Solution to “When in Drought” Water Restrictions!

By now you all are familiar with the slogan, “When in Drought”. Well, we ARE in a drought!

You are also well-acquainted with the severe water restrictions imposed upon us here in California.

With gardens and lawns that should be green and growing year round, it has been hard on all of us to watch as the grass turns brown and our lovely plants and trees begin to die.

Well, there is something you can do about this without being in violation of the new rules about water usage. You can install a “graywater” system.

"Graywater" includes but is not limited to wastewater from bathtubs, showers, bathroom washbasins, clothes washing machines, and laundry tubs, but does not include wastewater from kitchen sinks or dishwashers or toilets.

For many years graywater systems were illegal, in spite of the fact that millions of people installed them.
Due to the recent drought conditions, the State of California has become more lenient and has revised the code for such systems.

Basically, there are three systems: 

1 - Clothes Washer System - uses ONLY the water from the clothes washer to irrigate your garden. No permit is required for this system.
2 - Simple System - exceeds a clothes washer system and uses the wastewater from bathtubs, showers, etc. Simple systems have a discharge capacity of 250 gallons per day or less.
3 - Complex System - is similar to a Simple System but has a discharge capacity over 250 gallons per day. 

Permit and plans required for both Simple Systems and Complex Systems unless exempted by Enforcing Agency. 

For more detailed information visit the website of Art Ludwig, THE expert on this topic at OasisDesign.net. You can also learn more at www.thegreywaterguide.com/californina.html

Be sure to use detergent in your washer that is labeled “graywater safe, 100% biodegradable”. Look for other cleaning products which are "biocompatible" or "biodegradable".

Keep your garden green without wasting water!

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