Graywater

Graywater is untreated waste water from clothes washers, showers, bathtubs, bathroom sinks and laundry tubs that is used for outdoor watering. About half of the water used indoors or about 30 gallons per person per day from appropriate graywater sources can be used for landscape irrigation. Wastewater from toilets and kitchen sinks or dishwashers is not allowed.

EBMUD offers customized incentives for permitted graywater systems. A permit may be required for certain graywater systems. Check with your local building department.

The documents below are PDF files that can be viewed and printed with Adobe Acrobat, a free software.

Graywater Resources

Berkeley EcoHouse

The Ecology Center's mission is to promote environmentally and socially responsible practices through programs that educate, demonstrate, and provide direct services.

Ecology Action: Central Coast Graywater Alliance

Ecology Action is a nonprofit environmental consultancy delivering cutting edge education services, technical assistance, and program implementation for initiatives that assist individuals, business and government to maximize environmental quality and community well being.

The GrayWater Alliance

Why to use graywater, how to choose, build and use graywater reuse systems, regulations, studies, science and examples. Includes graywater irrigation, graywater treatment, graywater filters, high tech indoor graywater reuse and graywater management in developing countries.

Graywater Action - For a Sustainable Water Culture

Graywater Action is a collaborative group of educators, designers, builders, and artists who educate and empower people to build sustainable water culture and infrastructure.

Graywater Policy and Science Center

A Wiki-based site for the discussion of efficient use of time and money on the part of Government and other stakeholders in the effort write California's new graywater standard.

NAHB Research Center

ToolBase.org is the housing industry's best resource for technical information on building products, materials, new technologies, business management, and housing systems. The site provides information on initial costs of a graywater system, operational costs, field evaluations, and code acceptance for various parts of the country.

New Mexico State University

Study done by the university on the Safe Use of Household Graywater.

The Pacific Institute

The Pacific Institute works to create a healthier planet and sustainable communities by conducting interdisciplinary research and partnering with stakeholders to produce solutions that advance environmental protection, economic development, and social equity - in California, nationally, and internationally.

Oasis Design

Oasis Design is a private business providing information on graywater isues such as: Why use graywater, how to choose, build and use graywater reuse systems, regulations, studies, science and examples. Includes graywater irrigation, graywater treatment, graywater filters, high tech indoor graywater reuse and graywater management in developing countries.

The University of Massachusetts Amherst

Common uses and practices for residential home graywater.

 

This webpage is provided by EBMUD as a resource for our customers. The sole intent is to advance public knowledge of Graywater systems, as they relate to water conservation. The list above is not inclusive and should not be considered as an endorsement of any of the listings. If you are a Graywater resource and wish to be added to this list, please contact EBMUD.