There is keen interest on the part of many Santa Barbara citizens in re-using household washwater for irrigation. This practice can save water and offer many other ecological benefits. Santa Barbara is a world leader in graywater innovation and policy. The rules below are based on the graywater section of the California Plumbing Code, which was inspired in large part by the experience and suggestions from Santa Barbara residents.
Considering a Greywater System? Here are some questions to ask yourself to get clarity on what will work best for you.
• Do you have a water softener?
• If so, does it use sodium or potassium chloride? You will need to switch to potassium or un-softened water in order to send greywater into the garden and have it not damage the soil and plants.
• Is your home on a raised foundation (crawlspace) or a slab?
• Do you have a water softener?
• If so, does it use sodium or potassium chloride? You will need to switch to potassium or un-softened water in order to send greywater into the garden and have it not damage the soil and plants.
• Is your home on a raised foundation (crawlspace) or a slab?
Greywater (or graywater) is any water that has been used in a home except toilet water, which is called black water. This includes water that drains from washing machines, sinks, showers and tubs. Kitchen sink and dishwasher water is sometimes called dark grey water, as it may contain grease and food particles, which can cause clogging and slow infiltration into the soil.
This is an open source document. Sweetwater Collaborative has provided this owner's manual for anyone who wishes to use it. Please credit Sweetwater when you share it. Thank you.
The Free SB County Greywater and Integrated Resource Management Handbook is now available!—see link below. The Handbook was produced by Santa Barbara County, with Art Ludwig and Oasis Design as the lead contributor, coordinator, researcher, visionary and designer of the handbook. Barbara Wishingrad of Sweetwater Collaborative was a main contributor.
Art Ludwig, designer of the laundry to landscape and branched drain greywater systems. has developed a simplier, more effective way to get water from high efficiency washers into the landscape.