Dig trenches for the polyline

1. Dig trenches for the polyline Photo Deva Luna, EarthCare Landscaping

2. Emitters: 1” x ½” barbed reducing tees This prevents clogging by lint . . .or pennies

3. Emitters: • Adjustable ball valves • Drilled holes & goof plugs • Keep end of line open to prevent strain on washing machine pump in case of clog

4. Drawing of mulch basins Thanks to Art Ludwig, Oasis Design

5. Dig the mulch basins Photo Deva Luna, EarthCare Landscaping

6. Send emitters to mulch basins – avoid pumping up hill whenever possible Check the flow rates. Add little ball valves on some emitters to adjust the rates.

7. Parts for Laundry to Landscape • www.cleanwatercomponents.com – online ordering • Brass one-inch 3-way valve @ Urban Farmer or plumbing supply store • Auto vent or inline vent – Horizon Irrigation Supply, Urban Farmer, plumbing supply, or hardware store, or www.oasis.net • Blu-Lock @ Urban Farmer or PVC @ hardware store • 1” barbed fittings – hardware store or irrigation supply • Emitters • 1” to ½” reducing tee – hardware or irrigation supply • Plastic ball valves – irrigation supply • Goof plugs – hardware or irrigation supply

8. What soaps to use? Not all biodegradable products are good for plants

9. Ingredients to avoidRead the Labels • Salt, sodium compounds damages soil • Boron, borax (Bon Ami) micronutrient turns into a microtoxin • Chlorine kills bacteria/life (hydrogen peroxide better)

10. Use these laundry products • Oasis • ECOS (available at Wholefoods) • Bio pac liquid detergent • Wonder balls or Soap nuts • No powdered detergents, salt, borax, bleach, water softener

11. What to plant • Fruit trees: Apples, pears, citrus, nectarines, etc • Berries: Black, raspberries, etc. (even blueberries if soil prepared) • Tomatoes, peppers, eggplants • Artichokes, corn • Ornamental shrubs and trees

12. Actual - How much water? Need to match supply and demand • Demand – how much the plants need • Fruit trees are moderate water plants • Moderate water plants ~ 1/3 gallon per week per square foot during dry season • Supply – how much a top washer produces • 5-6 loads per week • 30 gallons per load (top loader) • 150-180 gallons per week • @ 1/3 gallon per square foot = 450-540 square feet • Front loader = less water

13. Maintenance Manual Items • Directions that the manual is to stay with the house • Notify new owners that there is a graywater system • Plot plan of system • Description of how to turn the system on and off • Do not send water from diapers or infectious garments to the garden, instead to the sewer • Do not include hazardous chemicals in graywater • Replace mulch every 3 years or when mulch becomes compost • Descriptions of what not to put down the drain and what to look for in products • Best to turn the system off in the winter to allow rainwater to flush any salts from top soil • Do not allow graywater to pond or runoff

14. Rebates • SFPUC - $225 to offset the permit cost • Santa Clara Valley Water District – L2L $100 rebate • Soquel Creek - $150 per fixture

15. But what about the shower? Single Fixture or Simple Systems

16. Simple SystemExceeds a clothes washer system • Discharges less than 250 gallons per day • Requires a permit • Design must meet graywater design criteria “Branched Drain Systems” are the next simplest and cheapest systems

17. Retrofitting for Branched Drain SystemsStep 1: Separate black and gray water Drawing from: Gray Water Use in the Landscape by Robert Kourik, 1988

18. Branched Drain • Water drains from fixture directly to landscape • No pumps • Sloped landscape required! • Requires a permit • No kitchen sinks or dishwashers • Must reroute pipes Drawing from: Branched Drain Greywater Systems by Art Ludwig

19. Cut the shower drain pipe Photos from Deva Luna, Earthcare Landscaping

20. Install the 3-way diverter valve

21. Cutting cast iron pipe

22. Install 3-way diverter valve This is a good place for an actuator (remote switch).

23. Use rigid ABS drain pipe

24. Double ells split the flow of water

25. Double ell branch must be level(shield to be covered with a piece of flagstone)

26. Check the 2% slope (1/4” drop per 1’ horizontal)

27. Branched drain mulch basins

28. It works!

29. Steps to Getting a Permit • Notify the Planning Department • Groundwater depth check test • Estimating discharge amount • Determining maximum water absorption • Sizing the mulch basins • Plans • Fees and inspections

30. Per the Code: Groundwater Depth Check • Dig hole 3 feet below the lowest discharge point and check for groundwater • Inspector may check

31. Per the Code: Estimating Amount of Discharge • First bedroom = 2 occupants • Each add’l bedroom = 1 occupant • Three bedroom house = 4 occupants • Showers, bathtubs, sinks = 25 GPD/ occupant • Laundry = 15 GPD/ occupant • GPD = gallons per day

32. Per the Code: Discharge area Depends on Soil Type • Clay with sand or gravel soil = 120 square feet (sf)/ 100 gallons • Clay with lots of sand or gravel = 90 sf/100 gal • Sandy clay = 60 sf/ 100 gal • Sandy loam = 40 sf/ 100 gallons • Fine sand = 25 sf/ 100 gallons • Coarse sand or gravel = 20 sf/ 100 gallons

33. Tests to determine type of soil • Contractor test (ribbon or shake test) • Known soil type • Lab test ($25-35) • Or just assume clay

34. Plot Plan • Water source • Set backs • 2’ bldgs • 1.5’ prop • Area • Permit fees = $167 • 2 bedrooms Drawing thanks to Jon Bauer of Greywater Action, permitted branched drain system in Oakland

35. Shower and sink products • Aubrey Organics shampoo and conditioner • Dr. Bronner’s • Oasis all purpose cleaner • No bleach, hair dye, harsh cleaners, salt baths, epson salts

36. Cleaning products • Vinegar based cleaners • Liquid soap based cleaners • Dr. Bronner’s • No high salt products, bleach, harsh cleaners

37. Complex System • Discharge over 250 gallons per day • Requires permit • Designed by “person who can demonstrate competency”

38. Complex System Components • Tank • Pump • Filter – sand or other • Subsurface drip delivery

39. Permitted Systems Surge tank, pump, and filter Source: ReWater, Inc.

40. Permitted Systems • Valves • Emitters • Just Water Saver’s IrriGray for gray water (black with purple stripes) • Specially designed ReWater emitters won’t clog ReWater, Inc. Cone drip emitters

41. Irrigation Controller • Twenty-one stations • Automatic filter backwash • Fresh water supplementation (when out of town) ReWater’s Complete Control irrigation controller

42. Lawn Irrigation Installation Photos from ReWater, Inc. Lawn five years after installation

43. Sunnyvale Home – Installed 2006 Sand filter from ReWater Surge tank in vault Surge tank in vault Lawn with subsurface drip tubing from Netafim, installed by EarthCare Landscaping, plumbing by Hal Branges

44. Palo Alto Home – Installed 2012

45. Flotender $3,500-9,000

46. Subsurface Drip-Type Gray Water Costs • ~$6,000 + greater than typical drip system • Subsurface drip – more efficient than standard drip system since below grade • Extra labor for trenching and installing equipment, especially for lawns • Hard to trench around established trees • Easier for new construction, more complicated for remodels • Multi-unit residential, commercial & industrial sites can get credit for reducing sewer use

47. Payback for Systems

48. New House or Construction “The ideal way to plumb the house is with greywater and blackwater totally separate,… and the greywater lines joined to the toilet plumbing outside the house. Drawing from: Oasis Designs, Builder’s Greywater Guide by Art Ludwig

49. Next Steps • Check for and fix leaks! • New/ remodeling construction should always have stubouts for graywater – see City of Tucson • Take a one-day or five-day class – Graywater Action • Volunteer to have a system installed at your house with a class! • Design and install your own system • Apply for rebates with Santa Clara Valley Water District

50. References & Additional Information • SFPUCGraywater Manual http://sfwater.org/modules/showdocument.aspx?documentid=55“ • Laundry to Landscape” DVD and “Create an Oasis with Greywater” book by Art Ludwig and Oasis www://oasisdesign.net • Greywater Action, graywater classes and activism, 2012 Bay Area Graywater Study www.greywateraction.org • Urban Farmer stores, plumbing supply stores for parts • Berkeley’s Ecology Center and EcoHouse, graywater tours/ classes: www.ecologycenter.org