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California Greywater Code - Summary
1603A.1.1 Clothes Washer System. A clothes washer system in compliance with all of the following is exempt from the construction permit specified in Section 108.4.1 and may be installed or altered without a construction permit:
1603A.1.2 Simple System. Simple systems exceed a clothes washer system and shall comply with the following:
- If required, notification has been provided to the Enforcing Agency regarding the proposed location and installation of a graywater irrigation or disposal system.
- Note: A city, county, or city and county or other local government may, after a public hearing and enactment of an ordinance or resolution, further restrict or prohibit the use of graywater systems. For additional information, see Health and Safety Code Section 18941.7.
- The design shall allow the user to direct the flow to the irrigation or disposal field or the building sewer. The direction control of the graywater shall be clearly labeled and readily accessible to the user.
- The installation, change, alteration or repair of the system does not include a potable water connection or a pump and does not affect other building, plumbing, electrical or mechanical components including structural features, egress, fire-life safety, sanitation, potable water supply piping or accessibility.
- Note: The pump in a clothes washer shall not be considered part of the graywater system.
- The graywater shall be contained on the site where it is generated.
- Graywater shall be directed to and contained within an irrigation or disposal field.
- Ponding or runoff is prohibited and shall be considered a nuisance.
- Graywater may be released above the ground surface provided at least two (2) inches (51 mm) of mulch, rock, or soil, or a solid shield covers the release point. Other methods which provide equivalent separation are also acceptable.
- Graywater systems shall be designed to minimize contact with humans and domestic pets.
- Water used to wash diapers or similarly soiled or infectious garments shall not be used and shall be diverted to the building sewer.
- Graywater shall not contain hazardous chemicals derived from activities such as cleaning car parts, washing greasy or oily rags, or disposing of waste solutions from home photo labs or similar hobbyist or home occupational activities.
- Exemption from construction permit requirements of this code shall not be deemed to grant authorization for any graywater system to be installed in a manner that violates other provisions of this code or any other laws or ordinances of the Enforcing Agency.
- An operation and maintenance manual shall be provided. Directions shall indicate the manual is to remain with the building throughout the life of the system and indicate that upon change of ownership or occupancy, the new owner or tenant shall be notified the structure contains a graywater system.
1603A.1.2 Simple System. Simple systems exceed a clothes washer system and shall comply with the following:
- The discharge capacity of a graywater system shall be determined by Section 1606A.0. Simple systems have a discharge capacity of 250 gallons (947 L) per day or less.
- Simple systems shall require a construction permit, unless exempted from a construction permit by the Enforcing Agency. The Enforcing Agency shall consult with any public water system (as defined in Health and Safety Code, Section 116275) providing drinking water to the dwelling before allowing and exemption from a construction permit.
- The design of simple systems shall be acceptable to the Enforcing Agency and shall meet generally accepted graywater system design criteria.
- 1603A.1.3 Complex System. Any graywater system that is not a clothes washer system or simple system shall comply with the following:
- The discharge capacity of a graywater system shall be determined by Section 1606A.0. Complex systems have a discharge capacity over 250 gallons (947 L) per day.
- Complex systems shall require a construction permit, unless exempted from a construction permit by the Enforcing Agency. The Enforcing Agency shall consult with any public water system (as defined in Health and Safety Code, Section 116275) providing drinking water to the dwelling before allowing and exemption from a construction permit.
- A complex system shall be designed by a person who can demonstrate competence to the satisfaction of the Enforcing Agency.
