Grey Water System Design California

California s greywater code is found in chapter 15 of the california plumbing code cpc as of 2017 previously it was in chapter 16.

Grey water system design california. A gray water system uses gray water for subsurface irrigation and may include tanks valves filters pumps or other appurtenances along with piping and receiving landscape. No pumps no machinery and virtually no maintenance. Gain a complete understanding of the history and realities of california greywater use not just the one in 10 000 systems that were built with permits but the other 1 7 million existing systems get a complete view of the risks and benefits of greywater reuse. Actually greywater systems can be incredibly simple.

Wasteful practices and actively discourage best management practices. Unfortunately many sections of the code encourage inefficient i e. Without altering household plumbing one bit this gravity based system redirects water from the washing machine into a basic yard irrigation system. In 2009 california revamped its greywater codes.

Take the laundry to landscape system for example. The california water code section 14877 defines a greywater system as a system and devices attached to the plumbing system for the sanitary distribution or use of greywater the california plumbing code specifically title 24 sets the regulatory standards for plumbing and installations of greywater systems. I will explain why after listing the major points of the code. Under the current code washing machine systems can be constructed without a permit in single family homes 1 or 2 units so long as 13 guidelines are followed see below.

The new code allows simple laundry to landscape systems without a permit but requires permits and inspections for most greywater systems.