Greywater 101. Evolving beyond wastewater

Transcription

1 Greywater 101 Evolving beyond wastewater Presentation by Nicholas Holmes Certified Greywater Installer with Eva Soltes Founder/ Director, Harrison House Music, Arts, Ecology September 24 th, 2016

2 What is the average daily water use for Americans (inside the house and for outdoor irrigation)? 156 gallons

3 How many gallons of water per day does the World Health Organization recommend each person have to meet their basic health and sanitation needs? 13 gallons

4 How many people worldwide do not have any water within a 15-minute walk of their homes? 1 billion

5 How many children die each day as a result of dirty water?

6 How many gallons of water does it take to produce one glass of orange juice? 45 gallons (virtual water) / (embodied water)

7 What is a major cause for 1/3 of the world s freshwater fish species being extinct, endangered, or vulnerable? Dams

8 Who said, Whiskey is for drinking; water is for fighting over? Mark Twain

9 According to the EPA, between 1.8 and 3.5 million Americans become ill every year from recreational contact with waters contaminated by what? sewage overflows

10 How many billions of gallons of raw or partially treated sewage flows into U.S. waterways each year? 850 billion gallons

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14 Typical Single Family Residential Water Use

15 About 50% of residential water is used for irrigation I don't need clean drinking water!

16 What is Greywater?

17 Greywater is water from: #1 Washing machines Top loading machine: gallons/load Front loading machine: gallons/load Top efficient: gallons/load

18 Greywater is water from: #2 Showers and baths

19 Greywater is water from: #3 Sinks (Kitchen sink water is not currently considered greywater in California)

20 Pre-Legal Kitchen Sinks 20

21 Greywater is never from toilets!

22 Greywater Reuse 16-40% reduction in water use

23 Californians produce around 1 billion gallons of Greywater every day

24 Greywater vs. Desalination Plants or Image credit Logicom

25 10% of homes in Southern CA using washing machine greywater = ~ 40 million gallons/day

26 Benefits of using Greywater Saves water Saves energy Saves time & effort Nutrient-rich, supports vigorous plant growth Boosts soil fertility Lessens strain/ extends the life of septic & sewer systems Creates life in the garden

27 How can you use Greywater? #1 For outdoor irrigation #2 To flush toilets These systems require filtration, disinfection, and frequent maintenance. They are difficult to obtain permits for.

28 Greywater Systems Irrigate Larger Plants Trees Bushes Vines Larger annuals and perennials

29 but not lawns or small plants Irrigating these types of plants requires a more complex type of system.

30 Use Plant Friendly Products These products don't contain SALT, BORON, or CHLORINE. For example: Oasis Biocompatible, ECOS, Biopac, Vaska, Aubrey Organics, hydrogen peroxide bleach. Don't use sodium based water softened water. Potassium based softened water is ok.

31 Greywater Guidelines Choose the most simple system possible and install it with the most care. Don t store greywater more than 24 hours Infiltrate greywater into mulch Minimize human and animal contact with greywater Include easy way to switch back to sewer/septic Greywater is best for trees (fruit), shrubs, but can be used for other plants as well (but no root crops) Know what you put down the drain, use biocompatible soaps Have proper signage

32 Greywater is NOT Potable It's important that: Greywater doesn't pool up. People don't have direct contact with the water. Greywater doesn't run off or enter a storm drain, creek, river, etc.. Greywater is not used to irrigate root crops.

33 A brief history of the legality of greywater: Before 2009: l It was not possible to install a legal system, there were 1.6 million illegal systems in California. After 2009: l It is possible to install several types of systems legally, some don't even require a permit. 33

34 Is greywater legal? Yes! Greywater is regulated by Chapter 16 of the California Plumbing Code. 34

35 Greywater Systems can be Simple or High-Tech Image Water Sprout 35

36 A Bucket l Collect cold water as shower heats up, and even while you shower l Dishpan in sink to collect wash water l Use for irrigation l Use to bucket flush toilet (pour into toilet bowl) 36

37 Simple System: Laundry-to-Landscape (L2L) A washing machine system that doesn't alter the plumbing and doesn t require a permit (if basic guidelines are followed). 37

38 Simple System: Laundry-to-Landscape (L2L) Costs: $150-$250 parts, $700-$2,500 professional installation 38

39 Laundry-to-Landscape System Sewer connection Greywater goes to landscape Diverter valve 39

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43 A shallow basin filled with mulch (wood chips). Mulch Basin The basin spreads greywater out, provides surge capacity, and prevents pooling or runoff. This man is filling the basin with wood chips. 43

44 Wood chips filter and absorb greywater before it soaks into the soil. Mulch

45 Branched Drain: A Gravity System 45 Costs: $250-$500 parts, $800-$4,000 professional installation (permit fees cost more)

46 Branched Drain System Setbacks from buildings and property lines Greywater outlet is under a solid shield and flows into a mulch basin. Size of basin depends on soil type and amount of water. 46

47 Completed System and 1 Year Later Images: Josh Lowe 47

48 Branched Drain System

49 Branched Drain System

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52 Pumped System A diverter valve directs GW to a tank Unfiltered GW is pumped out to the landscape with 1 tubing and ½ outlets System requires an outlet and uses electricity Requires a rigorous permitting process 52

53 Photo: Leigh Jerrard 53

54 Pump and Filter System for Drip Irrigation (Filters must be cleaned manually and require frequent maintenance) Drip irrigation Image: Leigh Jerrard Note: Filtered GW requires special drip tubing and is not compatible 54 with most standard drip systems.

55 High-End Residential 55 Images: Watersprout.org

56 High-tech Greywater System NRDC Headquarters- ReWater System 56

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59 Consulting/ GW System Design & Construction: Nicholas Holmes/ Greywater Solutions (805) Specialty Greywater Parts & Supplies: Solstice Eco Building The Nourishing Tree Twentynine Palms Hwy. Joshua Tree, CA solstice.ecosupply@gmail.com (800)