Drought Conditions Reinvigorate the Greywater Debate in Berkeley

Drought Conditions Reinvigorate the Greywater Debate in Berkeley

Greywater:
Waste water from lavatories, showers, baths and sinks only. This water can be stored in special equipment and may then be used to water lawns, gardens or other relatively benign non-potable uses such as groundwater recharge. Water from toilets is called black water; it must be properly drained to the sewer or septic system.

It makes so much sence to re-use the mostly clean water from hand washing in bathrooms and from the kitchen sink, but getting a working plan through the City permitting process can be tricky business. This has caused a water underground to form, that eschews the permitting process altogether, which has inadvertantly contributed to the problem of non-cooperation in the planning department. Concern over renegade greywater contamination is one of the strongest arguements against making greywater systems simple and widely available to average consumers. If you get the chance, tell your city councel person that you are in favor of greywater and you vote!

Safety tips for using greywater:
1. Use greywater from bathroom sinks, tubs, showers, and washing machines and avoid greywater from kitchen sinks, dishwashers, and toilets.

2. Don't use liquid fabric softener or harsh detergents. Look for biodegradable, low-sodium detergents without phosphates, brighteners, boron, borax, enzymes or bleach. You can find Oasis biocompatible soaps at Berkeley Bowl.

3. Avoid storing greywater.

4. Apply greywater directly to the soil, not by spraying.

5. Root crops that are eaten uncooked should not be irrigated with greywater.

6. Don't use greywater on young plants or plants that like acidic conditions.

7. Water from laundry that includes diapers should not be used.

8. Don't use greywater when members of the household have a communicable disease such as staph or hepatitis.