Control. Presented by Brian Bernados, Drinking Water Program

Transcription

1 Graywater and Cross-C Connection Control September 2008 Presented by Brian Bernados, Drinking Water Program California Department of Public Health

2 Graywater Definition n per Water Code "Graywater means unt treated wastewater which has not been contaminated by Any toilet discharge, has not been affected by infectious, contaminated, t or unhe ealthy bodily wastes, and which does not present a threat from contamination by unhealthful processing, manufacturing, or operating wastes.

3 Graywater includes wastewater t from bathtubs, showers, bathroom washbasins, clothes washing mach hines, and laundry tubs but does not include wastewater from kitchen sinks or dishwashers.

4 More in Water Cod de The department shall include among the approved methods of subsurface irrigation, but shall not be limited to, drip systems. The department shall revise its graywater systems standards as needed. A graywater system may be installed if the city or county having jurisdiction over the installation determines that t the syste em complies with standards d adopted by the department. Department above = DW WR

5 City or count ty more stringent After a public hearing, a city or county may adopt, by ordinance, standards that prohibit the use of graywater or standards that are more restrictive than the standards adopted by the department, as appropriate for the local l area.

6 Some Grayw water History 1994, DWR Guidance and CA Plumbing Code allowed use of graywater in single- family residences for subsurface irrigation. March 1997, CA Pluming Code revised the Code allowing for a di rect connection with domestic water and graywater systems graywater system sh hall not be connected to any potable water system without an air gap or a reduced pressure princ ciple backflow preventer

7 SB 1258 SB 1258, recently signed by the governor, directs the Building Standards Commission (BSC) to adopt changes to the plumbing code to address graywater installations The building code standards are to be revised in the next BSC triennial review, scheduled to start in 2009 and complete at the end of 2011 CDPH and other public health officials will be part of the stakeholder group to be formed to work with BSC on the graywater standards After new standards are adopted, DWR s graywater standards will no longer be in effect, and DWR will not be responsible for graywater standards

8 Public Health Public health officials wan nt to ensure protection of the public from exposure to water that may have some bacteriologic or other contamination Expanded graywater use should be done with sufficient controls to protect public health In particular, there are and should continue to be provisions to prevent possible backflow from a graywater system into a domestic drinking water supply There may be additional requirements needed to prevent public exposure to graywater from direct contact or from consump tion

9 Title 17: Backflo ow Protection Reasons for Backflow Protection Water user s onsite activities pose a health risk to the water supply if access is prov vided. Many involve Increase threat of cross-connec connec ctions (dual plumbed, graywater, recycled water systems)

10 Backflow Preventioentio on Usually Nothing Happens Its Big News When Multiple Things Go Need Water and Contaminants t Something is plumbed wrong Humans Aren t Paying Attention It Happens it Does Happen Wrong

11 Type of Hazards in a CA Drinking Water Program Typical Dis stribution System 1. Irrigation Systems 2. Private Wells/Auxiliary Supplies 3. Fire Sprinkler Sy ystems 4. Commercial/Industrial Services (Complicated Piping Systems) 5. Wastewater Facilities (Sewage Lift St tations/treatment Plants) 6. Graywater Systems 7. Recycled Water Use 8. Dual Plumbed Services

12 Title17Re egulations PWS must install lb backflow protection ti assemblies approved by the CDPH. (a list of approved assemblies is available) Location of Backflow Protection - Generally, located as close as practicable to user s connection (typically at the meter).

13 Title17Re egulations Annual testing is required of Backflow Assemblies; defective assemblies must be replaced or repaired with approved parts/assemblies Graywater is an auxiliary Backflow Assembly source requiring an RP type Public Water System sho ould implement a method to identify premises where graywater systems are being installed (i.e., county, local building gp permits)

14 The End Questions?