Dig trenches for the polyline

Photo Deva Luna, EarthCare Landscaping

Emitters: 1” x ½” barbed reducing tees

This prevents clogging by lint . . .or pennies

Emitters:

• Adjustable ball valves

• Drilled holes & goof plugs

• Keep end of line open to prevent strain on washing machine pump in case of clog

Drawing of mulch basins

Thanks to Art Ludwig, Oasis Design

Dig the mulch basins

Photo Deva Luna, EarthCare Landscaping

Send emitters to mulch basins – avoid pumping up hill whenever possible

Check the flow rates. Add little ball valves on some emitters to adjust the rates.

Parts for Laundry to Landscape• www.cleanwatercomponents.com – online

ordering• Brass one-inch 3-way valve @ Urban Farmer or

plumbing supply store• Auto vent or inline vent – Horizon Irrigation

Supply, Urban Farmer, plumbing supply, or hardware store, or www.oasis.net

• Blu-Lock @ Urban Farmer or PVC @ hardware store

• 1” barbed fittings – hardware store or irrigation supply

• Emitters– 1” to ½” reducing tee – hardware or irrigation supply– Plastic ball valves – irrigation supply– Goof plugs – hardware or irrigation supply

What soaps to use?

Not all biodegradable products

are good for plants

Ingredients to avoidRead the Labels

• Salt, sodium compounds damages soil

• Boron, borax (Bon Ami) micronutrient turns into a microtoxin

• Chlorine kills bacteria/life (hydrogen peroxide

better)

Use these laundry products

• Oasis• ECOS (available at Wholefoods)• Bio pac liquid detergent• Wonder balls or Soap nuts

• No powdered detergents, salt, borax, bleach, water softener

What to plant

• Fruit trees: Apples, pears, citrus, nectarines, etc

• Berries: Black, raspberries, etc. (even blueberries if soil prepared)

• Tomatoes, peppers, eggplants• Artichokes, corn• Ornamental shrubs and trees

Actual - How much water? Need to match supply and demand• Demand – how

much the plants need

• Fruit trees are moderate water plants

• Moderate water plants ~ 1/3 gallon per week per square foot during dry season

• Supply – how much a top washer produces– 5-6 loads per week– 30 gallons per load

(top loader)– 150-180 gallons per

week– @ 1/3 gallon per

square foot = 450-540 square feet

– Front loader = less water

Maintenance Manual Items• Directions that the manual is to stay with the house• Notify new owners that there is a graywater system• Plot plan of system• Description of how to turn the system on and off• Do not send water from diapers or infectious garments to

the garden, instead to the sewer• Do not include hazardous chemicals in graywater• Replace mulch every 3 years or when mulch becomes

compost• Descriptions of what not to put down the drain and what to

look for in products• Best to turn the system off in the winter to allow rainwater

to flush any salts from top soil• Do not allow graywater to pond or runoff

Rebates

• SFPUC - $225 to offset the permit cost

• Santa Clara Valley Water District – L2L $100 rebate

• Soquel Creek - $150 per fixture

But what about the shower?

Single Fixture or Simple Systems

Simple SystemExceeds a clothes washer system

1.Discharges less than 250 gallons per day

2.Requires a permit3.Design must meet graywater design

criteria

“Branched Drain Systems” are the next simplest and

cheapest systems

Retrofitting for Branched Drain Systems

Step 1: Separate black and gray water

Drawing from: Gray Water Use in the Landscape by Robert Kourik, 1988

Branched Drain

• Water drains from fixture directly to landscape

• No pumps• Sloped landscape

required!• Requires a permit• No kitchen sinks or

dishwashers• Must reroute pipes

Drawing from: Branched Drain Greywater Systems by Art Ludwig

Cut the shower drain pipe

Photos from Deva Luna, Earthcare Landscaping

Install the 3-way diverter valve

Cutting cast iron pipe

Install 3-way diverter valve

This is a good place for an actuator (remote switch).

Use rigid ABS drain pipe

Double ells split the flow of water

Double ell branch must be level(shield to be covered with a piece of flagstone)

Check the 2% slope (1/4” drop per 1’ horizontal)

Branched drain mulch basins

It works!

Steps to Getting a Permit

• Notify the Planning Department• Groundwater depth check test• Estimating discharge amount• Determining maximum water

absorption• Sizing the mulch basins• Plans• Fees and inspections

Per the Code: Groundwater Depth Check• Dig hole 3 feet below the lowest

discharge point and check for groundwater

• Inspector may check

Per the Code: Estimating Amount of Discharge• First bedroom = 2

occupants• Each add’l

bedroom = 1 occupant

• Three bedroom house = 4 occupants

• Showers, bathtubs, sinks = 25 GPD/ occupant

• Laundry = 15 GPD/ occupant

• GPD = gallons per day

Per the Code: Discharge area Depends on Soil Type• Clay with sand or gravel soil = 120

square feet (sf)/ 100 gallons• Clay with lots of sand or gravel = 90

sf/100 gal• Sandy clay = 60 sf/ 100 gal• Sandy loam = 40 sf/ 100 gallons• Fine sand = 25 sf/ 100 gallons• Coarse sand or gravel = 20 sf/ 100

gallons

Tests to determine type of soil• Contractor test (ribbon or shake test)• Known soil type• Lab test ($25-35)• Or just assume clay

Plot Plan• Water source• Set backs

– 2’ bldgs– 1.5’ prop

• Area• Permit fees =

$167• 2 bedrooms

Drawing thanks to Jon Bauer of Greywater Action, permitted branched drain system in Oakland

Shower and sink products

• Aubrey Organics shampoo and conditioner

• Dr. Bronner’s• Oasis all purpose cleaner

• No bleach, hair dye, harsh cleaners, salt baths, epson salts

Cleaning products

• Vinegar based cleaners• Liquid soap based cleaners • Dr. Bronner’s

• No high salt products, bleach, harsh cleaners

Complex System

1.Discharge over 250 gallons per day2.Requires permit3.Designed by “person who can

demonstrate competency”

Complex System Components

• Tank• Pump• Filter – sand or other• Subsurface drip delivery

Permitted Systems

Surge tank, pump, and filterSource: ReWater, Inc.

Permitted Systems

• Valves• Emitters

– Just Water Saver’s IrriGray for gray water (black with purple stripes)

– Specially designed ReWater emitters won’t clog

ReWater, Inc. Cone drip emitters

Irrigation Controller

• Twenty-one stations

• Automatic filter backwash

• Fresh water supplementation (when out of town)

ReWater’s Complete Control irrigation controller

Lawn Irrigation Installation

Lawn five years after installationPhotos from ReWater, Inc.

Sunnyvale Home – Installed 2006

Sand filter from ReWater

Surge tank in vault

Lawn with subsurface drip tubing from Netafim, installed by EarthCare Landscaping, plumbing by Hal Branges

Surge tank in vault

Palo Alto Home – Installed 2012

Flotender $3,500-9,000

Subsurface Drip-Type Gray Water Costs• ~$6,000 + greater than typical drip

system• Subsurface drip – more efficient than

standard drip system since below grade• Extra labor for trenching and installing

equipment, especially for lawns• Hard to trench around established trees• Easier for new construction, more

complicated for remodels• Multi-unit residential, commercial &

industrial sites can get credit for reducing sewer use

Payback for Systems

New House or Construction

Drawing from: Oasis Designs, Builder’s Greywater Guide by Art Ludwig

“The ideal way to plumb the house is with greywater and blackwater totally separate,… and the greywater lines joined to the toilet plumbing outside the house.

Next Steps• Check for and fix leaks!• New/ remodeling construction should always

have stubouts for graywater – see City of Tucson

• Take a one-day or five-day class – Graywater Action

• Volunteer to have a system installed at your house with a class!

• Design and install your own system• Apply for rebates with Santa Clara Valley

Water District

References & Additional Information• SFPUC Graywater Manual http://sfwater.org/modules/

showdocument.aspx?documentid=55“

• Laundry to Landscape” DVD and “Create an Oasis with Greywater” book by Art Ludwig and Oasis www://oasisdesign.net

• Greywater Action, graywater classes and activism, 2012 Bay Area Graywater Study www.greywateraction.org

• Urban Farmer stores, plumbing supply stores for parts

• Berkeley’s Ecology Center and EcoHouse, graywater tours/ classes: www.ecologycenter.org