Graywater Gardening

GRAYWATER
GARDENING
From
Buckets to Irrigation Systems
A detailed guide to help You

determine what is best for
Your Garden!
Paul James
Just Water Savers USA Inc.
Graywater Gardening © Just Water Savers USA Inc 2010. All rights reserved.
Back to Contents
The most important concept of this guide is water

re-use efficiency.
Diverting washing machine and bath / shower water into a few mulch
basins in the garden does save water, but is only about 20% efficient.
If you would like to save up to 90% of the water, this guide is for you.
 If you put 5 gallons of water in one 4 foot diameter mulch basin

every day (150 gallons per month), you have not saved 5 gallons
per day
 In Tucson, Arizona, that basin only needs 12 gallons for the

whole of July for low to medium water-use plants & trees
 The actual amount saved is 12 gallons.

The irrigation efficiency is 12/150 or 8%. The rest of the water simply
drained into the subsoil, wasted
 Instead, the 5 gallons per day could be irrigating 90 square feet

of garden
 A family of four, easily generating 100 gallons of graywater per day,

could be irrigating 1,700 square feet in Tucson,
or over 2,400 square feet in San Diego
This guide describes many different methods of re-using graywater,

their efficiencies and return on investment.
Contents
Graywater Gardening
Chapters
1. Introduction 11. Graywater codes

1.1 Putting water saving into context 11.1 Graywater: Friend or Foe?
2. Graywater - 2 minute overview 11.2 State Codes
11.2.1 Wyoming
3. About graywater
11.2.2 New Mexico
4. How graywater moves through soil 11.2.3 Texas
11.2.4 Arizona
5. What plants really want
11.2.5 California
6. Graywater in the Garden 11.2.6 Washington State
7. Graywater re-use methods 11.2.7 Utah

11.2.8 North Carolina
7.1 Efficiency (overview)
11.2.9 Oregon
7.2 Buckets 11.2.10 Other States
7.3 Hoses Products
7.4 Branched drain
1. Water Saving Products & Systems
7.5 Laundry to landscape 1.1 IrriGRAY dripperline
7.6 IrriGRAY graywater dripperline 1.2 IrriGRAY graywater (gravity) kit
1.3 IrriGRAY graywater (pressurized) kit
7.6.1 Lawn / turf irrigation
1.4 IrriGRAY pumping systems
7.6.2 Potable water dripperlines
2. Rainwater Harvesting Products & Systems
7.6.3 Comparison with Geoflow
2.1 IrriGRAY rainwater (gravity) kit
8. Irrigation area calculator 2.2 Rain Barrel Pump and Hose Kit
8.1 ETo theory Useful Links

8.2 Irrigation coverage: Tucson example
Resources
9. Graywater Irrigation dripperline installation
Document Control / Revisions
10. Plumbing
Contact us
1. Introduction Back to Contents
context sensitive. What is best for you certainly won‟t be best for someone in a
1. Introduction neighboring state, and may not be best for your neighbor.
Irrespective of whether climate change is taking place or not, the simple fact is
The most important concept of this guide is water re-use efficiency. Diverting
that America does not have enough drinking water to supply further population
washing machine water into a few holes in the backyard does save water, but is
(and therefore economic) growth without major rethinking of how we use water,
probably only 20% efficient (you actually only save 20% of the water you have
and how we can get the most of out every drop we receive.
diverted). If you would like to save 90% of the water, this guide is for you.
1.1 Putting water saving in context
Before even considering re-using graywater, you should ask yourself

why?
The most common reasons are:
Water shortages - how can I keep my garden alive?
High utility costs - expensive watering the garden
Reducing the load on your septic system - saving money
Going green - attempting to live a sustainable life
If you don't have a garden, re-using graywater within the house requires a
treatment system. This doesn't stack up economically if you are connected to a
The West Coast has been through major drought regularly and was a leader in water supply that is relatively inexpensive.
water re-use until the early 1990's. Most of Australia was in severe drought from In a non-serviced area it can make sense. Or perhaps you want / need to
the mid 1990's until 2010, and many new water saving techniques had to be achieve a certain LEEDs level.
developed out of necessity.
Untreated graywater irrigation systems are now very affordable and make
Graywater, in particular, has been developed to a economic sense, but you must establish the context in which it is installed.
point where it is a mainstream practice. It is not
just a matter of saving buckets of water here and If you don't have a garden, or it is extremely low water use, you probably don't
there, or diverting graywater into a few holes in need to re-use graywater.
the garden.
Save water instead by installing low flow shower heads and toilets. Consider a
The latest techniques use every last drop of high efficiency washing machine (although from a green perspective the carbon
graywater, and to greatest efficiency. These footprint of a new-fangled washing machine is considerably higher than the
techniques save over 4 times the amount of older style machines).
water 'saved' by branch drain and laundry to
landscape, yet do not have to cost more than If you DO have a garden, think carefully about your total water usage.
previous methods.
Thomson Dam 2008, at The following is a great comparison showing how a "whole of property"
18% of storage capacity. This guide provides a thorough grounding on approach should be considered:
Built to future -proof what is possible with graywater. If you are
Melbourne in the 1970's, it interested in saving water, or simply saving
could not cope with drought Two people live in a San Diego house on a 7,000 square foot lot. They both
money, this book gives you the tools to determine have 7 minute daily showers and use the washing machine 4 times each week.
and population growth.
which approach is best for your property.
Their garden requires an average of 5,000 gallons per month for 9 months of
More than anything else, water use is extremely the year.
1. Introduction Back to Contents
Case 1: Using older style shower heads and washing machine, their total using sprinkler heads (very inefficient) with rain sensors, rather than moisture
annual shower, laundry and garden consumption is 80,950 gallons per year. sensors.
Let's imagine rebates were offered for a new washing machine (20 gallons per
wash), and free replacement shower heads (2 gallons per minute flow), but they This chart shows summer
continue to water their garden. Their annual consumption drops down to 59,380 consumption of water for external
gallons, a saving of 21,570 gallons. use in Western Australia. The dip
at the peak resulted from an
unusually heavy rain event.
Case 2: Let's leave everything in place as it was (old shower heads / washing
machine), but install an automatic graywater irrigation system, that is 90% The red line shows the amount of
efficient. water used with automatic
potable water reticulation, the
Their annual consumption drops to 35,950 gallons per year, saving 45,000 blue line shows the amount used
gallons per year. with non-automatic systems.
How can that make sense?
Irrigating every day using graywater dripperlines is far more efficient than About the Author
watering by sprinkler, hose, or reticulation system.
Hi, My name is Paul James and I am
3,000 gallons of graywater per month will achieve a better result for the garden the designer of the IrriGRAY graywater
than 5,000 gallons per month of potable water. product line. We have installed over
1,000 graywater irrigation systems in
You will have to read the rest of this guide for the explanation (particularly Australia, and sold another 6,000
capillary irrigation effects). systems via resellers. Our products
are now manufactured and sold in the
I've raised this concept very early in the book because it was a very important USA.
issue in Australia. People were changing their shower heads / washing
machines, but still irrigating the old way. But I have not written this book to sell
product (sure, there is a section at the
In most cases it is cheaper and more beneficial to re-use your graywater outside back about our products, and I am
than to reduce your inside home water use. proud of the range we manufacture).
Even in new homes, it is about the same cost (or less) to install a graywater I have written this guide to help you save more water, by understanding
irrigation system than a potable water irrigation system, although a make-up the many ways of re-using graywater in the garden, each with their own
water connection may be required if you don't generate quite enough graywater pro's and con's.
with low flow amenities.
I hope you find this resource useful, and I welcome your feedback. You can
Decide how sustainable you want to be. email me [email protected]
You may only have enough graywater to support the plants and trees in the
garden beds, and not the lawn. With over 7 years experience in the field, Paul is recognised as leader in the
field, invited as expert panellist for Industry Symposiums in Australia and the
Maybe you only have enough to water half of your garden, in which case make- USA. His graywater dripperline specifications, and ETo / Graywater dripperline
up water could be used, or you decide to irrigate selected areas only. efficiency calculations appear in several US state code definitions.
Water conservation is all about knowing what your property needs, and only Passionate about water, and recognising the rapidly increasing value of water,
applying that amount. Don't be tempted to run dual irrigation systems - it Paul is focused on educating the general public about using water to its
invariably results in overwatering. In any of the warmer states, outdoor use maximum benefit.
exceeds indoor use. Much of the problem is caused by automatic reticulation,
2. Graywater overview Back to Contents
Irrigating with Graywater

2. Graywater - a 2 minute overview
The most basic irrigation method is using buckets to collect and distribute
This guide contains a lot of information about graywater irrigation for gardens.
graywater. This method, while inexpensive, is very inefficient, and prone to
This section is a summary for those that need a quick overview.
overwatering.
Before delving into the concepts, it is important to state that graywater re-use is
Sub-surface dripperlines are the most efficient method of irrigation, and can
now relatively easy. New dripperline technology has now made it possible to
make use of capillary action. IrriGRAY dripperline revolutionized graywater
install a complete residential garden graywater irrigation system (excluding
irrigation in Australia, and now has over 90% of the irrigation market there. It is
plumbing modifications), to professional standards, in just a few hours.
now manufactured and available here in the US.
Graywater
Because of the capillary effect resulting from daily irrigation, dripperline systems
are designed to water the whole garden bed - NOT just individual plants.
Graywater is waste water from
showers, bath, hand basins and the
Laundry to Landscape, popularized in California, is time consuming to
laundry. It does not include water
establish, and significantly increases the risk of washing machine failure. Due to
from the toilet, or laundry if the wash
the limited number of irrigation outlets, it is also inefficient, wasting significant
includes soiled items such as diapers.
amounts of graywater.
The average person generates over
Diverting Graywater
25 gallons of graywater each day.
If a new house is being constructed on a slab, graywater stub outs should be
A family of 4 produce enough
installed before the slab is laid. If not specifically requested before construction
graywater to irrigate over 2,400 sq ft
commences, it is common for builders to combine waste pipes within the slab
of garden in a semi-dry climate such
(to save cost), rendering the waste water unusable.
as Southern California.
Older houses, or houses built on piers / stumps, can generally be retro-fitted
Untreated graywater must be used within 24 hours, otherwise bacteria can
with a graywater irrigation system.
multiply to unsafe levels. Treated graywater can be stored, however in most
cases treatment systems are uneconomical for residential properties.
Gravity based irrigation systems, built from standard poly tube or branched
drain networks are difficult to design and implement. Ongoing tuning will be
In areas with infrequent summer rains, graywater is cheaper to harvest than
required to evenly irrigate the garden area.
rainwater. If little rain is experienced for a 3 month period, a family of four can
re-use over 3,000 gallons per month. An equivalent cistern would need to be at
Gravity based graywater dripperlines are easier to install, but should include a
least 9,000 gallons capacity.
surge tank (55 gallons or more) to allow graywater more time to disperse
through the drippers.
Graywater for Gardens
Washing machine graywater can be gravity irrigated in most houses where the
washing machine is not in a basement. The washing machine pump is not
Gardens, including fruit and vegetables, do not need
designed be used to pressurize an irrigation system.
fresh potable water. The top level of soil quickly treats
the graywater, removing bacteria and contaminants.
Pressurized (pumped) graywater dripperline systems require only small
pumping cisterns, as a well designed graywater pumping unit will irrigate at a
Experience has shown ornamental, native and food
faster rate than graywater is generated by two showers, or a shower and a
producing plants thrive on graywater, especially when
washing machine used simultaneously.
irrigated every day.
A pressurized system can easily irrigate a 7,000 sq ft property in a single zone
Sensible precautions should be taken, such as
(subject to sufficient graywater production in the house). In most cases,
eco-friendly detergents, and avoiding the use of toxic
graywater can be pumped 25' uphill and an unlimited distance downhill, without
cleaners such as bleach, boron and sodium.
the need for a secondary pumping unit.
2. Graywater overview Back to Contents
Pump Misinformation
3. About Graywater
Much of the information on US websites has been disproven in Australia over
The average person uses between How much graywater do you
the last 5 - 10 years.
20 and 45 gallons per day for produce?
simple tasks such as bathing or
While gravity driven irrigation systems (especially graywater dripperlines) are
showering, and using the washing This varies from house to house. For
inexpensive and highly efficient, the ideal system for whole of house graywater most cases, about 60% of water used
machine.
re-use, (and certainly where the irrigation field/s are uphill from the graywater inside the home would be considered
source), a pumping station will be required. In the past these were expensive, This doesn't sound like much, but graywater.
but quality products are now available for around $500-$600. over one month this amounts to
over 1350 gallons per person. However, this is largely dependent on
Tens of thousands of graywater pumping and irrigation systems have been personal hygiene practices.
In a new house, with new
installed in the hot and dry Australian climate, without requiring significant
appliances and plumbing fixtures, As an example, the national average
maintenance.
this figure may drop to about 25 shower usage per person per day is
gallons per day, or 750 gallons per 11 gallons.
Some of the sillier claims still promoted on current websites are:
month.
Yet the average shower using hi flow
 Pumps don't work long without filtration. shower heads (5gpm) is 35 gallons,
and low flow is 20 gallons.
Dirty water submersible pumps are designed for ...dirty water. They use an impeller to
create a whirlpool in the pump and force the water out with little contact with the Combining the two statistics above
impeller. Graywater is household waste would mean the average American
They are designed to pump soft solids up to 1 1/2" or more in size. water that includes the following: showers every 2-3 days!
- Shower Water
About 10 years ago there was a common perception in Australia that graywater had to
be filtered before the pump, to preserve the pump. This has since been proven false -
- Bath Water
in over 6,000 systems manufactured and sold in Australia by Just Water Savers - Lavatory (basin) Water
(Australia), not one pump has been bound by hair or lint, and this is with filtration after - Laundry Water
the pump. - Untreated Spa Water
 Pumps use a lot of electricity, typically being between the number 2 and 5 energy
consumer within the home.
A 660 Watt pump, providing more than enough power for residential graywater
applications, will typically run for 1/2 hour per day, in total, with 4 people living at the
house, and actually only uses 450 Watts during operation.
Therefore the total daily power usage is 0.25 kilowatt hours. At say, 11 cents
per kilowatt hour (2007 USA average), this comes to a cost of 2.8 cents per day,
or $6.70 per year (60.8 kWh).
As comparison, this is less than the amount of power consumed by a DVD player,
hardly in the top 5 energy consumers in the home. Typically, two thirds of the water used in a water-aware household results in
graywater (excluding water used for the garden and lawns).
Overall the power usage represents 0.6% of the average home power consumption
(based on 2001 USA household electricity statistics). Blackwater is household waste water that includes:
This calculation is based on a graywater system connected to all shower / bath and - Toilet Water
laundry waste, in operation for 9 months of the year. - Laundry Water, if the waste water is from washing diapers,
or other materials containing feces
3. About graywater Back to Contents
Darkwater is household waste water from the the graywater and present an unacceptable health risk.
kitchen. It may contain food contaminants, oils
and powerful detergents (especially Although the 24 hour rule is applied almost universally throughout the world,
dishwashers). graywater can develop offensive odors within several hours, and we
recommend not storing graywater at all. This is particularly the case with
Although many jurisdictions ban the re-use of shower water. The body oils, soap and bacteria interact rapidly, creating a very
kitchen water (darkwater), in some situations this noticeable odor quickly.
water may be used for garden irrigation IF a
grease trap is installed between the kitchen Washing Machine graywater is less susceptible to developing odors within 24
waste outlet and a graywater pumping system. hours.
The above definitions apply generally throughout the world, although exact Untreated graywater should not in any circumstance be re-used within the
definitions vary from country to country, and in the US from state to state. house (e.g. bucketing shower water back into the toilet cistern). This creates
significant health risks.
Practical Graywater Re-use Treated Graywater
In an urban situation, with a utility provided sewage system, we recommend Graywater that has either been chemically or UV
only re-using shower, bath, spa bath and laundry water. treated can be re-used within the house, but only in
the laundry and for toilet cistern refilling. It can NOT
Kitchen and lavatory water is best left for the blackwater waste pipe network. be used for human / animal consumption, nor can it
Lavatory (basin) water is in most cases does not provide enough water to justify be used to supply water for swimming pools.
the connection cost, and in any case provides additional water flow to help flush
the blackwater pipe system. Prices have been decreasing from $10,000+ down
In a rural situation (i.e. a septic system is used), kitchen water can be used to around $4,000 -$5,000 for a residential toilet
(subject to local regulations), IF the following occurs: flushing system.
A grease trap is installed between the kitchen sink and the graywater system. Larger systems ($10,000 - $20,000) are viable for
This ensures food scraps, fats and oils are not irrigated in the garden. In commercial applications such as Laundromats and
addition to containing high bacteria levels, the significant quantity of fats can Hotels.
create an impervious barrier within the top soil.
The dishwasher does not empty into the kitchen sink waste, because the
detergent is too caustic.
Graywater Names
The WL-55 automatic
Graywater is called Graywater, Gray Water, Greywater & Grey water. Although treatment system, by
debate is still underway (and will probably never cease), the likely outcome is Water Legacy LLC,
Graywater in the US, and Greywater in other countries. Colorado
Fortunately, most search engines now search for all of the above terms if only
one is searched.
Graywater contains contaminants such as dirt, skin cells, body oils, hair and lint.
It also contains bacteria which may present a health risk if not used properly.
Untreated Graywater
Untreated graywater must be used within 24 hours, and in most jurisdictions can
only be used to irrigate gardens. Beyond 24 hours, bacteria will multiply within
4. Graywater in soil Back to Contents
The effect of gravity pulls the water down, into the root zone, and if there is
4. How Graywater Moves through Soil more water than the roots can take straight away, it keeps going down, into the
subsoil and much of it wasted,
Not many people think about how they apply water to the garden. We have
been conditioned to apply water deeply only when the soil or a plant is thirsty /
To summarize, for soil, water moves slowly through dry soil, and relatively
dry.
quickly through wet / moist soil.
The reality is that watering everyday, with a little water, provides a much better
How does Capillary Action help graywater irrigation?
outcome (both in saving water and providing better growth) than watering
Because graywater can be irrigated in the garden every day, the soil builds up
heavily twice or less per week.
moisture levels a significant distance from the immediate irrigation point. Water
spreads quickly away from the irrigation point, avoiding issues with surface
Capillary effects are the key. Before reviewing different methods of using
runoff.
graywater, we will spend a few pages on what Capillary Irrigation is, and why it
is the most important concept of all.
Note that if the garden soil is very dry, surface runoff may occur. This is
common in drought areas, where the soil is so dry it has become hydrophobic
Capillary Action
(i.e. repels water).
Capillary action occurs when the forces binding a liquid together (cohesion and
Soaps and surfactants in the graywater help to breakdown the water resistance,
surface tension) and the forces attracting that bound liquid to another surface
and surface runoff in most cases ceases within a day.
(adhesion) are greater than the force of gravity.
Wet / dry irrigation requires
A simple way of observing this is to take a teaspoon of water and gently pour it more concentrated
in a pool on a countertop. You'll notice that the water stays together in the pool, dripperlines to enable water to
rather than flattening out across the countertop. This happens because of soak into the soil without
cohesion and surface tension. runoff.
In this example three
Cohesion is the attractive dripperlines are needed in the
force that pulls similar garden bed.
substances together. In
this case, the individual
water droplets are being
pulled together. The force Moist soil requires only one
irrigation dripperline for the
of the pull is strongest at
same size garden bed.
the edge of the pool. The When planning and installing
water droplets at the edge a graywater irrigation system,
have fewer neighboring remember to "water the
water droplets, so they garden bed, not the plant".
cling more tightly to those
around them; this is
k n o wn as surface
tension. Now gently dip
the corner of a paper
towel in the pool of water. The water is attracted to the paper and "climbs" up After a few weeks of graywater irrigation on a daily or every second day basis,
the paper towel - this is capillary action. the top 3" to 6" of soil becomes uniformly moist. Think of this zone as being
similar to a water blanket. The water moves freely across the blanket, rather
Water behaves almost exactly the same way in soil. than going down into the subsoil.
If the soil is dry, the surface tension of the edge of the water pool prevents the Because less dripperlines are required, planning and installation is much
water spreading outwards quickly. easier.
4. Graywater in soil Back to Contents
Dripperlines do not need to be near the plant, and can be as far as 3' away (in
loam / clay soil).
5. Understanding what Plants, Shrubs & Trees
really want
During times of drought, water purveyors (and horticulturists) all tell us to water
deeply, once or twice per week to encourage the plant / tree to send its roots
down as far as possible.
This is great advice, IF (and only if) there is not a regular water source.
What they don't tell you (and should know better) is that if the plants / trees
were watered everyday, 30% less water would be required.
This is because the plants cannot use lots of water immediately, and a good 1/3
of the water goes down into the subsoil (and keeps going down) unused by
your garden. (Their concern is that most people would overwater if they
watered everyday - especially if using a garden hose).
So if you want to save water - water more frequently, with lesser amounts,
every day. But how does this relate to what plants need to grow?
What plants need to grow:
 Room to Grow, Temperature, Light, Air & Time
 Water & Nutrients
I can't do much for the room to grow, light, air or time requirements for your
plants. But I can explain the basic interaction between water and nutrients.
The vast majority of plants and trees receive their water and nutrients via the
root structure.
Roots can (and want to) travel much further than most people realise.
The effects of capillary irrigation can be far reaching. My front lawn has under A diagram from Roots
Demystified, by Robert Kourik
turf graywater irrigation (special dripperlines). This lawn rises up 5 feet from the (Metamorphic Press)
front of the house to the sidewalk, and I then have a green strip between the
sidewalk and the curb. This green strip is another 6" higher than the sidewalk.
Even without any irrigation or rain over the hot summer months, my green
strip stays green, while neighboring strips go brown.
Graywater is being sucked under the sidewalk, uphill into the green strip, all
because of capillary action!
5. What plants really want Back to Contents
Nutrients: Fertilizer and Soil Amendments:
Most nutrients are found in the top 3" of soil - the biologically active layer. The If the existing soil is poor, and holds little organic matter in the first 3", soil
further down we go the less nutrients there are. In many soils there is little amendment should be applied. However, it is vital that the amendment is
nutrient loading below 6". spread evenly over the entire garden area.
It would make sense for a plant to grow most of its root in this layer - right? This is the opposite of what most people do when they buy a new tree or shrub.
Water (moisture):  First they dig a hole, a little larger than the root ball of the plant.
When a garden is irrigated daily (with a small amount of water), the top 3" of soil  Then they throw in some plant food / fertilizer in the hole, add lots of
acts like a moisture blanket (see capillary action), the roots and organic matter, water and plop the plant in the hole.
together with bacteria in the soil trap the moisture here, right where the roots
are also looking for nutrients.
 If they have a potable irrigation system they then add an extra dripper
right next to the plant.
However, if the garden is only watered once or twice per week, the roots are
trained by you to go as deep as possible, away from the nutrient supply.
This creates the following problems:
Therefore, the plant / tree is forced to spend more energy growing more roots
than it ideally wants to.  The roots of the plant quickly find an abundant source of food,
therefore they do not need to grow any more to find food.
There is a common misconception that the roots of a healthy tree extend out to
the foliage line. The roots actually extend up to 3 times this distance if the  The roots also have a water source that is wetter below the plant than
ground has sufficient nutrients and water. the surrounding topsoil.
Think we are crazy? Rather than seeking out water and food, this plant will now need regular
feeding, instead of using the soil for food.
We have installed over 1,000 graywater systems in Australia (and sold 6,000+
more), with many or our clients being horticulturists. All of our clients report
garden health and growth far in excess of gardens being heavily watered (with a
lot more water) once or twice per week. This diagram was taken from a
nursery website - I won’t name
them here!
But don't just take our word for it, visit
Robert Kourik's website, Adding soil amendments to the
www.robertkourik.com, he is the expert hole creates a growing barrier
in obtaining better growth rates with less for the tree roots.
water. I strongly recommend his book,
Roots Demystified (Metamorphic I have added the red ellipses to
Press), it explains how plants want to show where the barrier will
grow. occur.
The roots are encouraged to

You could also research commercial stay in the nutrient rich
growing locations where they are environment (in the hole), rather
moving away from deep watering to than expanding into the natural
watering with a small amount every day soil.
(some cases every second day).
If the soil quality is poor,
It's why Netafim's (worldwide irrigation consider broad area fertilization,
with mulch and/or slow release
system manufacturer) motto is Grow
fertilizer applied at the surface.
More with Less.
6. Graywater in the garden Back to Contents
Azaleas are often quoted as a plant

6. Graywater in the Garden that does not enjoy graywater.
Many graywater gardens include
Azaleas, and have experienced as
The vast majority of plants
good growth, if not better than irrigating
thrive on graywater, and the
with potable water.
nutrients contained within.
The do not need potable
The pH of shower water is largely
water, and perform better with
dependent on the type of shampoo
graywater.
used. While most shampoos are near
neutral pH, some fruit based shampoos
This chapter outlines how
can be slightly acidic. Again the effect
graywater affects plants, and
on pH overall is negligible due to
precautions that should be
dilution.
taken to ensure your garden
becomes an oasis relying
Typical bar soap has a pH of around 7.
solely on graywater.
Again this is highly diluted within the
shower / bath and has little impact on
the garden if well dispersed.
 Do NOT store graywater for more than 24 hours.

Washing Machine Water
Washing machines are a popular source of
 Only use laundry detergents that are very low in sodium (salt).
graywater, simply because the inbuilt pump
makes it easy to divert the water from the sink
 Distribute graywater evenly across the garden - don't kill plants with
to either a surge container with dripperline
kindness by over watering.
connected, or directly out to the garden via
pipes / hoses.
 Take care with graywater distribution if using movable hoses connected
to the washing machine outlet.
Salt:
Non-concentrated soap powders typically
 Avoid any cleaners containing Boron - this is toxic for plants.
contain high levels of sodium (salt), used as
fillers. Use only concentrated powders that
Remember that what goes down the drain is going onto your garden!
claim to be low in salt, or use liquid
detergents.
Shower Water
Shower water contains soap, shampoo and

Alkalinity:
conditioners. The amount of fats, sodium and
Almost all detergents will produce highly alkaline graywater (pH approximately
phosphates in shower graywater is negligible, and has
10.5) when releasing the first wash water. Repeated application of
virtually zero impact on plants and lawn.
concentrated highly alkaline water to one or two areas of the garden will kill
plants.
A common misconception is that all graywater is
alkaline, and that acid loving plants do not grow as
This is of particular concern when DIY connecting a 1" hose or similar to the
well with graywater.
wash outlet, and leading the hose to a garden area.
A common problem in Australia is the use of a manual gravity fed hose

connected to the washing machine - people would move the hose from one
area of the garden to another between wash cycles. Being creatures of habit,
many people always moved the hose the same way each wash. As a result the
first (dirty and high pH

water) ended up in the
same area each time,
raising the soil pH level and Citrus trees grow well with graywater, however
killing plants in the area. where possible extend the irrigation area beyond a
typical mulch basin, to encourage a wider root
coverage.
We fear this will occur in
California due to their
unusual requirements for a
Because the fruit and nuts on established
'simple' system in the recent
trees are much higher than ground level,
CA code update, which
there is very little chance the fruit will come
appear to encourage this
into contact with the graywater.
style of irrigation.
Graywater and vegetables / low fruit
Where the edible part of the fruit or vegetable is above ground, and it is eaten
However, if graywater is irrigated evenly
raw, the graywater must NOT come into contact with the edible parts.
across the garden, the high pH water will not
concentrate in one area, and is in fact partially
This can be done by bucket (very carefully) but is labor intensive. High flow rate
balanced by the following rinse cycles (the
dripperlines (such as Irrigray) apply the graywater directly to the soil zone, and
overall pH level of washing machine water
seep into the soil immediately.
(including rinse cycles) is typically in the range
of 8.0 - 9.0).
So long as a layer of mulch covers the
dripperline and soil, there is virtually no
chance for the edible component to come into
contact with the graywater.
Water Softeners
Where the edible part of the vegetable is
below ground (e.g. potato, carrot, onion),
Water softening agents use large amounts of salt. Softened water should not be
graywater will come into contact with the
used in the garden.
vegetable.
Graywater for Fruit and Vegetables
If the vegetable is cooked before eating, the
Fruit trees and vegetable plants
risk is removed by the cooking process.
grow well with graywater. The risk is
that graywater may contain
If the vegetable is eaten raw, the risk can be
bacteria, and if you eat fruit and
reduced by washing the vegetable, peeling,
vegetables covered in graywater
then washing again.
(and therefore bacteria), you may
become sick.
We do not recommend growing the
following types of vegetables, if they are to
If the fruit or vegetable is going to
be eaten raw:
be cooked, any bacteria present will
die during the cooking process. This
Radish.
removes the risk.
A substantial crop of tomatoes, irrigated with graywater. Care is required to ensure Because the skin is rough, radish is difficult to
graywater does not come into contact with the fruit. clean. Commonly served unpeeled, there is a
An interesting study concluded that tomatoes are not affected by graywater irrigation.
risk of bacteria remaining on the surface.
Salad onion (including scallions etc).

Rain water also leaches the soap down into the subsoil, preventing
Due to the onion's layered structure, there is a accumulation over the years.
chance (albeit small) of bacteria being caught
within the onion, presenting a risk if eaten raw. Yuck! Eating vegetables with water I have showered in or washed my clothes
in!
This is a common response - and quite natural. Think about what your
vegetables are growing in now; decaying compost, worm castings (and
droppings), fertilizer, bird droppings, all manner of less pleasant ingredients
than body oils and dried skin.
Graywater irrigation of fruit and vegetables is of course personal choice. No one

is forcing you to grow your fruit and vegetables with graywater. However, on
balance it would appear home grown foodstuffs will have less contaminants
than commercially grown produce.
Lettuce is an excellent example of why the first

reaction of authorities is to prohibit irrigation of My local regulations prohibit or advise against the use of graywater for
vegetables with graywater. vegetables.
If the lettuce is irrigated by sub-surface dripperline
(under a mulch cover), the lettuce leaves will not Contact your local health department and find out why. Many regulations /
come into contact with the graywater. recommendations are written to cope with the most common practices, such as
people considering bucketing water onto their lettuce and strawberries etc. This
type of irrigation with graywater is risky, because of the potential for bacterial
However if the lettuce was irrigated with graywater by contamination.
a watering can, bacteria would collect on the leaves,
and present a health hazard as lettuce is rarely Graywater dripperline technology has evolved enormously over the last 6 years
cooked, and the cleaning process is unlikely to
in countries such as Australia. The new dripperline technology has only recently
remove the bacteria.
arrived in the US, and health department regulations or recommendations take
many years to catch up.
Common Questions
We are not recommending that you break the law. We are simply suggesting
What about soap in the fruits and vegetables? thinking about why the law was written in the first place.
We are yet to find an appropriate scientific study that has measured how much This chapter is written as general advice, based on our own research and
soap is actually contained inside the fruit or vegetable. experience. We recommend conducting your own research and / or
consult local authorities before deciding what’s best for you.
The consensus view is that only tiny amounts could be present and only at a
molecular level.
Keep in mind how much the soap / shampoo / conditioner has been diluted by
the time it gets to the plant.
Consider how much your body is ingesting through other daily activities
(brushing your teeth; direct skin absorption of soap, shampoo and conditioners;
soap residue on plates that you eat off etc.)
Another consideration is how much pesticide do your store-bought fruit and

vegetables contain?
7. Graywater re-use methods Back to Contents
Cost / Benefit Analysis of the different methods.

7. Graywater re-use methods
After applying the irrigation efficiencies of the methods, and determining how
Previous chapters of this guide have discussed how much water is required by
much potable water is no longer needed to irrigate the garden, these charts can
plants, and where the water is needed (top 3" - 6" of soil).
now be presented.
The graywater diversion methods discussed in this chapter all apply the
graywater to the soil in different ways, significantly affecting the irrigation If you would like the math behind the following charts, please contact us.
efficiency.
These are the commonly accepted methods of reusing untreated graywater: Cost vs. Gallons of Potable Water saved over 5 years
- Buckets
- Branched Drain (or similar) $2,500
- Laundry to Landscape
- Gravity Dripperline
- Pumped Dripperline $2,000
Before going into the pro's and con's of each method, the concept of how much
water is actually saved needs to be understood. Buckets
If you put 10 gallons of water in one 4' hole in the ground every day, you have $1,500
Branched Drain
not saved 10 gallons per day.
In Tucson, Arizona, that hole only needs 12 gallons for the whole of July for $1,000 Laundry to Landscape
medium water use plants.
Gravity Dripperline
If this was done daily, then 300 gallons has been irrigated over the month,
instead of the required 12 gallons. $500 Pumped Dripperline
The actual amount saved is 12 gallons. The irrigation efficiency is 12/300 or 4%.
This may sound extreme, but I have seen quite a few branch drain systems set $0
up this way (the rest of the water goes down into the subsoil and is wasted, 0 100000 200000 300000 400000
unless trapped by clay in which case the roots of the plants may rot).
So while on the surface some methods may appear to be very inexpensive for
Assumptions:
the amount of water diverted, the amount of water actually saved needs to be
reviewed.
Paid labor has been used for installation of all methods except for bucketing of
water. A small amount has been added to the bucketing methods, for 1
7.1 Efficiency (Overview) chiropractic visit (this isn't a joke, it's an ongoing issue in Australia).
Irrigation Method Efficiency While voluntary labor (you) can be used to reduce the cost, the efficiency of
Branched Drain and Laundry to Landscape methods will typically halve. Those
Buckets 50% interested in installing their own Branched Drain network should read our
Branched Drain 20% detailed section on installing this style of system.
Laundry to Landscape 30%
Gravity Dripperline 90%
Pumped Dripperline 90%
The efficiency rates listed for branched drain and Laundry to Landscape methods are
based on typical installation parameters, and can vary by +/- 10% subject to the design
and installation experience..
$0.070 Over watering

During water rationing, people often concentrate on a limited number of prized
$0.060 plants. Always check the soil moisture level before adding extra water. Killing
plants by over watering is a common problem in drought affected areas.
$0.050
Buckets Safety
$0.040 Branched Drain Apart from back problems caused by frequent carrying of buckets in the house
and in the garden, beware of spilled water / slipping dangers.
$0.030 Laundry to Landscape
Gravity Dripperline
7.3 Hoses
$0.020
Pumped Dripperline Washing Machines
$0.010
About 5 years ago major Australian hardware chains started selling 1" hose
kits. The kit couldn't be simpler, a 1" hose, with a rubber connection on one end
$0.000
and simply open at the other. People simply connected the hose to the outlet,
Cost per gallon potable water saved over 5 years and moved the hose around the garden from wash to wash.
Cost per gallons of water saved over 5 years use
In addition to the high risk of blowing up
This chart illustrates how Dripperline irrigation is far more cost effective over 5 washing machine pumps (see Laundry
years (at about 0.5 cents per gallon) than even Laundry to Landscape at about to Landscape), with simple hoses such
2.5 cents per gallon. as these, the following were particular
problems in Australia:
It all comes back to how much potable water (irrigation water out of the tap) is
saved by each of the methods of diverting graywater.
7.2 Buckets
Buckets are cheap, and with care and effort can Over watering / Under watering
be used to water various areas of the garden.
Points to consider are: With simple hoses, all the water (often 40 gallons per wash) is dumped in one
small area of the garden, resulting in over watering that area, with other areas
Limited amount of water going dry. Similar to bucket watering, people would concentrate water in their
favorite areas, in the end killing with over watering.
Most people only use 1 or 2 buckets in the
shower. This will capture up to 4 gallons per Killing plants with high pH water
person per day (not enough for the whole garden -
but enough for prized plants). To avoid over watering favorite garden areas, people would move the simple
hose between wash / rinse cycles, 'sharing' the water around the garden during
Note a 10 minute shower (the shower would need to run
the wash.
this long to fill the buckets), running at 3 gallons per
minute is 30 gallons of water, so 26 gallons of water is
used to save 4 gallons. In theory this is fine. In practice people develop a habit of always moving the
hose around in the same pattern (e.g. first wash water here, first rinse over
The average person generates between 25 and there, and the second rinse in the third spot). This is not good for your garden
40 gallons of graywater per day in the shower, and will kill plants over time.
bath and laundry. So buckets are a great start, but
only re-use about 10% of the graywater going
down the drain.
Due to high soil pH, micronutrients are

bound to the soil and become
7.4 Branched Drain (or similar)
unavailable to plants. Chlorosis is
The basic concept is to allow the graywater
most commonly caused by iron, but
to flow from the house by gravity alone,
can also be caused by manganese and
typically through 2" pipes. To distribute the
zinc deficiency. Commonly affected
water into more than one location, a double
plants are pin oak, sweet gum, white
Ell (a special type of T fitting) is used to
oak, rhododendron, and azalea.
split the flow into two. More double Ells can
be used to split the flow further.
The most prominent symptom of iron
chlorosis is leaf yellowing. The veins of
Theoretically the flow could be broken into 16 or
the leaves stay green, while the rest of more directions, although 8 is about the practical
the leaves turn yellow. limit for a typical household (beyond this the
The issue is primarily the first load of water from pipes and Ells are too sensitive to water flow
the washing machine. Virtually all effective thus uneven distribution would occur.)
washing powders, 'eco-friendly' or not, need high
pH water to wash the dirt from the clothes. The
pH of this first amount of water is 10.5. As the
washer processes each cycle, the pH of the
This tree has been planted in a large mulch
water in drops. basin, serviced by a branched drain outlet
slightly uphill of the mulch basin. The water will
If you were to temporarily store all of the water flow to the mulch basin via a depression in the
from one wash, the overall pH is generally ground between the outlet and the basin.
between 8.5 and 9.5 which is ok for most
gardens.
Always watering in one area with pH 10.5 water
will kill plants. If you are going to move a hose
around, move in a different pattern each day. Advantages:
Waste Pipe Diverters / Hoses Low material cost
These diverters come in many shapes and styles.
Many small networks can be made with
They divert water from showers (pipe under the
just $100 worth of materials. Larger
house) and laundry (often a vertical pipe on the
systems may cost $400+ worth of
outside wall). Gravity hoses can then be
materials.
connected to the diverter valve.
Although shower water is basically pH neutral,

Relatively low maintenance:
and therefore removes pH risk, over watering
becomes a significant issue, especially when
Apart from keeping a good layer of mulch
diverting all shower water, and not moving the
in the mulch basins, the only regular
hose each day.
maintenance required is a monthly check
of the double Ell's (removing a plug to
Over watering remains a significant risk for
inspect and clean if necessary).
laundry pipe diverter and hose sets. A more
sophisticated diversion system is the Branched
We suggest an annual check to ensure soil
Drain Network.
settling has not altered the Ell position,
resulting in uneven splitting / flow.
A simple, cheap graywater diversion hose, fitted to a
rubber funnel inserted into the plumbing bend.
Disadvantages:
7.5 Laundry to Landscape
Irrigation inefficiency:
Laundry to Landscape is a washing machine pressurized irrigation method,
popularized in California.
Very low water efficiency, typically the lowest efficiency of any water re-use
method. Almost all of the graywater passes through the soil into the subsoil
The basic concept is connecting a 1" or larger hose connected to the outlet of
beneath the plant / tree root layer. If this method must be used, trees would be
the washing machine, and running this hose as long as required to reach the
the best candidate. Keep in mind the tree roots will concentrate in the mulch
irrigation area. Either holes are drilled into the hose, or adjustable valves are
basin, and will not spread far from the base of the tree. Additional feeding
then added to allow the graywater to empty into mulch basins around trees and
(fertilizer) will also be required due to the lack of root growth.
plants.
Consider a branched drain network with
eight 4‟ round mulch basins. The total Advantages:
basin coverage is 100 square feet.
Material Cost:
While some capillary irrigation will occur
outside the basin zone, it will not benefit This method is relatively low in cost, typically $200+ for materials, + labor.
surface plants because the bottom of the
mulch basin is well below the height of
The irrigation layout is less demanding of grade (fall) than the branched drain
the surrounding soil.
network.
However, for discussion, lets assume
capillary effects double the effective Disadvantages:
radius of the basin, bring the coverage
up to 400 square feet. Reliance on Mulch basins:
A typical 3 person household will Because of the relatively limited number of outlets, mulch basins are required to
generate about 120 gallons of graywater
catch the sudden flow of water. As with branched drain networks (although not
per day.
to the same extent as it is easier to create more basins with Laundry to
A dripperline system (laid under mulch) Landscape), this method is really only suited to trees, and the trees will still
would irrigate about 2,000 square feet, require extra feeding due to the limited root growth that will occur.
based on typical planting to suit the
locality. Traditional garden irrigation systems are designed to provide a wet and dry soil
moisture cycle.
Therefore, the branched drain network
typically saves 25% or less water than a
An example of this is watering every second day, with enough water to stop the
below mulch dripperline system (either
gravity or pumped). soil becoming too dry before the next watering cycle activates. The soil is
continually moving between wet and dry cycles.
High labor effort required:
Graywater, however, should be irrigated immediately (especially when taken
This method is exacting. The 2" from showers), to prevent odor development.
Before considering a mulched drain
pipes must run to grade system, we strongly recommend viewing
(approximately 2%) so that water Most people are surprised to find out that daily irrigation makes designing and
the mulch basin video we have created.
splits properly at the Ell's. Each Ell installing a dripperline irrigation system much easier.
must be positioned exactly level to Click on the YouTube logo to see a
ensure even splitting of the water branched drain system installed in Tucson
flow. The Ell should also be AZ. Uneven flow rate across irrigation points:
protected by a valve box (as seen
top right) for easy access, and The water pressure inside the pipe at each irrigation point will vary according to
adjustment as required. the flow rate at each point, the distance of the point from the washing machine,
and how much water the washing machine is pumping out at any one time.
Much time and effort is required to tune numerous valves to achieve consistent, Vacuum break, either mechanical,
even irrigation. or using a line extending at least
6’ above the tee.
Lack of filtration causes clogging.
The 6’ height is to prevent
Washing machines can produce a significant amount of lint and hair. This graywater from exiting this line if
rapidly clogs any pressurized irrigation system unless additional filtration is a mechanical check valve is not
used. A simple but reckless solution is to place a filter sock (or similar) on the used.
washing machine outlet. However this places even more load on the wash
pump.
An alternative method is to use large holes in the irrigation tube. The large holes
won't clog as easily, however tuning such systems to water more than one area Valve
takes trial and error to achieve even watering. A garden hose service
connection can be used to flush the line at pressure, however may not clean a
single blockage if the other holes are clear.
Washing machine pumps are NOT built for this.

Plumbers and appliance stores have made a LOT of money in Australia either
repairing or replacing washing machines.
Washing Machine To Sewer
About 5 years ago major hardware chains started selling 1" hose kits. The kit pump
couldn't be simpler, a 1" hose, with a rubber connection on one end and simply
open at the other. People simply connected the hose to the outlet, and moved
the hose around the garden from wash to wash. To mulch basins
Even with a totally open hose (in most cases 30' long), many washing machines
failed within 3 years use. Pressurizing the washing machine pump by restricting Laundry to Landscape schematic
the flow via valves etc places even more load on the pump.
This diagram is not an endorsement of the method, and should not be used as a
Irrigation inefficiency construction guide. Use of this method will void the washing machine warranty.
To minimize damaging backpressure on the pump, a series of holes / valves are

used, ranging from 1/4” to 1” in diameter. To avoid clogging of the holes, at least
a 3/8” hole is recommended.
According to the Oasis Design‟s calculator about 10 holes are required to avoid In most cases the ideal number of
mulch basins is 10, balancing load on
overloading the pump / achieving uneven distribution. the washing machine vs. even water
A mulch basin for a tree is typically about 4‟ in diameter, or 12.6 square feet. allocation.
The total irrigated area with 10 mulch basins will be 126 square feet.
At best, the graywater re-use will only
However, assuming an ETo Value of 7” per month (peak summer average be 30% efficient.
across the more heavily populated regions of California), the optimum irrigation
area is:
Low water use plants 1,451 square feet (c/w L2L efficiency 8%)
Medium water use plants 839 square feet (c/w L2L efficiency 15%)
It is possible, if washing is done on a daily or every second day, that capillary

irrigation effects will assist, however at best this is likely to double the efficiency
of L2L up to 30%.
Mulch Basin Irrigation
ETo is the evapotranspiration rate. Optimum irrigation area calculations are discussed in
Chapter 8 Calculating the optimal graywater irrigation area
Efficient & even irrigation:

7.6 IrriGRAY Graywater Dripperline
150' of IrriGRAY dripperline has 150
Graywater dripperline is the most efficient
emitters, so graywater is spread evenly
method (90%) of irrigating your garden,
across the garden area. Because of this
especially if the graywater is generated
the irrigation efficiency is over 90%, so
daily (or at least every second day),
making the most of your graywater. Plant
achieving capillary benefits.
growth is also stronger, because the plant
roots can spread far wider (the entire
Graywater dripperline also allows the
garden area is moist) and therefore have
graywater to be irrigated evenly over
greater access to nutrients in the top 3" of
large areas of the garden, or across
soil - This was covered earlier in capillary
smaller individual garden sections.
irrigation.
IrriGRAY dripperline is special graywater dripperline that only requires 400
Simple maintenance:
micron filtration (standard dripperline requires 4 times as much filtration). It has
built in emitters every 12" and is connected to a main supply line with a punch Maintenance is limited to one location (the
tool and takeoff connectors. It can be driven by gravity, or pressurized using a filter outside the base of the container).
pump. This filter will need cleaning approximately
every 2 months (large filter fitted) or every
Gravity System week (small filter fitted)
The basic concept is to have the washing machine Disadvantages:

water flow into a temporary surge container, such
as a 55 gallon barrel or trash can. Water will irrigate Limited irrigation area:
at 1 gallon per minute per 150' of dripperline, even The maximum amount of IrriGRAY dripperline that should be used is 300'.
with only 12" of water in the container.
Filter requires regular cleaning:
A 3/4" supply line is connected to the bottom of the
container and run out into the garden areas. Where The small filter will need cleaning on a weekly basis.
irrigation is required, the dripperline is connected to
the supply line, in any number of independent The optional large filter will need cleaning approximately every 2 months. Both
segments, up to 60' long. The recommended filters are easy to clean, taking no more than 1 or 2 minutes to clean.
maximum length of dripperline overall is 300',
although 150' is most common. In our opinion, this is no more (and in many cases less) maintenance than is
required by the Laundry to Landscape method.
As seen in the diagram (top right), more than one area can be irrigated.
Pumped Dripperline (IrriGRAY)
Advantages:
When a powerful dirty water submersible
Cost: pump (e.g. 660W) is used, graywater can be
irrigated over large areas, close to and far
Excluding the cost of the container, a basic kit can be purchased for from the pump with even drip rates across
approximately $240. (used food grade barrels can be found for around $20 in the whole area.
most areas)
Because gravity is not an issue, the pump
Ease of installation / DIY installation: can be located at any depth, 42" below
ground level is not uncommon. This allows all
Most irrigation systems can be laid out by two people in under 20 minutes. The of the household graywater to be collected, if
barrel / container can be modified in 5 minutes. The dripperline irrigates evenly the plumbing is setup with separate
on flat or sloping ground (but will not flow uphill - it is a gravity system!) graywater stub outs.
Advantages:
Other systems with very large filters built into the pumping unit are available,
Capability to irrigate large areas, evenly: however because the filter is an integral part of the pumping container, can be
very difficult to access, especially if located in a crawl space or similar. Location
Customers are re-using up to 10,000 gallons of these units can also be problematic, as the most convenient location for
per month using the IrriGRAY pumping and maintenance is often the most expensive for plumbing!
irrigation systems, saving over 15,000 gallons
of potable water per month (graywater Large filters are a matter of choice. Some people like them, some don't. Our
irrigation is more efficient than potable water preference (and our customers) is a filter that is quick and easy to clean every
irrigation). month or two, rather than a big filter that's a hassle to clean every 6 months or
so.
Improved garden growth:
Some systems are self cleaning - just ensure you understand how they clean
The nutrient laden water, combined with even themselves, and how much water they use in the cleaning process instead of
irrigation, allows strong root growth within the irrigating the garden.
biologically active topsoil.
Gardens grow better with Graywater!
Maximum collection and reuse of graywater:
Because gravity is not an issue, the pump can be located at any depth, 42"
below ground level is not uncommon. This allows all of the household graywater
to be collected, if the plumbing is setup with separate graywater stub outs.
Best long term Return on Investment:
Although a completed system may cost $2,000 or more fully installed, in most
cases the water savings (and therefore sewerage charges savings as well)
provide a payback period of 2-4 years. Savings continue year after year.
Easy clean filter:
The filter is easy to clean, requiring only 2 minutes per month. Additional filters
can be added in parallel to extend the timeframe between cleaning.
Disadvantages:
Initial cost:
With a purchase price of around $1,000, plus installation costs of approximately

$1,000 (the majority of which is plumbing cost - this decreases significantly for
new homes, or existing homes where the plumbing is easily accessible), the
establishment cost is higher than other methods.
Regular filter cleaning:
The large filter (standard with all IrriGRAY pumping systems) will need cleaning
every month to two months (approximately 2,500 gallons).
7.6.1 Graywater irrigation under lawn / turf

To achieve an even watering pattern without striping, subsurface irrigation
dripperlines need to be laid closer (12" - 22" depending on soil type) than under
mulch IrriGRAY garden bed dripperlines (24" - 48").
With a higher density of dripperline under the lawn, a lower flow rate of 0.6 GPH
is used (compared with IrriGRAY garden bed graywater dripperline at 2 GPH).
This low flow rate requirement permits the use of Bioline, a specially designed
pressure compensating dripperline that also has an inbuilt root barrier in each
emitter.
Risk of root intrusion is minimized further by frequent irrigation inherent in the

use of graywater (grass roots do not seek water if the soil is continuously moist).
This diagram shows how to install a combination of garden bed and lawn
graywater irrigation.
Key Concepts:
Bioline does not contain special graywater filters, so an extra 120 Mesh filter
(screen or disc type) is required.
Instead of locating this filter close to the Graywater Diversion Device (and
therefore filtering all of the water from the unit), install it close to the lawn area,
so only water for the lawn is passing through the filter. This will reduce the
cleaning frequency required.
The lawn grid utilizes a 3/4" supply line manifold at each end. Although supply is
only required from one end, the manifold is needed at the other end to ensure
even water delivery and effective flush valve performance.
An Air / Vacuum Relief Valve (A/VRV) is placed at the highest point along the
3/4" supply line / manifold. The function of this relief valve is to allow air into the To avoid uneven irrigation, where possible align the dripperline along the
lines when the pump turns off, and to purge air from the line when the pump contours of the lawn area. This may require small sections of infill dripperline if
comes back on. the lawn slope is uneven.
Due to the wide variety of grasses available it is very difficult to predict the exact To avoid the lawn drying while the house is vacant (e.g. occupants are on
amount of water required for a lawn area over the summer. Consult turf vacation), provide a make-up water supply. This can be controlled by simply
providers in your area for expert local advice. Be sure to mention you are installing a timer on the laundry or shower faucet, or including a makeup water
investigating Subsurface Drip Irrigation. supply valve in the pumping station and connected to an irrigation controller.
7.6.2 Fresh Water Dripperline & Graywater While 1,000' of standard dripperline improves the situation, a surge tank of at
least 40 gallons is recommended.
Irrigation components designed for fresh water, such as dripperline and
weeper hoses, should not be used with graywater that has only had Generating 10 gallons per minute, for 10 minutes and irrigating using 300' of standard
mechanical filtration (i.e. not chemically or UV treated). dripperline
No matter how fine the mechanical filtration is, graywater still contains Using a 20 gallon surge
suspended / dissolved detergents and dirt. tank, only 35 gallons of
graywater could actually
When the graywater dries inside the dripperline or weeper, detergent builds up be irrigated. The
remainder (approx 60
within the emitter. Over time this builds up and blocks the emitter. gallons) was lost to
septic / sewer)
An exception to this rule is the shrubbler. Although it will still
block with graywater residue, shrubblers are easy to clean.
Simply unscrew the top of the shrubbler, allow water to run

out and the screw back on. Most households find this
needs to be done every six months.
Shrubblers are useful for irrigating potted plants with

graywater. The shrubbler can be finely adjusted so that not Generating 10 gallons per minute, for 10 minutes and irrigating using 1,000' of standard
too much graywater is supplied to the plant (excess dripperline
graywater would drain out of the bottom of the potted plant, Again using a 20 gallon
and potentially collect on a nearby concrete or brick floor, surge tank, 70 gallons of
presenting a slip hazard.) graywater could be
irrigated. The remainder
Additional problems with standard dripperlines (approx 25 gallons) was
lost to septic / sewer)
Low flow rate:
Standard dripperlines flow at a rate of between 0.6 and 0.7 gallons per hour, per
emitter.
This rate reduces to about 0.4 gallons per hour when supplied with a medium
pressure graywater pump (graywater pumps use a vortex to drive the water
Generating 4 gallons per minute, for 10 minutes using 300' of standard dripperline
through the pump, which due to the vortex impeller cannot provide high
pressure supply in the same way as a clean water pump).
The top two graphs
300 feet of dripperline, with emitters each 12", can only irrigate at a total rate of assume a graywater
2 gallons per minute. generation rate of 10
gallons per minute.
Households can easily generate 10 gallons per minute, when both showers are However, problems still
being used, or a shower and the washing machine are running at the same occur even with a single
time. If both showers are being used, it is not uncommon for the flow rate to last shower running at 4
as long as ten minutes. gallons per minute.
So if only 300' of standard dripperline is used for graywater irrigation, either a If 300' of standard
large surge tank (e.g. 100 gallons) should be installed, or the owner must irrigation dripperline is
accept a large volume of graywater will be wasted via overflow into either the used this graph applies.
sewer or septic system.
The graphs on the previous page assume the graywater pumping device is This improves if 600'
empty and turns on instantly when graywater enters the device. of standard
dripperline is
When considering purchasing a graywater device, research carefully when and installed, however
how the device turns on, and what effect the choice of irrigation system has on blockage of the
overflow issues. emitters will still
occur over time.
If you are still temped to use standard
dripperlines with a graywater pumping and 580' of standard
filtration system, consider the following dripperline will reduce
examples, using an Aqua2use system with the wastage to virtually
zero, although
standard low flow dripperlines.
installation labor and
material cost makes
The Aqua2use system uses a twin sensor this a more expensive
arrangement to control when the pumping proposition.
system is activated. The manufacturer states
the capacity of the unit is 20 gallons. Clearly the low flow rate of standard dripperlines (in addition to other issues)
presents a problem in conserving water.
During the course of the day, the top sensor
is used to activate the pump. This sensor is
located approximately 1 inch below the
overflow outlet, so the surge capacity once
activated is approximately 6% - or 1.2
gallons of graywater - before any additional graywater comes in and flows to One of the reasons treatment systems can be expensive is the need for large
sewer / septic instead of being pumped. containment tanks to temporarily store graywater as the treatment system can
often only treat the graywater at a much slower rate than the peak rate of
To illustrate the issue that can occur, 15 gallons or so of graywater can enter graywater generation in the house (and in many cases needed 3 tanks for a 3
the Aqua2use during the day without activating the pump - this can be from a stage treatment process).
short shower, or graywater supplied by hand basins.
This was also the case with older non-treatment graywater systems, with slow
Let‟s now assume someone in the house is about to take a 10 minute shower at irrigation emitters; and why systems were expensive. With new irrigation
4 gallons per minute. (While appearing to be politically incorrect, our experience dripperlines able to irrigate faster than graywater inflow, the pumping / filtration
is that teenagers commonly exceed 10 minute showers). units are much smaller and inexpensive.
In summary, the Because of issues with old irrigation systems, many US states required large
Aqua2use has 15 tanks / cisterns to be part of any approved graywater system. South Dakota
gallons already, and required (and probably still does) capacity for 3 days retention of graywater!
a 10 minute, 4
gallons per minute
shower is about to
happen.
I am also assuming
that 300' of standard
dripperline at an
irrigation rate of 0.4
gallons per hour is
used.
In this case about 38 gallons of graywater is irrigated, with about 18 gallons of

graywater lost to sewer / septic.
Root Intrusion: Because of this, root intrusion barriers / herbicides are not practically required
within a graywater dripperline, and in our experience the benefits of added
The roots of plants, trees and grass will seek out areas of moisture if the ground herbicide to a residential dripperline are made for marketing rather than
which they grow in dries out. This is a particular problem for underground practical purpose, unless the dripperline product is designed to be installed 6"
irrigation if the irrigation program allows the soil to undergo a repeated wet / or more below the ground surface..
dry / wet / dry pattern.
With over 6,000 graywater gardening irrigation systems (under mulch / on or
If dripperlines are installed below the natural soil surface (e.g. within the root just below the soil surface) sold in Australia without herbicide we are yet to hear
zone), and the soil is watered on an occasional basis (e.g. irrigated twice a of a single case of root intrusion in over 5 years.
week), the roots of the plants will attempt to grow into the source of the water,
such as a dripperline which may still contain water inside the tube (as can I personally will not consider the use of Treflan coated dripperlines for irrigating
happen with standard dripperline with small emitters), even if the surrounding vegetables or fruit trees on a residential basis.
soil is dry.
Treflan does has its applications, especially in the municipal / county arena,
For years gardeners (and irrigators) have been taught to irrigate deeply once or where staff are properly trained in the use of herbicides / chemicals, potential
twice a week, supposedly to encourage deep growth, even though deep roots for leaching, and have been provided with appropriate clothing and equipment.
do not benefit from the nutrient layer in the top 3" to 6" of soil.
Graywater Slime Build up
As discussed earlier in this guide, this is not the most efficient method of
irrigation, as much of the irrigated water continues past the roots and down into Mechanically filtered graywater still contains dissolved solids, small particles
the subsoil / aquifer. and bacteria which result in BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand). This results
in a thin film on the inside wall of the dripperlines. This can create problems for
In any case, the wet / dry cycle encourages roots to enter an underground dripperlines using emitters less than 2.0 GPH, as the film also builds up within
dripperline system, and herbicides (Treflan is the most common) must be the emitter itself, and may not be able to cleared by the medium pump pressure
impregnated into the tube to prevent root ingress. of graywater pumps.
When Treflan is used, a small amount of the herbicide leaches out of the To overcome this limitation, some dripperlines using a coating of tributyl tin
dripperline emitter, and results in a golf ball sized root free zone around the maleate, preventing the slime from attaching to the wall.
emitter.
Treflan (common name = Trifluralin) has been banned for all irrigation use in the Using a 2.0 GPH dripperline with a large emitter flow path (such as IrriGRAY)
European Union because of the following concerns: removes the need for anti-slime coatings, significantly reducing dripperline cost.
....due to the high risk for aquatic organisms, especially fish, the toxicity of Having sold many thousands of residential IrriGRAY systems in Australia and
metabolites to sediment dwelling organisms, the consumer exposure for non- the USA, we have yet to experience a single case of emitter blockage caused
cereal applications, the high persistence in soil, the high potential for by slime.
bioaccumulation....
To summarize:
Click here to read the decision.
We strongly recommend against using standard / potable water
Root Intrusion and Graywater dripperline with untreated graywater.
Because graywater is normally generated on a daily basis (showers, hand

basins and washing machines), a properly designed graywater irrigation system
results in a permanently moist 3" - 6" layer of soil. Therefore, the roots of
plants do not need to seek out moisture within an irrigation tube.
In addition, dripperlines are best installed beneath mulch but on top of the soil
layer, as plant roots do not grow above the soil layer.
7.6.3 IrriGRAY and Geoflow Graywater Dripperlines

IrriGRAY
Graywater dripperline is the
most efficient method (90%) of IrriGRAY is designed specifically for
i r r i g a t i n g yo u r g a r d e n , untreated graywater diversion systems,
especially if the graywater is and can be used in both gravity and
generated daily (or at least pressurized situations.
every second day), achieving
capillary benefits. With 2.0 GPH anti-clog emitters, it only
requires 40 mesh (or 400 micron)
Graywater dripperline also filtration, less than 1/4 that of standard
allows the graywater to be dripperlines. This significantly reduces
irrigated evenly over large the need for filtration (and filter
areas of the garden, or across cleaning).
smaller individual garden
Full Length Filter
sections. Maintains the essential supply of
Detergent build up water to the dripper delivering a
These specialized dripperlines does not occur Industry’s Widest consistent output of flow
Flow Path
are designed to overcome the because of the wide Wider cross-section
limitations of standard emitter path, and allows large particles
through short flow
dripperline, namely; because it is designed path
to be installed on top of
 Slow irrigation rate (causing water loss to overflow) the soil (above the
 Root intrusion roots), below a mulch
 Blockage from detergents / contaminants layer, it does not use /
require herbicides. Injection Molded Drippers
Welded into a seamless wall
Two graywater dripperline technologies have been proven over years of use: of tubing for added strength,
durability and long term
IrriGRAY, and Geoflow. (IrriGRAY is a trademark of Just Water Savers USA Inc.) Graywater slime does performance
not build up because Increased Flow Path Velocity
Commonly used turbulent drippers have overlapping tooth patterns,
the line dries between easily catching debris.
irrigation periods. Turbonet Technology improves dripper performance by widening
the tooth pattern, maximizing flow path velocity, allowing
Let me declare right now that I have an interest in IrriGRAY. I am one contaminants to pass easily through the dripper, virtually eliminating
of the founders of Just Water Savers USA Inc, which holds the plugging.
trademark for IrriGRAY.
In a similar vein to Victor Kiam's famous electric shaver advertising Geoflow

slogan ("I liked it so much I bought the company"), I had been using
the same product for years in Australia (manufactured and marketed Geoflow uses a 1.0 GPH emitter, and each emitter is impregnated with Treflan
by Netafim Australia as 'Tiran'). Netafim USA manufactures IrriGRAY to prevent root intrusion. It can be installed within the root zone, or on the
dripperline to our specification and requirements. surface below mulch.
Why do I like the product so much that I introduced it to the USA? The inner lining of the tube is coated with the anti-microbial tributyl-tin maleate
and a Teflon-like fluoroethylene slip agent, to prevent a slime build-up.
They both do the job, in their own ways, but IrriGRAY is much
cheaper (and easier) to install because of the flow rate and the Geoflow requires 150 mesh (100 micron) filtration, the same level as most
filtration requirements. standard dripperlines.
Flow Rate To avoid graywater loss, each type of dripperline requires the following
overall lengths:
Graywater pumping systems provide medium pressure irrigation.
IrriGRAY emitters flow at 2.0 GPH at medium pressure. Standard Dripperline 1,500‟
Geoflow emitters flow at 0.7 GPH at medium pressure.
Geoflow Dripperline 900‟
In a previous section on potable water dripperlines I discussed the issue of
overflow when using a slow dripperline irrigation system, especially using a IrriGRAY dripperline 300‟
diversion pumping system that only had a few gallons of capacity before the
graywater coming in over ran the system and was lost to waste, Price wise, IrriGRAY is about 2/3 the cost of Geoflow (per foot).
However, because 3 times as much Geoflow is required than IrriGRAY to

300’ of Geoflow Dripperline ensure no water is lost to overflow, the material cost saving to you is 78%.
300' of Geoflow Installation labor is also reduced by about 50%, saving you time and money.
dripperline, irrigating at
0.7 GPH, with 10
gallons per minute of
graywater entering a
pumping system, for 10
minutes.
A p p ro x i ma t e l y 60
gallons of graywater is
lost to overflow.
300’ of IrriGRAY Dripperline
300' of IrriGRAY
dripperline, irrigating at
2.0 GPH, with 10
gallons per minute of
graywater entering a
pumping system, for 10
minutes.
No graywater is lost to
overflow.
8. Optimal irrigation area Back to Contents
By changing the Plant

8. Calculating the optimal graywater irrigation coefficient to '0.26 - Low
area water use' , the irrigation
area now increases to 2115
square feet.
In the previous chapter on capillary action, we have seen that daily irrigation
This is because we still
keeps the graywater in the top 3" to 6" of soil, where the plants and trees need
have the same volume of
the water. graywater per day, but the
plants need less water, so
However, placing too much graywater in one area will result in graywater we can grow more plants!
leaking into the subsoil, effectively 'lost' as it does not benefit the garden.
If the topsoil sits on top of a barrier such as heavy clay, or caliche, too much
graywater may result in drowning the roots of the garden.
Therefore it is very important to properly determine the correct irrigation area. If

you have a small garden, you may not want to re-use all of the graywater
generated in your house.
This chapter gives a detailed explanation of how to calculate the irrigation area
for a given amount of graywater.
Changing the Soil type to
I will assume that graywater dripperlines are used, as this is the most
'Medium to Heavy Clay'
efficient method of graywater irrigation. doesn‟t change the
irrigation area, just the
Before getting into the math, let's do a simple calculation using the Graywater amount of dripperline
Calculator (click here to use the calculator on line) required.
ETo This is because soil type

8 does not affect the plant's
Rainfall water requirements.
0
Number of People in home
4
Graywater, gallons per
person per day
25
The optimal irrigation area

is 1,222 square feet.
This is so important I will repeat it again:
This is because soil type does not affect the plant's water requirements.
No amount of soil or percolation testing alters this irrigation fundamental. If the

correct amount of water is applied to the garden, the soil will not be required to
carry excess water.
During winter or heavy rainfall (adding extra water to the soil), the graywater system
should simply be turned off.
All of the examples shown ETo (Evapo Transpiration)

on the previous page
assumed each person Evapo Transpiration tells us how much water is required per month to properly
generates 25 gallons of
account for soil moisture loss via plant growth and plant moisture evaporation.
graywater per day.
This is an average figure for An excellent ET guide is provided online by California Irrigation Management
people living in a new Systems (CIMIS).
house, with low flow
This image shows a section of an ETo chart for California.
showers and a water
efficient washing machine.
The average amount of

graywater generated without
low flow showers etc is 40
gallons.
In this example, four

people can easily irrigate
2,000 square feet of
garden even in a warm
climate and medium water
use plants.
8.1 Irrigation Area Coverage Theory

Potable water irrigation calculations determine the amount of potable water
required to irrigate a certain area.
However, with graywater we know how much graywater we have, and need to
determine the garden area that will most efficiently use the graywater.
This calculator provides the optimum irrigation area based on graywater

production.
Throughout this section, it is assumed graywater drip irrigation is used, as it

provides over 90% irrigation efficiency. Other methods such as branched drain
systems, and Laundry to Landscape (covered in the next chapter) are far less
efficient (20% to 40%) and therefore will only irrigate an area 1/4 to 1/2 the area
irrigated by dripperlines.
The following values are required:
 ETo (per month)

 Rainfall (per month)
 Plant Coefficient
 Number of people in the house
 Gallons of graywater per person, per day
Large images are available at the CIMIS website.
Contact your local garden shop or irrigator to find out the ETo value for your Formula
area.
G = number of people x graywater per person, per day x 30
Rainfall ET = Evapo Transpiration rate for your area.
R = Rainfall for the month being considered.
The amount of rainfall per month is subtracted from the ETo to determine the P = Plant coefficient
monthly water shortfall (i.e. how much additional water is required).
Irrigation area (sq ft) = G divided by ( (ET-R) x P x 0.62 x 1.1 )
Plant Coefficient
The following shows the calculations made for Tucson, AZ.
The ETo value is an estimate of how much water is used by a well watered, full
cover grass surface, 3-6 inches in height; used as a reference point for
determining water use by other plant types through the application of a plant ETo & Rainfall values
coefficient.
Plant Coefficient Plant Type
0.13 Very low water use

0.26 Low water use
0.45 Medium water use
0.65 High water use
Converting inches per month to gallons per month per sq ft
The ETo value represents inches per sq ft required per month, but we are
working backwards - we need to know how far a certain amount of water will go
for the month. Inches required per month (medium water use)
The multiplication factor is 0.62
(144 cubic inches per sq ft per inch of rain / 231 cubic inches per gallons)
Capillary Irrigation Efficiency
The ETo value is based on 100% irrigation efficiency. With standard spray Convert to Gallons per sq ft needed per month
irrigation, much water is lost to surface evaporation and overspray. Typically
only 50% efficiency is achieved, so the calculated ETo value would be doubled
to account for this.
Capillary drip irrigation (mentioned earlier in this guide) has a very high
efficiency - over 90%.
The ETo rate should be multiplied by 1.1 to account for the 10% inefficiency.
The last step is to calculate the correct garden area that can be irrigated.
Final value, based on 25 gallons per person per day (Tucson AZ) As a further assumption (of course every house is different, but the following is
a typical approach),
A 2 person household, with a graywater diversion and irrigation system, can
grow a vigorous 470 sq ft garden space with medium water requirement plants,  1/3 of the graywater will be used to plant high water use plants
without any additional water during the hottest / driest months.  1/3 of the graywater will be used to plant low water use plants
 1/3 of the graywater will be used to plant very low water use plants
By selecting low water requirement plants, the area can be increased to 813 sq
ft. Very low water requirement plants increase the area to 1,627 sq ft. Because there are three people in the house, and I am dividing the garden into
3 different styles of planting, it is easiest to just run the on-line calculator 3
A 4 person household, with a graywater diversion and irrigation system, can times (one for each person, changing the plant type each time).
grow a vigorous 705 sq ft garden space with medium water requirement plants
without any additional water during the hottest / driest months. The predominant soil type in Tucson is caliche, with similar characteristics to
medium clay.
By selecting low water requirement plants, the area can be increased to 1,627
sq ft. Very low water requirement plants increase the area to 3,254 sq ft.
In all cases the garden space can be singular, or a group of smaller garden
spaces adding up to the total amount.
8.2 Irrigation Coverage: Tucson
The total garden coverage is 2,621 square feet, and requires 600‟ of
dripperline.
 Very light water use plants 1,465 sq ft

 Low water use plants 733 sq ft
 Medium water use plants 423 sq ft
On a typical Tucson urban lot, this is enough coverage to plant virtually the
entire lot, excluding the building, drive and patio hard scapes.
Compare this with the typical water use in 2004 (from chart on the left).
Although entirely planted, this residence would be saving 23,000 gallons per
year.
(Source: Tucson Water)
To calculate daily usage patterns, I am making the following assumptions: In addition to saving water, the residence will use the air conditioning less, as
the property will be substantially cooler with a vigorous garden (c/w the normal
 the average single family residence has 3 residents heavy planting of decomposed granite i.e. gravel / rock).
 Very little (if any) water is used in the middle of winter for irrigation
 Recoverable graywater is 60% of the total internal water use * Utilization of evaporative water cooler graywater, which can be substantial in
July / August, has not been included in the calculations above.
The average volume of graywater generated per person per day = 45 gallons.
9. Installing graywater dripperline Back to Contents
9. Installing a graywater dripperline irrigation Step 2: Determine the total garden area to be irrigated:
system
 Add up all the garden areas to be
irrigated (shown in the bottom image as
This guide assumes the use of IrriGRAY 2.0 GPH graywater dripperline. If using areas of brown).
a different flow rate dripperline, adjust dripperline spacing according to the
manufacturer's specifications.  Compare this area with optimum area
derived from the irrigation calculator.
Step 1
 If the garden area is too small for the
 Calculate the average amount of graywater per person. People who are amount of graywater generated, consider
water conscious generally generate 25 gallons of graywater per day. Less reducing the number of plumbing fixtures
conservative use can be up to 40 gallons (or) per person. connected to the graywater system.
 Other factors to consider include the efficiency of the washing machine,  If there is too much garden area for the
whether low flow shower heads have been installed (check whether the flow amount of graywater, either find
restrictors are still in place), and how long the average shower is for the additional water (makeup water) or
household (including time for hot water to reach the shower). reduce the amount of garden area to be
irrigated.
 Establish whether the garden is of a low, medium or high use type. If two
distinct areas of different consumption levels is planned, use the calculator  If the total amount of graywater
separately for each garden area. dripperline required is greater than 450
feet, the watering areas will need to be
 Use the Irrigation Calculator to determine the broken up into multiple zones.
optimum irrigation area.
 This is because the amount of water
A common misconception is that soil type affects required to pressurize the dripperline
the irrigation area. This is not the case for a would exceed the volume of graywater
seasonal graywater irrigation system. The ideal normally generated in a typical house at
situation is providing enough irrigation supply to any one time.
allow the plants to grow at the maximum rate,
without loading the soil with additional water.  If the garden is small and only requires
150' or less of dripperline, consider
During winter (or times of heavy rainfall) the doubling up the dripperline.
graywater irrigation system should be turned off,
and the diversion valve directed to sewer /  150' of dripperline will only allow up to 5 gallons per minute to be irrigated,
septic. no matter how powerful the pump.
 If graywater might be generated at 10 gallons per minute, and can only be

irrigated at 5 gallons per minute, graywater could build up in the collection
container and overflow to the sewer / septic.
Step 3: Supply line planning:
How will the graywater be supplied to the dripperlines?
 A simple installation may involve a graywater diversion device located near

a side fence, in an area of very low traffic. The 3/4" LDPE supply tube can
be led directly to the fence, and along the side boundary as required.
Layout Considerations
 Where a graywater diversion device has
been installed on a concrete driveway, or Inlet pressure Nominal flow Max lateral line length
a concrete path at the rear of the house,
3' 0.7 GPH 52‟
other options should be considered.
6' 0.8 GPH 56‟
 If the floor of the house is elevated (i.e.
15' 1.4 GPH 56‟
has usable subspace), the supply line
can be fed under the house - typically 30' 1.9 GPH 59‟
through sub floor vents - and emerge at
the required garden location. Use of  The maximum lateral line length can be doubled IF the dripperline is
schedule 40 pipe is recommended in connected to the supply line at BOTH ends of the dripperline.
place of 3/4" polyethylene under a
house, to avoid crush damage by contractors in the future.  If there is a substantial fall over the irrigated area, where possible try to
locate dripperlines along the contour.
 Supply line can also be run overhead e.g. along the roof of a garage /
carport, or over the top of a fence / gate (ensure the pump in the graywater Substantial grade (greater than 10%)
diversion device has sufficient head pressure to lift water to these heights).
 A graywater diversion system with a 3/4 hp dirty water submersible pump
 Important: 3/4" supply line is preferable to 1" supply line, because the 1" will provide sufficient dripperline pressure for up to 20 feet differential height
tube holds twice as much graywater as 3/4" tube. 1" line therefore requires in the dripperlines. However, when the pump stops, water already in the
more graywater to be generated before the dripperlines become dripperlines will naturally flow towards the lowest emitter. Non return valves
pressurized. may be required in uphill supply lines. Only use swing check valves -
sprung check valves provide too much flow resistance.
 Check with the manufacturer of the graywater pumping system that it 3/4"
supply tube is supported. Many systems do not support less than 1" tube.  If a contour can't be followed (e.g. a long narrow garden bed running down
a slope), lay supply line along the length of the garden bed, with a number
Step 4: Dripperline layout planning of short dripperlines connected, instead of a single long dripperline.
 The density of dripperline in a garden bed is Ornamental / Fruit trees

determined by the soil type.
 Trees located in a general lawn area often require more water than those
 As an example, a 6' wide garden bed with located in garden beds. Cut a slot in the grass to run supply line, and then
light clay soil requires 2 dripperlines (3.0' connect dripperline in a full circle under the foliage extents.
separation - 1 line 1.5' from the edge, then 3'
to the next dripperline , leaving 1.5' from the Cool / Moist areas
other edge).
 Some garden beds will require much less water than the majority of the
Important: With daily irrigation of graywater, capillary irrigation ensures the garden - typically, narrow garden beds shaded by the house for most of the
garden bed has a consistent moisture profile. Because of this, the intention is to day. Inserting a 16mm valve into the head of the dripperline will allow the
water the soil, NOT individual plants. householder to vary the flow to such areas as required.
Soil Type Separation Step 5: Installation

Gravel and Sands 1.8‟  Install the supply line and flush the lines if dirt or mud entered the tube
Sandy Loams 1.8‟ during installation.
Loams 2.4‟
 Layout all dripperlines in their approximate locations, on the soil surface.
Clay Loams 2.7‟
Light Clays 3.0‟  After laying around plants and trees, connect to the supply lines and peg
into place.
Medium to Heavy Clays 4.5‟
10. Graywater Plumbing Overview

 Take care rolling out the dripperline from the coil. If the line is removed from
the coil by pulling instead of unrolling, a helix twist will stay in the tube,
Plumbing and graywater codes vary substantially from one state to the next,
preventing the dripperline from laying flat.
even from county to county.
 Cover the dripperline and garden with at least 2" of mulch, for both
IrriGRAY collection & pumping systems have been designed to overcome these
code adherence and water conservation best practice.
challenges by being a flexible design that is constructed on site to suit local
codes. In addition to reducing the cost of the manufactured product , our
Step 6: Test
experience is that plumbing installation costs are reduced by 25-40%.
 Ensure the graywater diversion device has power, and turn on a graywater
The plumber can change the height and location of all inlets / overflows.
source. Check the pump activates as water enters the device.
Additional systems have been developed that are fixed in design and
 When the pump turns on, you will begin to hear air hissing out of the emitter
construction. These provide limited flexibility in installation, but have the
holes.
advantage of fast installation for simple situations.
 If water does not begin dripping, or no air hiss is heard, check the supply Basic Principles
lines to make sure they are not kinked / blocked.
Every graywater collection container must have at least 1 inlet & 1 overflow to
sewer or septic. The overflow pipe must be at least the same size as the inlet
pipe (or combination of inlet pipes, as more than 1 inlet pipe can be used if this
simplifies the plumbing process).
Backflow
Because of the significant variations between states regarding sewer backflow

prevention, most manufactured systems are not supplied with a backflow valve.
Graywater Diversion Valve
Graywater pumping systems that rely on power to ensure graywater is not

stored for over 24 hours (using sensors and an electronic timer / controller)
must have a diversion valve located upstream of the pumping station.
If graywater irrigation is not required (e.g. during a wet winter), or desired

(bathrooms are being cleaned with non garden safe chemicals), simply turn off
the power supply to the IrriGRAY system.
The unique design of IrriGRAY systems allows the container to empty without
using the pump.
Some jurisdictions may still require installation of a graywater diversion valve

before the container, due to specific code requirements.
The use of three way Jandy pool valves is being allowed in many states,
although the valve does not conform to code (it is not certified for drainage,
waste and vent (DWV) use). Some jurisdictions are not permitting the use of
Jandy valves. Gate valves or similar, used either before the graywater enters
the pumping station, or as parts of the station design are certified for DWV use.
10. Graywater plumbing Back to Contents
Graywater stub out height vs. sewer pipe height  The 3" stub out for this house is 42" below ground (Tucson AZ)
 An IrriGRAY 18" diameter x 30" deep pumping station has been used, with
 Try to minimize the depth of the graywater stub out, this will simplify
2 x 12" extension collars.
installation and reduce material costs.
 The diversion valve is readily accessible, and because the basin station is
 Where possible, design the drainage plumbing so that the graywater stub
self cleaning, only an annual inspection is required.
out is at least 14" above the sewer pipe level.
 The float valve is part of the make-up water supply system.
 This allows the container to drain completely to sewer without using the
pump - a requirement is some jurisdictions.  The total cost of the pumping station and irrigation system was less than
$1,200. Plumbing installation was completed in under 2 hours.
Some states do not require the ability to completely drain by gravity in which
case the height differential does not have to be substantial.
However the better engineering design is to enable the container to empty by

gravity alone.
Pump outlet swing check valve
If the pump is located below one or more areas of dripperline, fit a swing check
valve in an accessible location after the pump and before the irrigation system.
This will prevent air being brought back into the pumping chamber if water is
drawn back by gravity.
RP backflow valve
Although not specifically mentioned in many graywater codes, a reduced

pressure backflow valve is more often than not required within the plumbing
code. This valve must be installed at the entry of the service supply to the
property.
Many jurisdictions are now requiring RP backflow valves for any of the following
situations (a good example is Tucson Water: Backflow prevention requirements):
 Use of a reticulated irrigation system (even with potable water)

 Installation of ponds / fountains etc
 Installation of any pressurized alternative water source (e.g. graywater re-
use, or rainwater harvesting cistern with a pump connected).
Sewer backflow valve
Check local authorities for the type of backflow prevention device required.
Hand Basins
When retrofitting a graywater system to an existing house, it may not be cost

effective to connect hand basins, due to the low volume of water produced.
Even if new houses, fitted with low flow shower heads and washing machines, it
may be preferable to keep the hand basins on the blackwater waste plumbing to
provide additional flush volume.
10. Graywater plumbing Back to Contents
Filtration after the pump With IrriGRAY dripperline, only 40 mesh (400 Micron) filtration is required
before the graywater arrives at the dripperline / irrigation field.
Older design water pumps could not pump solids such as hair and lint. Most
early graywater pumping systems placed filter media before the pump. The challenge for filter designers is to make the filter big enough so that it
doesn't need cleaning too often, yet without being so big it is clumsy and
difficult to clean.
The IrriGRAY filter typically requires cleaning once every 1 - 2 months. It is

Filter media easy to clean and takes only a minute to remove, clean and refit.
located before the
graywater pump. Because the filter is installed AFTER the collection / pumping system, it can be
placed anywhere that is easy to access; before the irrigation network.
The IrriGRAY filter is designed specifically for IrriGRAY graywater dripperline. It

should not be used for regular dripperline without adding an extra, finer, filter.
IrriGRAY 40 mesh / 400

micron filter
Because water can only pass through the filter by gravity, it slows down as the
filter collects solids, and the water drains via the overflow before it can pass
through the filter.
New graywater capable pumps can process hair, lint and other solids with ease.
Therefore, filtration necessary for graywater dripperline irrigation can be placed

AFTER the pump.
An excerpt from
Australian Government;
Filter media National Water
located after the Commission: Urban
graywater pump. Greywater Design and
Installation Handbook
Because water is pumped through the filter, instead of relying on gravity, the
potential for overflow loss is significantly reduced..
By having the filter away from the pumping unit, the pumping unit can be
positioned in the most suitable plumbing location.
So it doesn't matter if the pumping unit is installed subfloor, because the filter
can be located in a more convenient and accessible location, so long as it is
placed in line before the first dripperline segment.
11. Graywater codes Back to Contents
11. Graywater Codes 11.1 Graywater: Friend or Foe?

Introduction Ok, if you have read through a few pages of this guide already, you might
correctly assume I consider graywater to be our friend.
Code can be difficult to deal with. At times, code development seems painfully
slow, taking at least 2 years in some states to move from inception to adoption I am, however, focussed on sustainability rather than corporate / municipal
of code and supporting regulations. dollars and sense. I want my kids to live well, in a prosperous and rewarding
country. What makes me happy, doesn‟t necessarily make others happy.
Whatever you do, treat your local official/s with respect. They may understand
your reasoning, but they can‟t always support you in being sustainable. That is Graywater is a friend for:
a job for the elected representatives.
 States / cities / counties with a severe water shortage or water infrastructure
Not only is national standards work underway (IAPMO - International issue.
Association of Plumber and Mechanical Operators, and ICC - International Heck, if customers can use less water and still be happy they can save their
Code Council), but various states are in a constant state of updating / modifying expensive gardens, who wouldn't be happy - unless re-use is too successful
their codes. and cuts into revenue?
On top of this, many counties and cities are adopting their own codes and  Customers (most likely you!)
regulations, in some cases easing regulations, in others making re-use of You have already paid for the water once - why can‟t you use it the way you
graywater more difficult. want - a perfectly logical argument. If you are charged a sewer cost based
on consumption, it makes even more sense to use graywater instead of
Other times, code is implemented without coming onto the radar - it just potable water on your garden.
happens. It sure makes life interesting for a national manufacturer; in the end
we just design the best practical solution and make it adaptable to fit the Graywater is a foe for:
differing code requirement of different locations.
 Health officials and engineers who view graywater as a nuisance rather
Even in Australia, a national standard took years to develop, and some states / than an opportunity.
locations still have their own peculiar requirements. Thankfully for Australia, sub
mulch (but on top of soil) irrigation is effectively the standard, officially This is THE big one. Despite millions of people reusing graywater for at
recognised as being both safe and environmentally best practice. least half a century across the world, for both ornamental and consumption
irrigation, without any reported incidences of health issues, the official is
So why is their such an issue with code differences here in the US? there to protect you from becoming sick from re-using water you have
generated yourself on your property, so that if you have an illness, you can‟t
This chart is courtesy of re-infect yourself with an illness you already have (and no that doesn‟t make
Todd Jarvis, who has sense to me either).
been involved in
graywater committee The critical point is how code and regulations are defined. If the regulations
work for Oregon.
are too prescriptive, then the onus is on the official (a problem for the
Todd has an excellent official, because possibly not enough detail was written into the code). If the
blog, and I recommend codes and regulations are outcome based , then responsibility lays with the
his frequent writings. manufacturer / installer / property owner.
 Water purveyors with treatment plants / infrastructure.
As an example, Southern Nevada does have the infrastructure to capture

each drop of effluent / graywater, treat it and re-supply to customers as
fresh water. They have a limited allocation from the Colorado basin, which
they are presently re-using (and charging for) approximately 3 times.
This is logical up to the point that over 70% of residential water use is 11.2 State Codes
external, and of that 30% is wasted via incorrect irrigation methods. (SNWA
water use facts)
Rather than listing and discussing various state codes in alphabetical order,
From their perspective, they are more efficient at re-using (treating) the they are listed in order of effectiveness (best to worst).
water at the municipal plant, and when compared to in-efficient graywater re-
use methods (branched drain = 20%, Laundry to Landscape = 30%) , they You can jump to any code directly by clicking on these links:
are correct. .
11.2 State Codes
However, when graywater re-use methods (dripperline) is at 90% efficiency 11.2.1 Wyoming
or above, then on-site graywater re-use is better overall for the catchment.
11.2.2 New Mexico
The numbers don‟t add up. For each 100 gallons consumed, (internal and 11.2.3 Texas
external use), only 30 gallons is returned for treatment. Therefore the net
use at the residence is 70 gallons. 11.2.4 Arizona
If a graywater irrigation system was installed, with an appropriate garden

11.2.5 California
design, and 0 gallons potable water used for irrigation, the net use would be 11.2.6 Washington State
30 gallons.
11.2.7 Utah
 Water company’s business models 11.2.8 North Carolina
Most water companies are public service monopolies that are established to 11.2.9 Oregon
provide a reliable service on a non profit basis. 11.2.10 Other States
Reducing consumption through conservation plays havoc with their bottom Only sections of code related to the re-use of graywater in a residential setting
line. When people conserve, rates have to rise to makeup the shortfall in are quoted.
revenue. I highly recommend this article by Brett Walton / Circle of Blue. It
discusses the conundrum of short term cost of conservation vs. the long
term benefits of water conservation.
11.2.1 Wyoming
Good code vs. Bad Code
This is the most common sense code in the US. It is does not proscribe how
Good Code defines the outcome, without defining how to get there. greywater is to be collected or irrigated - instead is provides basic guidelines of
what must be avoided (human / animal contact etc).
 On this basis, pumping stations are designed in accordance with plumbing
codes.  Wyoming does allow for aerated irrigation of graywater, as long as their is
no risk of contact with humans, animals and edible crops (by spray). This is
 Irrigation systems are designed to avoid surface pooling by irrigating an a common sense approach for a state which is sparsely populated.
appropriately sized area based on planting requirements, rather than
specifying the irrigation must occur 6” under ground (beneath the root zone  In some areas of Australia, aerated irrigation is now permissible, if the
for many plants). irrigation is in large droplet form and not misted. This simple requirement
recognises that graywater will not be blown onto neighboring properties if
 Good code doesn't make conservation expensive, by requiring expensive the drops are of a reasonable size.
documentation, and official site inspections - if best management practices
are followed (e.g. ETo based irrigation design)  This code does not appear to prohibit the use of graywater for produce
irrigation if the graywater is not sprayed (e.g. drip irrigation)
Bad code is most commonly derived from sewer / septic regulations that focus
on disposal of graywater, instead of maximizing the benefit of graywater. A permit / fee is not required.
the flow to the black water disposal system, and the blackwater
Chapter 3, Section 8 - Permit by Rule Greywater Added - Policy 11.1 system (septic tank, sewer, etcetera) is sized adequately for both
greywater and blackwater or:
Greywater defined:
(b) The greywater system has been constructed to allow diversion of
1. Household wastewater which has not been contaminated by toilet the flow to a secondary greywater disposal system, and the second
discharge (blackwater). Greywater includes wastewater from baths, showers, greywater system is constructed and operated within the guidelines
bathroom wash basins, clothes washing machines, sinks (including kitchen defined above. The secondary system shall be designed and
sinks) and laundry tubs. operated in such a manner that extended freezing temperatures will
not cause failure. This option is required when a traditional
Greywater re-use systems that match the following conditions will be permitted blackwater disposal system is not present, such as when an
on a "permit by rule" system as described in chapter 16 of the State of Wyoming incinerating toilet or composting toilet is utilized.
Water and Wastewater Rules. That is to say that no application for a permit or
fee is required if all the following conditions are met: Greywater systems that do not meet the above criteria shall submit a permit
application to the State of Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality to
1. Human contact with the greywater will be minimal. be evaluated on an individual basis.
2. Water which has been used to wash diapers or similarly soiled or

infectious garments is not allowed into the greywater system unless
11.2.2 New Mexico
the greywater system is designed to prevent human or animal contact.
A remarkably simple code, for residences applying less than 250 gallons per
day of graywater.
3. Greywater does not come in direct contact with or adversely impact
surface or groundwater.
 Aeration of graywater is not allowed.
4. The potable water system must be isolated from the greywater system
 Unlike some states mentioned later in this chapter, rather than specifying
by the appropriate backflow methods and devices.
soil loading figures, New Mexico simply states „to ensure that the hydraulic
capacity of the soil is not exceeded‟
5. Greywater does not leave the property on which it is generated without
written, legally recorded, permission from all land owners affected.
 Produce irrigation is not prohibited.
6. Water which contains hazardous materials cannot be disposed of in a
No permit is required.
greywater system.
Section 2. Section 74-6-4 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1967, Chapter 190, Section
7. Greywater sprayed into the air for irrigation or other purposes during
4, as amended by Laws 2001, Chapter 240, Section 1 and by Laws 2001,
high wind conditions cannot come into contact with humans, domestic
Chapter 281, Section 1)
animals or the edible portion of food crops during normal operation.
8. The application of greywater minimizes the pooling of water on the

L. shall not require a permit for applying less than two hundred fifty gallons
ground surface.
per day of private residential gray water originating from a residence for
the resident's household gardening, composting or landscape irrigation
9. Greywater holding tanks, if used, shall be covered or otherwise
if:
protected from access by mosquitoes, children, animals, or other life
forms.
(1) a constructed gray water distribution system provides for overflow
into the sewer system or on-site wastewater treatment and
10. The volume of greywater produced does not exceed an average of
disposal system;
2000 gallons per day.
(2) a gray water storage tank is covered to restrict access and to
11. In addition, at least one of the following conditions must also be met:
eliminate habitat for mosquitos or other vectors;
(a) The greywater system has been constructed to allow diversion of
(3) a gray water system is sited outside of a floodway; §210.82. General Requirements.
(4) gray water is vertically separated at least five feet above the (a) Graywater is defined as wastewater from:
ground water table;
(1) showers;
(5) gray water pressure piping is clearly identified as a nonpotable (2) bathtubs;
water conduit; (3) hand washing lavatories;
(4) sinks that are not used for disposal of hazardous or toxic
(6) gray water is used on the site where it is generated and does not ingredients;
run off the property lines; (5) sinks not used for food preparation or disposal; and
(6) clothes-washing machines.
(7) gray water is applied in a manner that minimizes the potential for
contact with people or domestic pets; (b) Graywater does not include wastewater from the washing of material,
including diapers, soiled with human excreta or wastewater that has
(8) ponding is prohibited, application of gray water is managed to come into contact with toilet waste.
minimize standing water on the surface and to ensure that the
hydraulic capacity of the soil is not exceeded; (c) Construction of a graywater system, including storage and disposal
systems, must comply with this chapter and any requirements of the
(9) gray water is not sprayed; local permitting authority.
(10) gray water is not discharged to a watercourse; and §210.83. Criteria for the Domestic Use of Graywater.
(11) gray water use within municipalities or counties complies with all (a) An authorization is not required for the domestic use of less than 400
applicable municipal or county ordinances enacted pursuant to gallons of graywater each day if:
Chapter 3, Article 53 NMSA 1978
(1) the graywater originates from a private residence;
(2) the graywater system is designed so that 100% of the graywater

11.2.3 Texas can be diverted to an organized wastewater collection system
during periods of non-use of the graywater system and the
discharge from the graywater system must enter the organized
 Although the Texas code is less easy to read than other codes, such as New
wastewater system through two backwater valves or backwater
Mexico and Arizona, it does not prohibit the use of graywater for irrigating
preventers;
produce.
(3) the graywater is stored in tanks and the tanks:
 No authorization is required for the domestic use of less than 400 gallons of
graywater each day.
(A) are clearly labelled as nonpotable water;
(B) must restrict access, especially to children;
 It is interesting that substantial focus is placed on using graywater to
(C) eliminate habitat for mosquitoes and other vectors;
maintain moisture levels around building foundations to prevent movement /
(D) are able to be cleaned; and
cracking. This is also common practice in Australia.
(E) meet the structural requirements of §210.25(i) of this title
(relating to Special Design Criteria for Reclaimed Water
The following is an excerpt relevant to residential graywater re-use.
Systems);
SUBCHAPTER F: USE OF GRAYWATER SYSTEMS
(4) the graywater system uses piping that meets the piping
requirement of §210.25 of this title;
§§210.81 - 210.85
(5) the graywater is applied at a rate that:
Effective January 6, 2005
Adopted December 15, 2004 Effective January 6, 2005
(A) will not result in ponding or pooling; or
(B) will not cause runoff across the property lines or onto any
paved surface; and and level of treatment required.
(6) the graywater is not disposed of using a spray distribution system.  Graywater may not be used for food production, other than citrus and nut
trees.
(b) Builders of private residences are encouraged to:
 Irrigation by flood or drip only.
(1) install plumbing in new housing to collect graywater from all
allowable sources; and  Arizona does allow individual jurisdictions to modify the code „C. Towns,
cities, or counties may further limit the use of gray water described in this
(2) design and install a subsurface graywater system around the Section by rule or ordinance.‟
foundation of new housing to minimize foundation movement or
cracking.
Tier 1 (less than 400 gallons per day) does not require a permit.
(b) A graywater system as described in subsection (a) of this section may
only be used: R18-9-711. Type 1 Reclaimed Water General Permit for Gray Water
(1) around the foundation of new housing to minimize foundation A. A Type 1 Reclaimed Water General Permit allows private residential
movement or cracking; direct reuse of gray water for a flow of less than 400 gallons per day if all the
(2) for gardening; following conditions are met:
(3) for composting; or
(4) for landscaping at the private residence. 1. Human contact with gray water and soil irrigated by gray water is
avoided;
(d) The graywater system must not create a nuisance or damage the quality
of surface water or groundwater. 2. Gray water originating from the residence is used and contained
within the property boundary for household gardening, composting,
(e) Homeowners who have been disposing wastewater from residential lawn watering, or landscape irrigation;
clothes-washing machines, otherwise known as laundry graywater,
directly onto the ground before the effective date of this rule may 3. Surface application of gray water is not used for irrigation of food
continue disposing under the following conditions. plants, except for citrus and nut trees;
(1) The disposal area must not create a public health nuisance. 4. The gray water does not contain hazardous chemicals derived from
(2) Surface ponding must not occur in the disposal area. activities such as cleaning car parts, washing greasy or oily rags, or
(3) The disposal area must support plant growth or be sodded disposing of waste solutions from home photo labs or similar hobbyist
with vegetative cover. or home occupational activities;
(4) The disposal area must have limited access and use by residents
and pets. 5. The application of gray water is managed to minimize standing water
(5) Laundry graywater that has been in contact with human or animal on the surface;
waste must not be disposed onto the ground surface.
(6) Laundry graywater must not be disposed to an area where the 6. The gray water system is constructed so that if blockage, plugging, or
soil is wet. backup of the system occurs, gray water can be directed into the
(7) A lint trap must be affixed to the end of the discharge line. sewage collection system or on-site wastewater treatment and
disposal system, as applicable.
(f) Graywater systems that are altered, create a nuisance, or discharge
graywater from any source other than clothes-washing machines are not The gray water system may include a means of filtration to reduce
authorized to discharge graywater under subsection (e) of this section. plugging and extend system lifetime;
7. Any gray water storage tank is covered to restrict access and to

11.2.4 Arizona eliminate habitat for mosquitoes or other vectors;
Arizona has applied a 3 tier approach, based on volume of graywater per day,
8. The gray water system is sited outside of a floodway;
after a public hearing and enactment of an ordinance or resolution, further

9. The gray water system is operated to maintain a minimum vertical restrict or prohibit the use of graywater systems. For additional information, see
separation distance of at least five feet from the point of gray water Health and Safety Code Section 18941.7.”
application to the top of the seasonally high groundwater table;
General definitions:
10. For residences using an on-site wastewater treatment facility for black
water treatment and disposal, the use of a gray water system does not "Graywater" includes but is not limited to wastewater from bathtubs, showers,
change the design, capacity, or reserve area requirements for the on- bathroom washbasins, clothes washing machines, and laundry tubs, but does
site wastewater treatment facility at the residence, and ensures that not include wastewater from kitchen sinks or dishwashers.
the facility can handle the combined black water and gray water flow if
the gray water system fails or is not fully used; Mulch Basin. A type of irrigation or disposal field filled with mulch or other
approved permeable material of sufficient depth, length and width to prevent
11. Any pressure piping used in a gray water system that may be ponding or runoff. A mulch basin may include a basin around a
susceptible to cross connection with a potable water system clearly tree, a trough along a row of plants or other shapes necessary for irrigation or
indicates that the piping does not carry potable water; disposal.
12. Gray water applied by surface irrigation does not contain water used to Irrigation Field. An intended destination for graywater in the receiving landscape
wash diapers or similarly soiled or infectious garments unless the gray including but not limited to a drip irrigation system, mulch basin, or other
water is disinfected before irrigation; and approved method of dispersal for irrigation purposes.
13. Surface irrigation by gray water is only by flood or drip irrigation. Requirement for 2” covering
B. Prohibitions. The following are prohibited: In general, any irrigation system must avoid graywater contact by being
covered with 2” of material:
1. Gray water use for purposes other than irrigation, and
(G) Graywater shall not be used in spray irrigation, allowed to pond or
2. Spray irrigation. runoff and shall not be discharged directly into or reach any storm sewer
system or any surface body of water.
C. Towns, cities, or counties may further limit the use of gray water described in
this Section by rule or ordinance. (H) Human contact with graywater or the soil irrigated by graywater shall
be minimized and avoided, except as required to maintain the graywater
system. The discharge point of any graywater irrigation or disposal field
shall be covered by at least (2) inches (51 mm) of mulch, rock, or soil, or
11.2.5 California a solid shield to minimize the possibility of human contact.
After many years of illegal graywater re-use by Californians, the code was
(I) Graywater shall not be used to irrigate root crops or edible parts of
substantially re-written.
food crops that touch the soil.
Unfortunately many sections of the code encourage inefficient (i.e. wasteful) The code describes three types of systems:
practices, and actively discourage best management practices. I will explain
why after listing the major points of the code.
 Clothes Washer System. A graywater system utilizing only a single
domestic clothes washing machine in a one- or two-family dwelling.
Rather than repeat the whole code here (it is 12 pages long!), here is the link:
This method cannot use a secondary pump and relies either on the washing
January 27, 2010 (2007 CPC, Title 24, Part 5, Chapter 16A, Part I –
machine pump or gravity to irrigate the garden areas.
Nonpotable Water Reuse Systems)
The amount of water from the washing machine is considered to be 15
The following is a collection of excerpts that summarize the code.
gallons per person per day, e.g. 60 gallons per day for a 4 person
household.
Keep in mind “a city, county, or city and county or other local government may,
A construction permit is not required for the Clothes Washer System Identification of the groundwater level and soil absorption qualities at the
site shall be included in the plans or provided to the Enforcing Agency.
A construction permit shall not be required for a clothes washer system
which does not require cutting of the existing plumbing piping provided it is  1605A.0 Inspection and Testing.
in compliance with Section 1603A.1.1. (A) Inspection. A graywater system for which a construction permit is
required shall be subject to inspection by the Enforcing Agency and such
 Simple System. A graywater system serving a one- or two-family dwelling construction or work shall remain accessible and exposed for inspection
with a discharge of 250 gallons (947 L) per day or less. Simple systems purposes until approved.
exceed a clothes washer system. (B) In order to determine the absorption quantities of questionable soils
other than those listed in Table 16A-2, the proposed site may be subjected
A construction permit is required for a simple system. to percolation tests acceptable to the Enforcing Agency.
Exception: Irrigation fields in compliance with Section 1611A.2, which only
 Complex System. Graywater systems that discharge over 250 gallons utilize drip type emitters.
(947L) per day. Summary:
A construction permit is required for a complex system.  A washer machine system, without an extra pump, producing 60 gallons per
day, does not need a permit.
Construction Permits
 Any other style of system e.g. re-using shower water, or using a pump, must
 1603A.0 Permit. have a construction permit.
A written construction permit shall be obtained from the Enforcing Agency
prior to the erection, construction, reconstruction, installation, relocation or  Construction permits require a plot plan with supporting data, drawings and
alteration of any graywater system that requires a permit. plans of the graywater system, and a site test by the agency after
installation. If drip emitters are not used a percolation test will be required as
No construction permit for any graywater system shall be issued until a plot well.
plan with appropriate data satisfactory to the Enforcing Agency has been
submitted and approved. When there is insufficient lot area or inappropriate Discussion
soil conditions to prevent the ponding or runoff of the graywater, as
determined by the Enforcing Agency, no graywater system shall be allowed. Washer Machine System
 1604A.0 Drawings and Specifications. The code does not define how the water is to get from the washer machine to
Graywater systems for which a construction permit is required may be the irrigation area, nor how it enters the soil (other than 2” cover must be
subject to submittal of plans and details of the proposed graywater system present, and ponding / runoff must not occur).
necessary to ensure compliance with the requirements of this chapter.
However Laundry to Landscape (L2L) is promoted in California as a method of
irrigation suitable for washer machines, and uses the pump of the washer
machine to pressurize a distribution line with either holes drilled or valves
connected, typically letting water out into a mulch basin.
To minimize damaging backpressure on the pump, a series of holes / valves

are used, ranging from 1/4” to 1” in diameter. To avoid clogging of the holes, at
least a 3/8” hole is recommended.
According to the Oasis Design calculator about 10 holes is required to avoid

overloading the pump / achieving uneven distribution.
A mulch basin for a tree is typically about 4‟ in diameter, or 12.6 square feet.
The total irrigated area with 10 mulch basins will be 126 square feet.
Assuming 4 people in the house, 60 gallons per day is generated. 126 square
feet does exceed the soil requirements as listed in Table 16A-2 for even heavy contaminants) entering the potable water supply via a possible cross
clay soil. Table 16A-2 defines the maximum amount of water allowable for connection with a potable water irrigation system, a RP backflow must be
dispersal—not efficient irrigation. installed at service entry to the property, and this needs to be checked
during the inspection process. On this basis, any irrigation components
However, assuming an ETo Value of 7” per month (peak summer average available at hardware / garden centers should also require a construction
across the more heavily populated regions of California), the optimum irrigation permit.
area is:
Closing comments for California
Low water use plants 1,451 square feet (c/w L2L efficiency 8%)
Medium water use plants 839 square feet (c/w L2L efficiency 15%) We understand that changing the code in California was particularly difficult,
with many stakeholders having conflicting views on the re-use of graywater.
It is possible, if washing is done on a daily or every second day, that capillary
irrigation effects will assist, however at best this is likely to double the efficiency However the code remains too difficult / expensive to achieve compliance for
of L2L up to 30% - maybe 40%. the water savings achieved in many counties. California needs to decide how
important water conservation is, and what role it plays in enabling economic
Laundry to Landscape isn't the only option—some graywater dripperlines (e.g. growth.
IrriGRAY) can use gravity alone to irrigate at a rate of 1 gallon per minute, per
150 feet of dripperline, covering 700 square feet of garden area with light clay
soil. 300 feet of dripperline will therefore cover 1,400 square feet.
11.2.6 Washington State
Rather than repeat the whole code here (it is 15 pages long!), here is the link:
If the washing machine is run every day, or second day, the irrigation efficiency
is about 90%, so much more water is saved.
Draft Rule Chapter 246-274 Greywater Reuse for Subsurface Irrigation
May 17, 2010
This method does require the use of a surge tank (e.g. a 50 gallon barrel) which
is within the Title 16A regulations.
As stated in the title, this is a DRAFT rule, that has not been enacted, and
(hopefully) will change before implementation.
However if you wanted to boost the speed of efficient irrigation with a pump, a
permit is required.
I have paraphrased some of the code in order to reduce space requirements.
Why did the authorities require a construction permit for a pressurized
As in California, “ Nothing in this chapter prohibits the adoption and
system?
enforcement of more stringent regulations by the local health jurisdiction”.
We have received a number of reasons from various authorities:
Light greywater and Dark greywater are defined. Dark greywater may only be
used with a Tier 3 treatment system.
 It was considered that as soon as a pump is used, a contractor would be
required, therefore a construction permit is needed.
"Subsurface irrigation" means applying greywater below the surface of the
ground directly into the plant root zone.
This doesn't make sense to us, because our Australian company‟s
experience is that a pump / drip system is far easier to install than the L2L
The greywater may be used for subsurface irrigation of plants that produce food
method.
but must not come into contact with edible portions of any plant.
If plumbing changes are required (e.g. to access shower graywater), the
This is a three tier code.
responsibility is on the licensed plumber to perform work to code.
Tier 1: A gravity fed irrigation system, maximum 60 gallons per day. NO pumps.
 For personal safety, a GFI should be installed, and as part of the inspection
process, this would be checked. On this basis, any pond pump sold at a
No permit is required. However two separate Tier 1 systems (i.e. a total of 120
hardware / garden centers should also require a construction permit before it
gallons per day) can be installed—the local authority may require a permit if two
is installed.
Tier 1 systems are installed.
 To avoid any possibility of pressurized backflow of graywater (or
Tier 2: A pumped, non treatment graywater system, up to 300 gallons per day.
Tier 2: Pumped untreated graywater, under 300 gallons per day
A permit is required:
 A permit is required, unless a qualified professional designs a Tier 2
Tier 3: A pumped, graywater treatment system, under 3,500 gallons per day. system for a single family residence.
Tier 1: Gravity system  Must be installed by a qualified professional, except the local health
official may allow a resident owner of a single-family residence (not adjacent
(a) The greywater is light greywater. to a marine shoreline) to design a system, or the health officer may design
(b) The total flow of greywater is 60 gallons per day or less. the system if the office performs the soil and site evaluation.
(c) The greywater originates from a single-family residence.
(d) The single-family residence is served by either a public sewer system or  “Qualified professional” means an on-site sewage treatment system
an on-site sewage system. designer licensed under chapter 18.210 RCW or a professional engineer
(e) The greywater is diverted to the subsurface irrigation system through a licensed under chapter 18.43 RCW who is knowledgeable in irrigation
single diversion point. Flows from fixtures located close enough to each system design.
other to be diverted through a single diversion point may be combined.
(f) The greywater is delivered through the irrigation system by gravity  Irrigation rates shall be calculated by using the following equation:
distribution and no pumps are used to convey the greywater.
(g) The greywater is not stored. Estimated Water Use in gallons per day =
(h) The total minimum irrigation area available to receive the greywater is Irrigation Area x Evapotranspiration x
adequate based on a calculation of: Plant Factor x 0.62 divided by Irrigation Efficiency x
(i) the estimated volume of greywater; 31 days per month, where:
(ii) the evapotranspiration rate in inches per week for the geographic Irrigation Area equals the number of square feet to be irrigated;
area of the state where the landscape or garden is located; and
(iii) the water requirements of the plants, known as a plant factor. A Evapotranspiration equals the average of either May through
“Greywater System Checklist and Irrigation Area Estimation Tool” September Monthly Irrigation Requirements, in inches, as
is available from the Washington State Department of Health‟s determined by the Washington State University, State of
website, [website address to be inserted here]. Washington Irrigation Guide (WIG), 1985 (as amended 1990;
(i) The system is covered by at least four inches of appropriate material 1992 for select western Washington crops), or monthly averages
which may include suitable soil or other material such as mulch, humus, for systems that adjust application rates by the month or based
or compost. If material other than suitable soil is used, the irrigation field on actual conditions;
is augmented periodically as needed to maintain adequate cover during
the growing season. Plant Factor equals 0 to 0.3 for low water use plants; 0.4 to 0.6
(j) The homeowner ensures that the system is properly operated and for average water use plants; and 0.7 to 1.0 for high water use
maintained. plants; and
(k) The homeowner maintains a record of the system that shows the
location of the system, identifies the fixture or fixtures that are the source Irrigation Efficiency equals 0.9
of the greywater, describes the system design and the system‟s
maintenance requirements, and includes the calculation of the total (if this looks familiar, it is the same formula that we use in this
irrigation area required under subsection (h) of this section. guide. The formula was supplied by us to a member of the
(l) The homeowner may direct greywater to separate irrigation fields so long committee)
as the total flow of greywater to all fields combined does not exceed 60
gallons per day.  Application of the greywater to the plants is even throughout the irrigation
field. This is typically achieved through pressure distribution.
This the first code I have seen that requires an evapotranspiration rate & plant
factor calculation , and that even a simple gravity system must irrigate a  The subsurface irrigation components of the greywater irrigation system
correctly sized area. What is doesn't do is specify (yet) what the required must be installed a minimum of six inches deep and no deeper than 12
minimum irrigation efficiency is. inches below the finished grade. The six inch cover layer must consist of
four inches of suitable soil and two inches of mulch.
Later in the code, Tier 2 & 3 systems assume a 90% irrigation efficiency.
(This is bad. Why must the dripperlines be covered with 4 inches of soil? signature, and stamp, if applicable, of the person responsible for designing
The most efficient location for dripperlines is at the surface with a covering of the system; (vi) date of application; and (vii) name and signature of the
mulch. The 90% irrigation efficiency factor only applies to sub mulch owner or the owner's authorized agent. (b) the soil and site evaluation
irrigation, because capillary irrigation effects are stronger in the top 2-3” of specified under WAC 246-274-420; (c) a dimensioned site plan of the
soil. proposed irrigation field, including: (i) general topography and/or slope; (ii)
drainage characteristics (iii) the location of existing and proposed
Placing dripperline 4” under soil will automatically increase dripperline length encumbrances affecting system placement, including legal access
by about 300%, labor by 400%, and owner maintenance by 100% due to the documents, if any component of the system is not on the lot where the
extra filtration required.) greywater is generated. (d) location, type, and size of the irrigation system
components; (e) flow rate in gallons per minute, application rates in inches
To get a permit: per hour, and design operating pressure per square inch for each zone; (f)
source of greywater (fixtures) and the location of the diversion valve; and (g)
 You need a soil and site evaluation by a qualified professional or local health any additional information deemed necessary by the local health officer.
office. You may be allowed to perform your own evaluation is not on a
marine shoreline, if the local health office agrees. Installation and Site inspection
 The person evaluating the soil and site shall: (a) provide a report to the local Only a person approved by the local health office may construct and install a
health officer that includes: Tier 2 or Tier 3 system.
 a soil map showing the soils within the project site. The person evaluating The approved installer must be on the site at all times during the excavation
the soils must ensure that the soil types of the site are properly identified, and construction of the system.
correctly used in the hydrologic analysis, and will provide suitable soil
capable of supporting healthy plant life. If the original, undisturbed soil will The local health office shall either inspect the system before cover, or allow the
be augmented with additional soil, include a description of the additional soil, person who designed the system to inspect, but only if the designer is not also
how it will be tilled into the original soil, and how the resulting soil will meet the installer.
the requirements of WAC 246-274-415(1)
Discussion
 use the soil names and particle size limits of the United States Department
of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service classification system; Tier 1
and (c) determine texture, structure, compaction, and soil characteristics and
classify the soil as in WAC 246-274-415, Table II. I do not see how either branched drain, or Laundry to Landscape (L2L) systems
can be installed while having any regard for evapotranspiration rates and plant
 describe the drainage characteristics of the site and those areas types.
immediately adjacent to the site that contain characteristics impacting the
design; (iii) the existence of designated flood plains and other areas According to the Oasis Design calculator about 10 holes is required to avoid
identified in the local management plan required in WAC 246-272A-0015; overloading the pump / achieving uneven distribution for a L2L.
and (iv) the location of existing features affecting system placement,
including the items requiring setback, identified in WAC 246-274-405, Table A mulch basin for a tree is typically about 4’ in diameter, or 12.6 square feet.
1, and other features such as: 1. surface water and stormwater infiltration The total irrigated area with 10 mulch basins will be 126 square feet.
areas; 2. abandoned wells; 3. outcrops of bedrock and restrictive layers; 4.
driveways, parking areas, and other impervious surfaces; 5. the on-site However, assuming an ETo Value of 5” per month (summer average across
sewage system serving the building, if any; and 6. underground utilities. many parts of Washington State), the optimum irrigation area is:
 Prior to beginning the construction of a Tier 2 or Tier 3 greywater irrigation Low water use plants 2,256 square feet (c/w L2L efficiency 5%)
system, a person proposing the installation of such a system must provide Medium water use plants 1,304 square feet (c/w L2L efficiency 10%)
information to, and obtain a permit to install from, the local health officer. High water use plants 903 square feet (c/w L2L efficiency 14%)
The information provided shall include: (a) the following general information:
(i) name and address of the property owner; (ii) parcel number and if It is possible, if washing is done on a daily or every second day, that capillary
available, the site address; (iii) identification of the public sewer system or on irrigation effects will assist, however at best this is likely to double the efficiency.
-site sewage system serving the property; (iv) size of the parcel; (v) name,
Branched drain efficiency is worse, as no more than 6 outlets would be installed system or the minimum of ten installed systems
for a system of this size.
 Designer certified at Level 3, in accordance with the requirements of
Laundry to Landscape isn't the only option—some graywater dripperlines (e.g. R317-11, shall design the graywater systems.
IrriGRAY) can use gravity alone to irrigate at a rate of 1 gallon per minute, per
150 feet of dripperline, covering 700 square feet of garden area with light clay  at least 250 gallons in volumetric capacity to provide settling of solids,
soil. 300 feet of dripperline will therefore cover 1,400 square feet. accumulation of sludge and scum unless justified with a mass balance of
inflow and outflow and type of distribution for irrigation;
If the washing machine is run every day, or second day, the irrigation efficiency
is about 90%, so much more water is saved.  The local health department may require the following information with
or in the plot plan before a permit is issued for a graywater system:
This method does require the use of a surge tank (e.g. a 50 gallon barrel) .
(i) plot plan drawn to scale, completely dimensioned, showing lot lines
Tier 2 and structures, direction and slope of the ground, location of all present
or proposed retaining walls, drainage channels, water supply lines,
Basically, the permit process is onerous. A full house greywater collection, wells, paved areas and structures on the plot, other utilities, easements,
pumping and irrigation system costs about $2,000 installed in Arizona, New number of bedrooms and plumbing fixtures plan in each structure,
Mexico and Texas, with little ongoing maintenance. location of onsite wastewater system and replacement area of the onsite
wastewater system, or building sewer connecting to a public sewer, and
The same style of system will cost at least $4,000 under this proposed code, location of the proposed graywater system;
and require much more ongoing maintenance (due to the extra filtration required
for in soil dripperlines).
(ii) a log of soil formations and identification of the maximum anticipated
The critical comparison between Tier 1 and Tier 2 (apart from permitting costs) ground water level as determined by the minimum of one test hole, dug
is Tier 1 only requires 4” of mulch , whereas pressurized dripperline must be in close proximity, two feet below the bottom of the subsurface irrigation
covered by at least 4” of soil and 2” of mulch. field or drip irrigation area together with a statement of types of soil
based on soil classification at the proposed site. Soil and groundwater
This simply doesn't make sense. Supplying 6 gallons a day into a 12 square foot evaluations will be conducted by professionals fulfilling the requirements
mulch basin (L2L or branched drain) is much more likely to produce surface of R317-11;
runoff than applying water via dripperline on the surface at a rate of 0.046
gallons per day per square foot.
Discussion:
11.2.7 Utah The key issue with this code (for gardening and water conservation purposes)
as having to place the dripperlines at least 6” below surface level.
Rule R317-401. Graywater Systems
Because of this, irrigation efficiency decreases substantially. In addition more
At about 5 pages in length, the code is relatively straightforward. Unfortunately it dripperline must be used ($$) and higher levels of filtration are required.
would appear to be focussed on disposal, rather than beneficial use of the
graywater. The requirement for 250 gallons of storage capacity is not a significant issue,
because if sufficient dripperline is installed to irrigate at peak flow rate (mass
Here are the key points: balance of inflow and outflow).
 Sub surface irrigation dripperlines must buried at a minimum depth of six

inches. Drip feeder lines can be polyethylene or flexible PVC tubing and
shall be covered to a minimum depth of six inches.
11.2.8 North Carolina
 Agency shall issue a renewable operating permit at a frequency not
exceeding five years with inspection of the permitted systems before The session law provides interim standards for use of gray water for hand-
renewal; or, inspect annually the greater of 20 per cent of all installed watering inedible plants that will sunset when rules adopted by the Commission
for Health Services go into effect . system without a permit from the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality
(DEQ). The bill further directs the Environmental Quality Commission (EQC) to
This is quite a strange law. As part of an emergency bill, untreated graywater adopt rules for graywater permitting.
reuse is allowed but only using buckets / watering cans or other handheld
containers. The Graywater Advisory Committee will develop and provide DEQ with
recommendations on the treatment, disposal, and reuse of graywater. DEQ will
consider these recommendations when writing the new graywater rules. The
House Bill 2499 (2008 Drought Bill) committee is scheduled to report to the DEQ by the end of 2010.
SECTION 14.(a) For purposes of this section, "gray water" means

wastewater removed from household wash basins, bathtubs, and showers.
SECTION 14.(b) The Commission for Health Services shall adopt rules to
authorize the use of gray water during periods of drought to hand water trees, 11.2.10 Other States
shrubs,
and inedible plants on single-family residential property. The rules shall While some states require graywater to be sent directly to sewer or septic, other
encourage the states may allow beneficial re-use under Innovative Application rules.
use of gray water as provided in this section while protecting public health,
safety, Check with your local authorities.
welfare, and the environment. In developing the rules, the Commission shall
review the
provisions set out in subsection (c) of this section.
SECTION 14.(c) Notwithstanding G.S. 130A-335(a), untreated gray water Do you know something I don’t know?
may be used in periods of drought to hand water trees, shrubs, and inedible
plants on Drop me a line: [email protected]
single-family residential property under the following conditions:
(1) Gray water shall be applied as soon as practicable. Untreated gray water
should not be stored for later use.
(2) Gray water containing hazardous chemicals including, but not limited to,
residue from solvents shall not be used.
(3) Use of untreated gray water is restricted to the residential property where
the gray water originates. Untreated gray water shall not be allowed to
run off onto adjoining property, roadways, or into drainage features such
as ditches and storm drains.
(4) Untreated gray water shall be applied using buckets, watering cans, or
other handheld containers. Gray water may not be used in an irrigation
system unless the gray water has been treated in accordance with
standards set out in the State Plumbing Code.
(5) Gray water shall not be applied closer than 100 feet to surface waters or
a water supply well.
11.2.9 Oregon
On June 12, 2009, Governor Ted Kulongoski signed into law House Bill 2080,
which legalizes the use of graywater for beneficial uses. The bill establishes that
a person may not construct, install, or operate a graywater reuse and disposal
Water saving products and systems Back to Guide Contents
Product Contents
1. Water Saving Products & Systems
1.1 IrriGRAY dripperline
1.2 IrriGRAY graywater (gravity) kit
1.3 IrriGRAY graywater (pressurized) kit
1.4 IrriGRAY pumping systems
2. Rainwater Harvesting Products & Systems
2.1 IrriGRAY rainwater (gravity) kit
2.2 Rain Barrel Pump and Hose Kit
Best Home Water Savers is a Division of Just Dealers

Water Savers USA Inc.
Just Water Savers USA, a family owned company with Many people believe graywater / rainwater irrigation is We encourage our customers to check for local
facilities in AZ, OH and OR, is the designer and expensive, or difficult - and this can be the case with dealers and enquire about our products from
manufacturer of IrriGRAY systems and components. over-engineered systems that are unnecessarily them directly.
Our history is out of Australia, with 10+ years complicated, or suit only one style of house. They have received training from us and can provide
experience manufacturing, selling, installing and This no longer has to be the case. For most houses, guidance to suit your area (e.g. rainfall patterns, local
support of over 5,000+ graywater systems. new or old, an entire collection, pumping and irrigation codes and regulations, soil type and climate
system can be bought for around $1,000. considerations). They are also likely to provide
We know what is required to save water (and money)
cheaper pricing (overall) as a result of bulk shipping
long term. Gravity based irrigation systems, can be bought for
savings.
 It is not about bells and whistles. around $200.
www.besthomewatersavers.com
 It is about producing the most basic systems, using In many states the payback period (including
installation) can be as little as 1 year (gravity system), Just Water Savers USA Inc. provides this shopping
high quality components that simply work, every
or 2-3 years (pumped system), and the homeowner is site as a convenience for customers who do not have
year, with minimal maintenance.
rewarded with significant savings every year beyond. a dealer nearby, and wish to purchase from us directly.
By concentrating on individual stages of graywater
re-use (collect, pump, filter and irrigate) solutions can This means that in addition to helping the
This site is also how our dealers and resellers order
be combined to suit each home, without costing more. environment, homeowners can enjoy green gardens
stock from us, so you can be confident that the stock
around their home while saving money, year after
you see in store is exactly the same as on line.
year..
Products 1.1 IrriGRAY graywater dripperline Back to Product Contents
Specifications
 Dripper flow rate 2 GPH

 Dripper spacing 12"
 Pressure range 2 - 45 PSI
 Tubing diameter 0.540"
I.D. 16mm O.D.
 Tubing color black
 Coil Length 150'
 UV resistant
 Tubing Material - Low Density
Polyethylene (LPDE)
Features & Benefits
Superior TurboNet flow regime

 Largest filtration area and
cross section flow path on the
market. Dripper is 2.2" in
length. Increases clog
resistance from source
 The position of the filter to the
IrriGRAY is the only complete dripperline irrigation  Easy and quick to install, providing significant cost / dripper draws cleaner water
package specifically designed to be used in conjunction labor savings compared to any other method. from the center of the flow
with Graywater Diversion Devices. path, reducing the risk of
How IrriGRAY works
clogging
With over 6 years use, in many thousands of installations in
 IrriGRAY dripperlines are laid on the soil surface, Inlet Nominal Max Lateral
the tough Australian climate, IrriGRAY is proven to deliver
covered by 2" of mulch Pressure flow Line Length
graywater efficiently and evenly across the entire irrigation
 Each drip emitter has a built-in filter
area. 3' 0.7 GPH 52'
 Dripperlines are connected to the main 3/4" poly tube
supply network
IrriGRAY is now manufactured in the US, in standard US 6' 0.9 GPH 56'
16mm irrigation tube size.
Ideally, graywater is pumped into the supply network after 15' 1.4 GPH 56'
Advantages of choosing IrriGRAY passing through a 40 Mesh (400 Micron) filter. 30' 1.9 GPH 59'
IrriGRAY can also be used without a pump, for graywater
Specifically designed drippers that resist clogging and/or rainwater. This is particularly useful for irrigating with Soil Type Separation
 Over 90% irrigation efficiency, compared with 20% - 40% washing machine water in California, where using a pump
efficiency of branched drain and laundry to landscape requires a construction permit. Gravel and Sands 1.8 Feet
methods.
Connecting IrriGRAY dripperline to LDPE supply tube Sandy Loams 1.8 Feet
 Minimum filtration required is a low 40 Mesh (or 400
Micron) Loams 2.4 Feet
2 Minute takeoff connections Video
 Significant material and labor cost savings compared to (click on Icon)
Clay Loams 2.7 Feet
any other graywater irrigation system
 Eliminates the need for large graywater pumping More Information: Light Clays 3.0 Feet
containers
www.besthomewatersavers.com. www.irrigray.com Medium to Heavy 4.5 Feet
 Minimal maintenance & servicing Clays
Products 1.2 IrriGRAY gravity kit Back to Product Contents
IrriGRAY Kit: Graywater by gravity Flow rates of IrriGRAY network (gpm Time to irrigate
= gallons per minute) minutes with 150'
Specifically designed for Graywater Irrigation, Head Top load Front load
the low filtration requirements and even, Pressure Total length IrriGRAY dripperline washer washer
fast flow rate make it the ideal choice for Feet 100’ 150’ 200’ 300’ (40 Gallons) (15 Gallons)
gravity irrigation of graywater. 1’ 0.7 gpm 1.0 gpm 1.3 gpm 2.0 gpm 40 mins 15 mins
3’ 1.1 gpm 1.7 gpm 2.3 gpm 3.4 gpm 24 mins 9 mins
IrriGRAY is the only dripperline requiring 6’ 1.5 gpm 2.2 gpm 3.0 gpm 4.5 gpm 18 mins 7 mins
minimal filtration (40 mesh / 400 micron) and
providing 0.4 GPH flow per emitter with just 12” These diagrams illustrate the amount of head pressure obtained from a barrel
of head pressure. collecting graywater. Minimum head pressure is obtained when the barrel is
empty. Extra head pressure is generated when the barrel contains water.
Supplied with 150‟ of IrriGRAY dripperline, this
kit will irrigate at a flow rate of 1 gallon per Flat ground, near floor level
minute. Placing a barrel sideways, on a
barrel stand will provide more
Additional coils can be added. head than a barrel standing
directly on the ground. This is
Imagine irrigating your garden with water from only important if a faster flow
rate than 1.0 GPM is required
your washing machine, evenly and (with 150’ of IrriGRAY).
automatically - no buckets or watering cans Extra head
required! Min. head
With over 90% irrigation efficiency, IrriGRAY Ground sloping downwards,

saves 3 times or more the amount of water away from the house
than branched drain or Laundry to Landscape systems at a similar material Little flow rate benefit is
cost but requiring much less labour (install in less than 1/2 hour). achieved by laying a barrel on its
side if the irrigation area is down
hill from the barrel location.
How IrriGRAY works Ensure the barrel is placed on a
firm, level surface to avoid risk of
 IrriGRAY dripperlines are laid on the soil surface, covered by 2" of mulch tipping.
Extra head
 Dripperlines are connected to the main 3/4" poly tube supply network
 Connect the supply line, valve and primary filter to the base of the barrel / Min. head
cistern.
Easy Installation
Advantages of choosing IrriGRAY 4 Minute Installation Video
 Automatic even watering of your garden at 90% efficiency (3 x better than (click on Icon)
branched drain or Laundry to Landscape)
 Easy installation, install in 1/2 hour, instead of many hours effort required 2 Minute takeoff connections
with branched drain or L2L Video (click on Icon)
 Emitters are pre-installed, simply lay the dripperline and supply line in the Kit includes a manual valve and a
A full pictorial installation guide is available online. large 40 mesh filter (small filter
garden and connect to your barrel
shown). In most cases the large
 Low maintenance, high capacity, easy to clean filter. More Information filter will need cleaning after
 NO PERMIT REQUIRED IN CALFORNIA 1,000 gallons of washing
Online at www.besthomewatersavers.com machine water. Cleaning takes
no longer than 2 minutes.
Products 1.3 IrriGRAY kit (pressurized) Back to Product Contents
Advantages (continued)
IrriGRAY Kit: Graywater (pressurized)
 Fast 2.0 GPH emitters eliminate the
IrriGRAY is the onl y complete need for large graywater pumping
dripperline irrigation package containers
specifically designed for graywater  Minimal maintenance & servicing
irrigation.
 Easy to install
With over 5 years use, in many thousands
of installations in the tough Australian Irrigate the garden bed, Not the
climate, IrriGRAY is proven to deliver plants!
graywater efficiently and evenly across the
entire irrigation area. With a 2.0 GPH emitter flow rate,
IrriGRAY delivers graywater quickly and
IrriGRAY is so popular in Australia, it now evenly across the entire garden space.
The geofabric filter is installed in a
has over 90% of the residential graywater convenient location after the graywater
dripperline market. It is now also Because the garden can be irrigated
pumping device.
manufactured here in the USA. with graywater every day, the irrigation
system can rely on capillary action
IrriGRAY is suitable for both DIY and professional installation. within the soil to create even moisture
levels across all garden areas.
With over 90% irrigation efficiency, IrriGRAY saves 3 times the amount of The key concept is "water the garden
water than branched drain or Laundry to Landscape systems at a similar bed, not the plants".
material cost but requiring much less labour.
There is sufficient moisture in the soil for
How IrriGRAY works plants to take what they need, without
the risk of root rot.
 IrriGRAY dripperlines are laid on the soil surface, covered by 2" of mulch
The amount of graywater dripperline
 Each drip emitter has a built-in filter
required is 70% less than traditional
 Dripperlines are connected to the main 3/4" poly tube supply network irrigation dripperline, providing
 Graywater is pumped into the supply network after passing through a 40 significant savings in material and
Mesh (400 Micron) filter installation. 3/4” tube (LDPE) is then used to create
a supply network around the property
 The IrriGRAY filter typically requires cleaning once per month (approx 2,000 Dripperline Separation (dark lines).
gallons), and takes less than two minutes to clean. Additional filters can be Soil Type Separation
added in parallel to increase capacity / decrease cleaning frequency. IrriGRAY dripperline is then connected
Gravel and Sands 1.8 Feet to the supply network, resulting in even
Advantages of choosing IrriGRAY Sandy Loams 1.8 Feet irrigation across the entire property
Loams 2.4 Feet (purple lines).
 Superior TurboNet flow regime, by Netafim
Clay Loams 2.7 Feet
 Largest filtration area and cross section flow path on the market. Dripper is
Light Clays 3.0 Feet
2.2" in length. Increases clog resistance from source
Medium to Heavy Clays 4.5 Feet 2 Minute takeoff
 The position of the filter to the dripper draws cleaner water from the center of connections Video
the flow path, reducing the risk of clogging click on Icon)
The standard kit includes 300‟ of
 Minimum filtration required is a low 40 Mesh (or 400 Micron) IrriGRAY dripperline, and 150‟ of 3/4”
 Significant material and labor cost savings compared to any other graywater LDPE supply tube.
irrigation system
Additional coils and fittings are available More Information:
separately.
Products 1.4 IrriGRAY pumping systems Back to Product Contents
Customer Testimonial
My name is Rick Stephenson. I am the
director of Construction for Pepper Viner
Homes in Tucson Arizona.
At Pepper Viner Homes, we have been

engaged in research and the building of
green energy efficient homes for years
now. The company has always attempted
to stay out in front of the upcoming trends
and best practices towards common
sense building...
..Here in Tucson Arizona, conserving

water has always been on the forefront
and is now becoming even more of a
factor as we continue to grow... .
...we successfully installed two complete

systems in a model home park,
Sunnyside Pointe. The systems are
working beautifully and are actually being
used by the City of Tucson as a “Water
Harvest Demonstration Site” for the
general public. ..
The directors and managers of Just Water Savers USA Inc Flexible installation options
... Pepper Viner Homes will continue to
have extensive experience manufacturing and installing Want more than 1 inlet? Need to use 3” plumbing instead of 2”?
use Just Water Savers USA for all of our
thousands of graywater diversion systems in Australia. Have a stub out 48” below ground, or perhaps the stub out is 36”
future Graywater needs. ..
above ground?
Our USA pumping systems use the same core design Our range of systems cope with just about any site difficulties, and
...Adding to the value of this system, we
principles as our Australian systems (certified under the know we can install the complete system
every house is different! In addition to manufacturing, our
Australian Watermark Standard), but are manufactured inexpensively and it will be very simple to
experience includes thousands of installations across a wide range
here in the USA using high quality pumps and fittings maintain. As I mentioned earlier, the
of housing styles. Our systems are the most flexible on the market,
system is very flexible and can be
matching USA plumbing and irrigation standards. saving you money in time, labor and materials.
converted to both shallow and deep
public sewer connections and is a slam
The following features are standard in all of our pumping systems: Filtration AFTER the pump
dunk for septic systems! (click here for
This not only saves more graywater (see last page), but provides far
the full text).
Quality 660W Pump as standard greater installation flexibility. Need to place the pumping unit in the
They key to long term effectiveness and reliability is using a powerful crawl space, or 48” below ground level? No problem—the filter can
One each of
quality pump to ensure fast irrigation, without having to work the pump be installed in any convenient location before the irrigation tubing
the IrriGRAY
hard. The 660W pump uses 440W when in operation, and only costs starts.
pumping
about 50 cents per month to run for a typical family of 4. Less powerful systems were
pumps work harder (shortening the service life), and can cause loss of Self cleaning system
installed in two
graywater to overflow. The internal flushing tube (patent pending) ensures that graywater
new homes in
sludge and particles do not collect inside the basin over time. While
Tucson AZ.
The 660W pump also allows the use of 3/4” supply tube, instead of 1” we recommend an annual inspection of the unit, regular cleaning of
tube required with lower powered systems. 3/4” supply tube carries the basin is NOT required— a fantastic benefit for crawl space and
These were
about 1/2 the volume of water compared to 1” tubing. 1” tubing deep in ground installations.
combined with
therefore requires much more graywater to fill it before the dripperlines IrriGRAY
are pressurized, typically resulting in uneven irrigation across the No electronic controllers or sensors
irrigation kits .
garden. Our systems use a single float switch that is reliable and simply can
enabling far
not hang or become caught. This is far more reliable than systems
more garden
A 2 year manufacturers warranty is included with each pumping using small sensors and electronic controllers that require regular
coverage than
system. servicing, and are prone to damage / interference from GFIs.
other systems.
Our range of pumping systems is listed on the next page
Products 1.4 IrriGRAY pumping systems Back to Product Contents
IrriGRAY 18" x 22" in ground pumping system Pump Specification:

 660W Ecovort 520A dirty water pump (made
18" (Diameter) x 22" (depth) HDPE black container, lid secured in Italy), up to 28’ head
by screws / bolts. Suitable for in-ground installations.  2 year manufacturer’s warranty
 Energy efficient motor with built-in overload
Click here for more information. protection and stainless steel shaft
 Environmentally safe, oil-free
 Ceramic shaft sleeve for long life and sand
IrriGRAY 18" x 30" in ground pumping system resistance
 Perfect cooling allowing running of pump even
18" (Diameter) x 30" (depth) HDPE black container, lid secured if partially submerged
by screws / bolts. Suitable for in-ground installations.
Inlet and Overflow Location
 Inlets and Overflow are not predrilled,
Click here for more information. providing complete flexibility to change the
plumbing design to best suit the site situation.
Each pumping system includes:

IG 183012 - IrriGRAY 18" x 12" extension
 Ecovort 520A 650W dirty water pump with 2 year manufacturers
18" (Diameter) x 12" (height) extension collar, to extend depth warranty. Pump float modified for lower turn on / turn off water
of the 18" x 30" container. Screws / bolts included. Note a levels. Pump is pre installed, with fittings for connection of 3/4" LDPE
maximum of 2 extension collars may be fitted to a 18" x 30" poly tube included.
container.
 Internal plumbing system, including automatic container cleaning
This collar is not suitable for the 18" x 22", or 20 gallon components.
container. Click here for more information.
 2 x 2" seals, for connecting 1 inlet and 1 overflow schedule 40 2"
ABS or PVC pipe. Alternative seal sizes available (e.g. 3”)
IG 20 - 20 gallon above ground / partial in-ground
collection pumping system  Lower drain assembly (1 valve at base and extra valve situated
above. Style and location varies according to pumping model. Full
20 gallon HDPE yellow container, with opaque white lid. port drain available for jurisdictions requiring complete gravity
Suitable for on ground and partially in-ground installations. drainage for inspection.
Lockable lid ring.
Options:
Click here for more information.
 Additional 2” & 3” seals are available.
IG 12 - 12” square by 14.5” deep above ground /  Each system is can be fitted with a standard potable water float
partial in-ground collection pumping system valve, for makeup water supply connection.
20 gallon HDPE yellow container, with opaque white lid. Video

Suitable for on ground and partially in-ground installations.
Lockable lid ring.  18” x 30” basin, with two 18” x 12” extension collars, for house with
graywater stub out 42” below surface level.
Coming soon! Click on the YouTube icon to view.
Products 2.1 Rainwater Harvesting: IrriGRAY Rainwater kit Back to Product Contents
Easy Installation
IrriGRAY Kit: Rainwater by gravity 4 Minute Installation Video
(click on Icon)
Although IrriGRAY dripperline is designed for small filter shown
graywater use, its low filtration requirements 2 Minute takeoff connections
and even, fast flow rate make it the ideal Video (click on Icon)
choice for gravity irrigation of collected
rainwater.
Flow rates of IrriGRAY network
(gpm = gallons per minute)
IrriGRAY is the only dripperline requiring
minimal filtration (40 mesh / 400 micron) and Head Pressure Total length IrriGRAY dripperline
providing 0.4 GPH flow per emitter with just 12” Feet 100’ 150’ 200’ 300’
of head pressure. 1’ 0.7 gpm 1.0 gpm 1.3 gpm 2.0 gpm
3’ 1.1 gpm 1.7 gpm 2.3 gpm 3.4 gpm
6’ 1.5 gpm 2.2 gpm 3.0 gpm 4.5 gpm
Supplied with 150‟ of IrriGRAY dripperline and
150‟ of 3/4” supply line, this kit will irrigate at a These diagrams illustrate the amount of head pressure obtained from a barrel
flow rate of 1 gallon per minute. collecting rainwater. Minimum head pressure is obtained when the barrel is
empty. Extra head pressure is generated when the barrel contains water.
Additional coils can be added.
Flat ground, near floor level
Placing a barrel sideways, on a
Imagine irrigating your garden with water barrel stand will provide more
from your rain barrel or cistern, evenly and head than a barrel standing
automatically - no buckets or watering cans directly on the ground. This is
required! only important if a faster flow
Extra head rate than 1.0 GPM is required
(with 150’ of IrriGRAY).
Min. head
How IrriGRAY works
 IrriGRAY dripperlines are laid on the soil surface, covered by 2" of mulch Ground sloping downwards,
away from the house
 Dripperlines are connected to the main 3/4" poly tube supply network Little flow rate benefit is
 Connect the supply line, valve and primary filter to the base of the barrel / achieved by laying a barrel on its
cistern. side if the irrigation area is down
hill from the barrel location.
Ensure the barrel is placed on a
Advantages of choosing IrriGRAY firm, level surface to avoid risk of
Extra head tipping.
 Automatic even watering of your garden at 90% efficiency (3 x better than

Min. head
branched drain or Laundry to Landscape)
 Easy installation, install in 1/2 hour, instead of many hours effort required
with branched drain or L2L
 Emitters are pre-installed, simply lay the dripperline and supply line in the
garden and connect to your barrel A full pictorial installation guide is available online.
 Low maintenance, high capacity, easy to clean filter. Kit includes a manual valve and
More Information a large 40 mesh filter (small
 NO PERMIT REQUIRED IN CALFORNIA
filter shown). In most cases the
Online at www.besthomewatersavers.com filter will only require a clean
once per year (rainwater).
Products 2.2 Rainwater Harvesting: Pump and Hose Kit Back to Product Contents
Rain Barrel: Pump & Hose Kit

Barrels are great for storing water, but how do you get
the water to where you really need it?
Our unique (US patent pending) internal pump and

plumbing outlet assembly gives you the power to get the
water where you need it.
You can even close the nozzle while the pump is running,
without damaging the pump. This lets you conserve
precious water by turning off your hose while you walk from
one area of the garden to another.
Simple Installation:
 Screw the main outlet assembly (vertical tube) onto the

pump outlet,
 Lift the pump into your barrel,
 Mark the required location for the outlet hole,
 Drill a hole with a 1" drill or hole saw,
 Push the male thread of the elbow through the hole, and
 Attach the outside elbow and connect the hose.
This pump & hose kit can also be used for graywater
collection and pumping. Note aeration of graywater is
permitted in Wyoming.
Features:
1 HP submersible dirty water vortex pump

50’ of highest quality 3/4" kink resistant hose
 Suitable for rainwater and graywater  Not your average hose! Supplied with a limited lifetime DIY Installation
 Plenty of pressure through up to 100' of hose. This warranty.
pump creates a jet / spray of 25‟ from the nozzle Children and open water containers can be a
High quality adjustable brass nozzle deadly combination. Ensure your method of
 The pump is provided with a 1 year limited warranty.
storing water is anchored safely and child
 The cover is removable, so is easily cleaned if foreign proof. Note that some mobile trash cans are
Volume relief tube allows water to circulate inside the matter clogs the outlet. not suitable for storing water. The example
barrel we have shown has a strong and thick HDPE
wall structure.
 You can close the hose nozzle while the pump is still Dimensions:
running, without damaging the pump Installation and Operation
 Keeps the barrel clean by constantly stirring any solids  Through barrel hole; approx 30” above internal base of Video (click on icon)
in the water. barrel
(Other heights are available to suit different barrel
Anti-siphon air admitter More Information
styles).
 A hole 10” x 8” is required in the top of the barrel to (Including pictorial installation guide)
 Air admittance prevents water loss via siphoning insert the pump (or use a barrel with a removable
cover). Online at www.besthomewatersavers.com
Resources Back to Contents
use of tomato
Resources
R.K. Misra*, J.H. Patel and V.R. Baxi
This section will be constantly updated. Whenever conducting your own research on the Faculty of Engineering and Surveying, Australian Centre for Sustainable Catchments and
internet, keep in mind the irrigation method used to disperse the graywater. Many studies CRC for Irrigation Futures, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Queensland
have concentrated on disposal, rather than beneficial re-use. 4350, Australia (2010)
Domestic Water Use Study, Perth Australia 1998-2001, Michael L0h, Peter Coghlan 2003
Because optimised beneficial re-use typically irrigates an area 10 times that of a disposal A comprehensive study of water use based on demographics and seasonal influences, in
field, or 4 times that of a branched drain / laundry to landscape system, the effects of a water challenged environment.
leaching of contaminants via natural rainfall are far greater. In soil bacterial treatment is
also far more effective because of the low dosage application rates with an efficient
graywater irrigation system. Water Conservation Vs. Water Price
Graywater Codes (U.S.) U.S. Urban residents cut water usage, Utilities are forced to raise prices
Brett Walton, Circle of Blue water news April 2010
Wyoming The price of water: a comparison of water rates, usage in 30 U.S. Cities,
New Mexico Brett Walton, Circle of Blue water news April 2010
Texas Water use within Households

Arizona Residential Water Usage comparison (Tucson)
California Tucson Water
Washington State Water Use in Southern Nevada

Southern Nevada Water Authority
Utah
North Carolina Landscape irrigation requirements
Oregon California Irrigation Management Information System (CMIS)
Et Overview (including links to ETo zone maps)
Australian National Greywater Guide
Australian Government; National Water Commission(2008) : Urban Greywater Design and Electricity consumption, pressurized graywater systems
Installation Handbook
USA Census 2007 electric energy by class of service and state
Sustaining Garden in Dry Times
A comprehensive yet easy to read brochure from the Victorian State Government, USA End-Use Consumption of Electricity 2001
Australia.
Graywater Studies (U.S.) Robert Kourik

Drip Irrigation for Every Landscape and All Climates - 2nd Edition Metamorphic Press
Preliminary comments on the use of graywater for vegetables, Penn State horticulturists
(2009)
(May 2010)
Roots Demystified Publisher: Metamorphic Press (2008),
U.S. Water news Online (Oct 2005) Gray water from laundry produces green grass,
Description of the outcome of testing conducted by a University of Arizona (Yuma)
vegetable specialist. Plumbing Requirements
Long term Effects of Landscape Irrigation using Household Graywater—Literature
Review and Synthesis, Colorado State University 2006 Irrigation Systems & Backflow Prevention Requirements
Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Resource Protection Tucson Water
(December 2002), Greywater Characterization and treatment efficiency,
Monitoring Graywater Use: Three Case Studies in California
An older study (1999), using old irrigation techniques, but worth a look.
Graywater Studies (Australia)
Reuse potential of laundry greywater for irrigation based on growth, water and nutrient
Resources Back to Contents
Videos Document Control
Graywater irrigation pumping system Version Date Purpose Of Revision
1.01 10/25/2010 Minor revisions

Connecting IrriGRAY dripperline to poly supply tube using takeoff fittings
1.0 10/12/2010 First Release
Rainwater irrigation using IrriGRAY dripperline and gravity
Rain barrel pump and hose kit, installation and use
Branched drain irrigation system, installation overview (Tucson AZ)
Contact Back to Contents
Just Water Savers USA Inc.
Toll-Free 800.513.6414
Fax: 513.488.1105
WWW www.justwatersaversusa.com
www.besthomewatersavers.com
www.irrigray.com
Administration: Middletown, Ohio

Warehouse: Eugene, Oregon

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GRAYWATER

A detailed guide to help You

The most important concept of this guide is water

 If you put 5 gallons of water in one 4 foot diameter mulch basin

 In Tucson, Arizona, that basin only needs 12 gallons for the

 The actual amount saved is 12 gallons.

 Instead, the 5 gallons per day could be irrigating 90 square feet

 A family of four, easily generating 100 gallons of graywater per day,

This guide describes many different methods of re-using graywater,

1. Introduction 11. Graywater codes

7. Graywater re-use methods 11.2.7 Utah

8.1 ETo theory Useful Links

1.1 Putting water saving in context

Before even considering re-using graywater, you should ask yourself

The most common reasons are:

Water shortages - how can I keep my garden alive?

High utility costs - expensive watering the garden

Reducing the load on your septic system - saving money

Going green - attempting to live a sustainable life

How can that make sense?

Irrigating with Graywater

Practical Graywater Re-use Treated Graywater

What plants need to grow:

 Room to Grow, Temperature, Light, Air & Time

 Water & Nutrients

Nutrients: Fertilizer and Soil Amendments:

The roots are encouraged to

Azaleas are often quoted as a plant

 Do NOT store graywater for more than 24 hours.

Shower water contains soap, shampoo and

A common problem in Australia is the use of a manual gravity fed hose

first (dirty and high pH

Graywater and vegetables / low fruit

Salad onion (including scallions etc).

Graywater irrigation of fruit and vegetables is of course personal choice. No one

Lettuce is an excellent example of why the first

Another consideration is how much pesticide do your store-bought fruit and

Cost / Benefit Analysis of the different methods.

$0.070 Over watering

Due to high soil pH, micronutrients are

Although shower water is basically pH neutral,

Washing machine pumps are NOT built for this.

To minimize damaging backpressure on the pump, a series of holes / valves are

It is possible, if washing is done on a daily or every second day, that capillary

Efficient & even irrigation:

The basic concept is to have the washing machine Disadvantages:

Gardens grow better with Graywater!

Maximum collection and reuse of graywater:

Best long term Return on Investment:

Easy clean filter:

With a purchase price of around $1,000, plus installation costs of approximately

Regular filter cleaning:

7.6.1 Graywater irrigation under lawn / turf

Risk of root intrusion is minimized further by frequent irrigation inherent in the

Simply unscrew the top of the shrubbler, allow water to run

Shrubblers are useful for irrigating potted plants with

In this case about 38 gallons of graywater is irrigated, with about 18 gallons of

Because graywater is normally generated on a daily basis (showers, hand

7.6.3 IrriGRAY and Geoflow Graywater Dripperlines

trademark for IrriGRAY.