Greywater Press Room
Last updated 3/31/2010
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Summary: News headlines on graywater regulation, graywater news archive, and links to other news sources. |
On this page:
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See also: Oasis press room
Greywater Reporter Quick Reference
What greywater is/ why use greywater
Laundry to landscape (most immediately useful link for readers/ viewers; free info on how to do a laundry only system)
(Oasis authoritative on many, many topics; check out our Astounding Google ranks)
Latest News
California greywater liberation day— August 4th, 2009
Today California's new greywater standards took effect. The occasion was marked by a City of Santa Barbara sponsored greywater workshop attended by 120 people.
In Historic Move, California Building Standards Commission Green Visionaries Approve New Graywater Standard — July 31st, 2009
A collision of world views was in full evidence at the California Building Standards Commission hearing yesterday on HCDs proposed new graywater standards.
Highly qualified stakeholders spoke passionately for and against the adoption of the new standards as the hearing roller-coastered dramatically to its conclusion.
The commissioners are to be congratulated for their leadership. It is always more work to set up a new system than to fit into an existing one.
It would be a lot easier to stand aside as legal buildings continue waste resources and pollute the environment. However, in the face of deeply entrenched, powerful opposition, the commission is rising to the challenge of revising all of California's building codes to allow/ require better building systems...besides its emergency approval of the new graywater standards yesterday, the BSC is also revising California's Green Building Standards to include many new mandatory and voluntary measures to reduce negative impacts and increase positive impacts of California buildings.
Dawn of a new era
"On August 4th, 2009, California can legally install simple laundry and single fixture systems without a permit. For the first time, licensed professionals can legally help with the 1.7 million existing graywater systems in the state. " —Art Ludwig, graywater researcher and educator
Art Ludwig will be holding a press conference August 4th, 2009 from 9:00 to 9:15 am, at the Santa Barbara Library Main Branch, at the start of his free, City of Santa Barbara-Sponsored workshop on Laundry to landscape systems.
He'll tell the story of this codes process (biggest stakeholder meetings for any code promulgated by CA HCD), and discuss the significance of the Building Standards Commissions historic shift towards considering all factors; not just occupant safety, but also off site and future impacts. (BSC is currently revising California's Green Building standards, another sea change).
Graywater Standards —Media resources
Full text of Art Ludwig's testimony to the BSC lots of good quotes, including stuff cut to make the 3 minute limit, followed by quotes from other sources.
Handout to BSC, including reasons to have standards but not require a permit for simple systems
Graywater How to— Resources for media to pass on to viewers/ readers/ listeners
Note: the state was pushed to develop how to information, but has no money, so these items below are the primary—actually, just about only—information resources available to Californians:
Laundry to landscape — Free information on how to do the state of the art laundry graywater system now legal under the new law.
Laundry 2 landscape-video— Same system description, in expanded, video form, with August 4th 2009 release date.
Grey water central — Index to 100 pages of free info on greywater
Oasis greywater-bookthe book on graywater
Green Codes revolution—Media resources
Suggested revisions to California's Green Building Standards (doc) as submitted to the BSC 7/31/2009
"It is interesting to note that much of what is required or allowed by the new Green Building Code—passive solar, materials reuse, ReWater systems, on-site absorption of runoff, rainwater harvesting, etc....was developed initially by people who broke regulations in order to do the research and development.
If changing standards to allow better performing building systems is a goal, it hardly makes sense for limited scale development of the technologies for tomorrow's standards be illegal...which it is now, by definition." —Art Ludwig
(code changes suggested in letter above would allow local enforcing agencies to remedy this in their area)
Building Codes for a Small Planet —Preview
Analysis of the meeting
I've been trying to figure out what was really going on in this process. Here's my thoughts...
As my father says:
It is always necessary to pass through a layer of confusion to get to a higher level of understanding.
This pair of graphics, for example, shows the difference in the old and emerging views of the purpose of building codes:
In the narrow view, graywater reuse for irrigation doesn't seem that compelling.
In the wide view...its a totally different story. Graywater reuse is key.
California's institutions are in a transition between old (narrow) and new (whole picture) ways of doing things. This is creating some confusion.
In some cases, the mission statement at the top has been updated to the whole picture, while the thousands of pages of code that follow still reflect the narrow view.
In the unusually extensive testimony for and against the new standards, equal levels of experience and passion were on display. Both sets of arguments sounded quite persuasive, leaving the commissioners with a challenge.
The principal schism was on the question of permits or no permits for simple systems. This turned on another dichotomy: The world as it is, vs the world as it should be:
Law of Reality: Reality is not what it appears to be, or what you wish it to be, but what it is.
Corollary to the Law of Reality: If you do not recognize reality, it will automatically work against you.
—Source unknown
People in favor of graywater permits cited the obvious benefits and reasons, pointing out that going through the permitting process would:
- ensure that people get informed as to the standards
- enable local jurisdictions to track graywater systems
- improve quality and ensure against mistakes through inspections
- cost as little as $60-$100, though it could be $200-300
- Take only several hours to prepare documents, go to the counter, and receive an inspection.
This sounds so reasonable, it’s hard to think of any argument against it. And actually, there is only one: No one is going to do it. No one. Well, OK…maybe a few hundred people out of thirty million.
The problem is that regulators have completely failed to support California graywater users with usable advice for the past thirty years. Only one in 10,000 of the 1.7 million systems in the state have a permit.
These systems are outside the narrow field of view of regulators, so the assumption is that habits are unformed. Far from it; the habit of doing graywater without permits has become deeply ingrained over this time period.
Trying to sell permits to California graywater users is like trying to sell a $100 search engine that you have to register for to people who use google.
Any standard that can’t compete with “free” and “zero time for compliance” is doomed to irrelevance.
The only way government agencies can complete is to offer "free", “zero time for compliance” legal systems that are better, and can be installed by professionals instead of having to do it yourself.
This involves surrendering the illusion of control, in trade for actually making things better on the ground. To some people that sounds like a great deal, to others, anathema.
Dr. Linda Rudolf, Chief Deputy Director for Policy and Programs, California Department of Public Health, and Dr. Rufus Howell, Deputy Director, Center for Environmental Health at the California Department of Public Health spoke in favor of the new standards.
Doug Hensel, chief deputy director of the Department of Housing and Community Development defended standards as a better approach than permits for simple systems.
The Building Standards Commissioners grilled Doug and others with many hard questions, deliberated, and then voted 9-0 in favor of considering the standards for emergency adoption, and 8-1 in favor of adopting the standards without amendment.
Environmental health refers to freedom from illness or injury related to exposure to toxic agents and other environmental conditions that are potentially detrimental to human health —Narrow view example
Environmental health and protection refers to protection against environmental factors that may adversely impact human health or the ecological balances essential to long-term human health and environmental quality, whether in the natural or man-made environment. — Wide view example
Graywater to be legalized in California? —July 28, 2009
The California Department of Housing and Community Development will submit its revolutionary new Graywater Standard for approval by the California Building Standards Commission at a meeting on July 30th. (Graywater is household wastewater from sinks, showers, and washer machines, which can be reused for watering plants and flushing toilets).
Thanks to public alarm about current drought conditions in California, and intervention from the governor's office, the new California gray water standard could go into effect August 4th, 2009 right after the California Building Standards Commission Meeting, instead of in 2011, the original proposed date. The Department of Housing and Community Development, the authors of the new standard, believe that it will likely pass.
The new rules allow a graywater system that consists of a washing machine and/or one other fixture such as a shower to be installed without a permit, if the system meets a short list of reasonable requirements.
This is the approach used successfully in the states of Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and soon Nevada, Montana, and Oregon. With this change, California is regaining its leadership role for graywater reuse.
The graywater regulation revolution was started in 1989 in Santa Barbara, California. It spread from there to four other communities, then the whole state, via the Uniform Plumbing Code, in 1992.
Since then, while California's graywater innovation has been at a standstill, the rest of the west has left the state in the dust.
California residents have set up approximately 1.7 million illegal graywater systems as a result of overly stringent, unrealistic regulations (References). The new law would open the door to upgrading these systems by the professional installation of simple graywater systems by licensed landscapers, contractors, and plumbers, improving safety, helping the environment, and providing green jobs.
The City of Santa Barbara has spearheaded the recent effort to legalize simple graywater systems, such as the Laundry to landscape graywater system.
Art Ludwig's design firm, Oasis Design, is the world leader in graywater information and designs, and the publisher of the world's best selling graywater book (rated #2 in the plumbing category on Amazon.com, behind Ludwig's other book, Water Storage).
Ludwig is offering free, open source design blueprints and installation instructions for the Laundry to landscape system, among the simplest, most economical and effective graywater systems. Ludwig will teach a free workshop sponsored by the City of Santa Barbara Water Resources Division to train professionals on the installation of this system.
If you'd like more information about this topic, or to schedule an interview with Art Ludwig, please call Oasis Design at 805-967-9956 or Email us . More information about the California graywater code and recent developments can be found in the CA gray water policy center.
Excerpt from: New proposed CA graywater standards
1603A.1.1 Clothes Washer System and/or Single Fixture System.
A clothes washer system and/or a single fixture system in compliance with all of the following is exempt from the construction permit specified in Section 1.8.4.1 and may be installed or altered without a construction permit:
1. If required, notification has been provided to the Enforcing Agency regarding the proposed location and installation of a graywater irrigation or disposal system. Note: A city, county, or city and county or other local government may, after a public hearing and enactment of an ordinance or resolution, further restrict or prohibit the use of graywater systems. For additional information, see Health and Safety Code Section 18941.7.
2. The design shall allow the user to direct the flow to the irrigation or disposal field or the building sewer. The direction control of the graywater shall be clearly labeled and readily accessible to the user.
3. The installation, change, alteration or repair of the system does not include a potable water connection or a pump and does not affect other building, plumbing, electrical or mechanical components including structural features, egress, fire-life safety, sanitation, potable water supply piping or accessibility.
4. The graywater shall be contained on the site where it is generated.
5. Graywater shall be directed to and contained within an irrigation or disposal field.
6. Ponding or runoff is prohibited and shall be considered a nuisance.
7. Graywater may be released above the ground surface provided at least two (2) inches (51 mm) of mulch, rock, or soil, or a solid shield covers the release point. Other methods which provide equivalent separation are also acceptable.
8. Graywater systems shall be designed to minimize contact with humans and domestic pets.
9. Water used to wash diapers or similarly soiled or infectious garments shall not be used and shall be diverted to the building sewer.
10. Graywater shall not contain hazardous chemicals derived from activities such as cleaning car parts, washing greasy or oily rags, or disposing of waste solutions from home photo labs or similar hobbyist or home occupational activities.
11. 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.
12. An operation and maintenance manual shall be provided. Directions shall indicate the manual is to remain with the building throughout the life of the system and indicate that upon change of ownership or occupancy, the new owner or tenant shall be notified the structure contains a graywater system.
How do you spell greywater?
All four ways, are correct. We use all four, so everyone can find our information on the internet: "greywater", "graywater", "grey water", "gray water."
Seems that greywater practitioners and regulators can't even agree on how to spell it; most proponents use "greywater," regulators use "graywater." Since we are proponents and write regulations, we use both: greywater in our printed how to materials, and graywater in our regulatory reform efforts.
Other resources
Greywater Guerrillas' Media Page
Oasis in the News & Articles
Very partial list...
- From laundry to landscape - Greywater systems reuse a valuable resource by Karna Hughes, Santa Barbara News Press (10 April 2010)
- Landmark Water Law, p. 50, Home Energy, (Nov/Dec 2009)
- A Victory for the 'Water Underground' by Melinda Burns, Miller-McCune (13 October 2009)
- As Californians start looking seriously at greywater for home irrigation, all roads—or pipes—lead to Art Ludwig by Melinda Burns, Miller-McCune (13 October 2009)
- ABC news 9/29/2009 or so
- San Francisco Chronicle, front page (18 September 2009)
- KMUD radio interview
- WMNF Radio Envir. Show, FL, (August 2009)
- KPFA radio "Terra Verde" show (27 August 2009)
- KRCB Santa Rosa Radio Interveiw (20 August 2009)
- Benefits of graywater discussed by Angel Pacheco in Santa Barbara News-Press (5 August 2009)
- Living Green Radio Interview (1 August 2009)
- From laundry to landscaping by Kathy Johnston in New Times SLO (30 July - 6 August 2009)
- Eco-Proofed: Deep Green in Santa Barbara Independent (30 July 2009)
- A Brighter Future for Greywater? in Space of Love Magazine (July 2009)
- New Watering Source is Surfacing: 'Gray' users go with the flow from bathtubs, washers by Mike Lee in the San Diego Union-Tribune (March 23, 2009)
- Grey Water Debate in Sacramento Steams Up by Susan Carpenter in the LA Times (17 March 2009)
- Gray water: from the washer to the garden by Susan Carpenter in the LA Times (27 September 2008)
- Kill Your Plumbing: The Greywater Guerrillas say it's time to use less water by Mathew Green, in the East Bay Express (July 16, 2008)
- Reduce Water Waste by Alex Hutchinson in Popular Mechanics (September 2007)
- The Dirty Water Underground by Gregory Dicum, in the New York Times (31 May 2007)
- Review of Water Storage by Patricia Eisenberg in The Last Straw (2005)
- From graywater, green landscapes grow by Bill Meyer in San Francisco Chronicle (13 March 2004)
- Reviews of Create an Oasis with Greywater, Builder's Greywater Guide, and Branched Drain Greywater Systems in Ecology Action Newsletter (November 2003)
- Removing the Wrinkles of Gray-Water Reuse by Nancy Christie in Smart Homeowner (May/June 2003)
- Reviews of Create an Oasis with Greywater, Builder's Greywater Guide, and Branched Drain Greywater Systems in Hortideas (May 2003)
- Reviews of Builder's Greywater Guide and Branched Drain Greywater Systems by Diana Leafe Christian in Communities (Summer 2002)
- Review of Create An Oasis with Greywater by Peter Olorenshaw in EcoLiving New Zealand (2001)
- Why are we flushing toilets with water good enough to drink? by Kira L. Gould in Architectural Record (October 1998)
- Review of Create An Oasis with Greywater in NFM's New Product Review (Spring 1996)
- Earth Friendly Living: Green Use is Reuse of Greywater by Mark Harris in the LA Times (December 1995)
- Earth Friendly Living: A Host of Systems Lead Greywater to Ground by Mark Harris in the LA Times (December 1995)
- Desigining Greywater Systems in In Business (July/August 1995)
- Greywater Usage in Keep the Sespe Wild (June 1995)
- How Does Laundry Soap Affect Greywater Irrigation? in Water Conditioning & Purification (March 1995)
- Greywater Recycling Special Report by Art Ludwig in The Compendium Newsletter (July/August 1994)
- Graywater has a double lifespan by Art Ludwig in the Santa Barbara News-Press (20 April 1994)
- Greywater Can Nourish Your Landscape If... in Contact Sheet (March 1994)
- Water-Wise Gardening: America's Backyard Revolution by Thomas Christopher (February 1994)
- Greywater Booklet in Water Conditioning & Purification (November 1993)
- Gray-Water Gardening in Country life (July/August 1993)
- A Guide to Using Gray Water in The American Rose magazine (October 1992)
- Business Climate Improves For Saving Water in In Business (September/October 1991)
- A Greyt Way To Use Laundry Water in Garbage (March/April 1991)
- Re: The Problems and Trade-offs of Creating an Environmentally Sound Product by Art Ludwig in The Earthwise Consumer (Late Winter/Early Spring 1991)
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