only ecological products (no salt, or boron)‏ Know what you put down the drain! Don't use if your near a creek
  • 25.
    Mulch basin Imagefrom "Create an Oasis with Greywater" by Art Ludwig
  • 26.
  • 27.
    Laundry to landscape- permit exempt ( $100-200 materials only, $700-2,000 complete installation)‏
  • 28.
    3-way diverter valve"auto" vent (prevents a siphon from draining machine as it tries to fill)‏ 1" pipe Sewer connection Greywater goes to landscape Diverter valve Anti-siphon
  • 29.
    Bury and staketubing Discharge under 2" into mulch ½ inch lines irrigate off main 1" line
  • 30.
    Code compliant- GWdischarged under mulch shield Not code compliant
  • 31.
  • 32.
    System details: Materials-$150 Machine- 15 gallons/load, 3 loads a week. to 6 locations Each tree gets 9 gallons a week Labeled 3-way valve Mulch basins around trees, GW discharged under 2", onto mulch. Laundry irrigates 6 fruit trees around yard. City water irrigates vegi beds .
  • 33.
    Requirements for permit exempt system from Ch. 16A Do Have 3-way valve Label system Discharge under 2" mulch/rock/cover Direct water to irrigation or disposal field Minimize contact Have a maintenance manual Don't Have ponding or runoff Discharge into neighbor's yard (1.5 ft. setback)‏ Connect to potable water supply Include a pump Violate other codes/laws Damage building Use diaper wash water or hazardous chemicals (oily rags, etc.) *EDUCATION
  • 34.
    Image from "Createan Oasis with Greywater" by Art Ludwig Shower and Sink Systems
  • 35.
    Installing a 3-wayvalve (requires a permit)‏ Sewer Greywater 1. 2. 3. Greywater enters
  • 36.
    Branched Drain System- $150-300 materials only, $1,000-3,000 complete installation Flows by gravity No moving parts No external filters Flow is divided using flow splitters ¼ flow ¼ flow ¼ flow ½ flow ½ flow ½ flow 1/8 flow Final outlets receive a few gallons each use- system is sized to match plant needs.
  • 37.
    Future tree Greywaterin Flow splitter divides flow in half
  • 38.
    Flow splitter dividesflow in half Branched drain system from a high use sink: divided to 4 outlets
  • 39.
    Greywater outlet, irrigatesdrip line of tree. Mulch basin will be filled to top when complete. Image from Create an Oasis with Greywater
  • 40.
    Sand filter todrip irrigation High-tech/high-end systems $8,000-10,000 I mage from Watersprout.org
  • 41.
    High tech- dripirrigation RP Backflow preventer Rewater system
  • 42.
  • 43.
  • 44.
  • 45.
  • 46.
    Urine reuse inSweden Image: Sustainable Sanitation
  • 47.
    Sewerless public bathroomClivus Multrum composting toilets Foam flush toilets inside Subsurface greywater irrigation
  • 48.
    More resources [email_address] Web info greywateraction.org greywater.net greywateralliance.org Books Create an Oasis with Greywater by Art Ludwig Training Greywater Action- greywateraction.org Green Gardener Program (Ecology Action) ecoact.org Installers Greywateraction.org/installers
  • 49.
    Laundry to landscape4 Groups 1 st Match parts used with their name. Say what the part does in the system Take turns! 2 nd Create a mock-up of the inside 3-way valve connection (using the image provided)‏