A family of four could divert between 200 to 2,000 gallons a week
By Staff Report
The Morgan Hill Library wants to encourage local residents to conserve water and maybe even make money through greywater opportunities where they can reuse waste water from washing machines, sinks and baths by redirecting the water to their yards.
This month, the library will host two free informational workshops on using greywater from homes.
The Residential Greywater Design and Techniques Workshop will be held 4 p.m. Saturday Oct 17. Presenter Alan Hackler, founder of San Jose-based landscape contractor Bay Maples, will tell attendees about designing a system that meets California greywater codes and regulations as well as what soaps and plants are appropriate for greywater use.
The Greywater Laundry to Landscape Rebate Program Seminar will be held 7 p.m. Tuesday Oct. 27. Presenter Katy Nomura of the Santa Clara Valley Water District will tell attendees how they can receive a rebate of $200 per single-family residence for properly connecting a clothes washer to a greywater irrigation system.
“Greywater is gently-used water from your bathroom sinks, showers, tubs, and washing machines,” Hackler said. “It is not water that has come into contact with feces, either from the toilet or from washing diapers.”
Greywater may contain traces of dirt, food, grease, hair, and certain household cleaning products, he said. While greywater may look “dirty,” it is a safe and even beneficial source of irrigation water in a yard.
“Installing a greywater system reduces the demand on our already over-strained municipal sewer system,” he said. “It cuts down on the need to import water or keep drawing water from our limited ground water supplies. It limits the use of potable water for irrigation.”
The amount of water and money saved depends on the amount of greywater the house produces. For a family of four, a greywater system could divert between 200 to 2,000 gallons a week, depending on how many household water fixtures are connected to the greywater system and personal habits of the occupants.
Installing a greywater system in a home can cost a few hundred dollars for simple, low-tech systems or $50,000 or more for a complex, whole-house system with fully automated pumps and filters. A low-tech laundry system can be installed in a few hours with basic tools and won’t require a permit. A complex system will require a permit and should be installed by a professional. Installing a complex greywater system is best installed during new construction or a major retrofit, Hackler said.
