Eye on the Environment: Gray water can be reused; county will show how
Jim McDonald, Guest writer
Ventura County Star
05/01/2010
Reusing laundry water for irrigating flower beds and shrubbery just makes sense. Water from clothes washers is usually just sent down the drain into the sewer system, but many of us are aware that this “gray water” can be put to better use.
Some simply hook a garden hose to the washer and run it out the window to lawns and landscaping. While this may seem harmless, it is illegal and poses potential dangers.
Gray water on the surface of the ground puts pets and children at risk, increasing the chances of them coming in contact with bacteria. Gray water also can contaminate carrots, onions, strawberries or other low-to-the-ground food plants. In contrast, citrus and avocado trees can be safely irrigated with gray water.
Fortunately, if handled correctly, gray water can be safely and legally reused. In January, the state changed the rules on gray water disposal, and the Ventura County Building and Safety Division, working with the International Code Council’s Ventura Chapter, developed a standard plan for the installation of a gray-water-reuse system.
This system can be installed at a single-family home to distribute gray water from a washer to landscaping. By following 12 simple rules outlined in the revised regulations, it can be installed without a city or county plumbing permit.
We have also constructed two demonstration walls that provide details on what a completed system should look like. We will be making these walls available throughout the county in various city halls and other public areas.
To download a copy of the standard plan, you can visit http://www.ventura.org/RMA/build_safe/special/graywater.html. Paper copies should also be available at your nearest Building and Safety office. Call ahead to be sure.
