Laundry to Landscape Workshop Welcome! Graywater Overview Laundry - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Laundry to Landscape Workshop

Welcome!

 Graywater Overview  Laundry to landscape  Permit exemption rules  Indoor 3-way valve  Outdoor irrigation  Plants and products  Estimating graywater potential  System mock-ups

Frequently Asked Questions

 How long can I store graywater?  Can I water my lawn with graywater?  How much potable water will I save?

 16-40% depending on the site

 Do I need a permit?

When a permit is required

 Sink or bath  Alteration of plumbing  Not a 1 or 2 unit building  Anytime a pump is used

 Anytime a surge tank is used

No permit is required if…

 Graywater comes from washing machine only  System does NOT alter household plumbing  System is for a 1 or 2 unit building  System follows code guidelines

 See appendix B

Integrated design: Roof catches water, rain infiltrations into basins, rain and graywater grow shade, food, wildlife habitat, and beauty.

Install a clothesline!

 Inside and outside!  Line-dried textiles last longer

 reduces fiber damage  less lint, means fewer clogs

 Real energy savings $

 Reduces carbon dioxide emissions

Install a clothesline!

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• Is water from

Showers/baths Washing machines Sinks (lavatory or bathroom sinks)‏ Kitchen sinks (not considered graywater in CA)‏

• Not from

Toilets or diaper wash water

What is graywater?

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• 1. Potential environmental pollution

Nutrients in graywater can contaminate creeks by causing algae to grow and decompose, consuming

• xygen

If harmful chemicals are in graywater they can get into the environment

• 2. Potential contact with pathogens

No case of illness from graywater, but all systems should be designed to avoid potential ingestion/infection Improper design can create a "cross connection" where graywater can enter potable water pipes.

• 3. Potential problems with neighbors

Concerns with Graywater

1.Outdoor use- Landscape direct (low tech)‏

No pumps (if possible) no filters, no connection to other irrigation systems

2.Outdoor use- For drip irrigation (high tech)‏

Needs pumps, filters, and automatic cleaning of filter, connected to domestic water source

• 3. Indoor use (toilet flushing?)

Needs filtering and disinfectant, needs a pump (not allowed under Chap. 16A graywater code)‏

Ways to use Graywater

Soaps & Detergent Products

• Things to avoid for happy plants and soil:

 Salt (sodium compounds) eg“Sodium Lauryl Sulfate”  Boron (borate)‏  Chlorine bleach (hydrogen peroxide bleach okay)  Vinegar will make soil too acidic

• Also watch out for your own health:

 Research harmful substances in products:  cosmeticdatabase.org

• Recommended products: Salt/boron/carcinogen free

 Laundry: Oasis, ECOS, Biopac, Vaska & more  Shower: Aubrey Organics, and more  General: Dr. Bronners

Estimating Graywater Production

• Top loading

Top loading machine machine

• = 30-50

= 30-50 gallons/load gallons/load

• gallons/week=

gallons/week= # loads/week x # loads/week x gallons/load gallons/load

• Front loading machine=
• 12-25 gallon/load
• How many gallons

per week does your house produce?

• Could this number

change?

Plant Water Requirements

• In San Francisco:
• A small-medium sized tree needs about 10-20

gallons per week – A small-medium sized shrub needs about 5- 10 gallons per week – A drought tolerant shrub needs about 2-4 gallons per week

– *note: these are very rough estimates! Plant water requirements are affected by microclimate, sun and wind exposure, soil type, type of plant, ground water depth, etc. Established trees may need NONE!

How many plants can you irrigate?

• Use the estimated gallons per

week and estimate about how many of the plants in your yard you can irrigate with graywater.

• If your yard has an irrigation

system, think about what sections you can run parallel with graywater and switch between as needed.

Example

• Front loading machine:

15 gallons per load, 5 loads per week=

• 75 gallons per week.
• This could irrigate 4-8

fruit trees.

Laundry to landscape ‏

 3-way diverter

valve

 "auto" Vent  Prevents

siphon from continuously emptying machine as it tries to fill

 1" pipe

Sewer connection

Graywater goes to landscape

Diverter valve

Anti-siphon

Bury and stake tubing Discharge under 2" into mulch ½ inch lines irrigate

• ff main 1" line

Graywater Outlets

GW flows out a Tee (not code compliant) GW discharges in mulch shield, under stone. (CA code compliant)‏

Code Summary

⇨ Do's

⇨ Have 3-way valve ⇨ Label system ⇨ Discharge under 2"

mulch/rock/cover

⇨ Direct water to

irrigation or disposal field

⇨ Minimize contact ⇨ Have a maintenance

manual

• Don'ts

–

Have pooling or runoff

–

Discharge into neighbor's yard (must

follow setbacks)

–

Connect to potable water supply

–

Include a pump

–

Violate other codes/laws

–

Damage building

–

Alter existing plumbing

–

Use diaper wash water

• r hazardous chemicals

(oily rags, etc.)

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Laundry to landscape-

3-way valve connection  Materials

Brass threaded 1” three-way valve (2) 1” PVC male adapters (1) 1” barbed male adapter (1) hose clamp Teflon tape

 Tools

Channel locks, hole saw, pilot drill bit, caulking gun, 3/8” hex head, pipe cutter or saw

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Washer hoses Washer hoses Usually 1 Usually 1” ” Sometimes 3/4 Sometimes 3/4” ”

If rigid plastic If rigid plastic

• Hot water

Hot water

• Vinyl "coupling" for water tight seal

Vinyl "coupling" for water tight seal

Rigid plastic, hard to get seal

3/4” barbed fitting ¾ x 1” threaded bushing

Rubber, easy to form seal

L2L- washer hose connection

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Laundry to landscape- anti-siphon valve

 Used to prevent a

potential siphon from forming and draining the machine as it tries to refill.

• Autovent, AAV, In-

line vent

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Laundry to landscape-

anti-siphon connection

Autovent 1 ½” threads 1 ½” FPT (female pipe threads) by slip coupling Reducing bushing 1 ½” x 1” slip

Anti-siphon must be in the highest point of the system, visible, and preferably outside in case of leaks. Do not put it in the wall or in an inaccessible location.

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Strapping and Labeling

Label shows how handle position directs graywater Valve securely strapped. Should be strapped with “like” material, may need wood backing to drill Into if wall is sheet rock.

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Consider your washing machine setup. Consider your washing machine setup. Where would you place the valve? Where would you place the valve? How will you mount it? How will you mount it? What type of labeling will you do? What type of labeling will you do?

Paint plastic pipe to protect from UV Paint plastic pipe to protect from UV Seal around hole with Sikaflex Seal around hole with Sikaflex

Piping to landscape

 You may have to pipe

around decks, patios, etc.

 You may need to bypass

hardscape

 You may need to pipe

through the crawl space



Try and maintain downwards slope when ever possible!

Hardscape

 The enemy of

graywater

 Go under it  Go around it  Remove it  Saw out a strip  Patch it

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#1 rule- protect machine's pump #1 rule- protect machine's pump Flat yard- no more than 50 ft. (rule of thumb Flat yard- no more than 50 ft. (rule of thumb distance) distance)

Don't pump more than 2' above the rim of the

machine, every 50' flat= 1.5' rise

If site slopes down, no rule on distance If site slopes down, no rule on distance Uphill- not recommended! Uphill- not recommended!

If you need to pump up to reach the landscape follow If you need to pump up to reach the landscape follow the 2' rule, and then irrigate immediately the 2' rule, and then irrigate immediately – – Use a swing check valve to prevent back flow Use a swing check valve to prevent back flow into the machine into the machine Downhill Downhill Don't plug end! Serpentine tubing to avoid steep runs Don't plug end! Serpentine tubing to avoid steep runs

Slope considerations

34

On-line friction calculators

• http://www.calculatoredge.com/mech/pipe%20friction.htm

35 Serpentine tubing down slope, irrigate

• n contour

in mulch crescents

Downwards slope

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Landscape Considerations

 Irrigate closest area to the

washer that is NOT uphill

 Irrigate larger plants (trees,

shrubs, perennials)

 Top loading machines



12 outlets possible

 Front loading machines



8 outlets possible

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Set backs (from plumbing code Ch. 16A)

 2’ from buildings  1.5’ (18”) from property line (for irrigation)  100 feet from creeks

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Step 1: Dig mulch basins

 Prevent runoff Provide surge capacity Prevent pooling (exposure) Dug in “drip line” of plant Size depends on quantity of

graywater and soil type

39 Drawings from "Create an Oasis with graywater" Discharge 2" under mulch shield for code compliance

Mulch basin construction

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A shovel will be needed

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Step 2: Dig trench and lay tubing to basins

Keep tubing out of the way, and out of sunlight. Stake down as needed

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Step 3: Cut in 1x ½” tees, add ½” tubing as needed

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Step 4: Make “mulch shields”

1x ½” tee outlet ½” poly tubing outlet

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Step 5: Test and “tune” system

1st- Adjust angle of tees

2nd- Add one or two “green back” ball valves to restrict flow from

• utlets with too much flow

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Clogging

This type of ball valve clogs quickly! "Green back" valves have a larger orifice and don't clog as quickly Open outlet is best! Minimize use of ball valves.

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Step 6: Follow up

 Bury tubing  Check for leaks in house  Paint pipe  Caulk holes  Post signs  Post maintenance manual  Get graywater friendly soap  Do laundry.. and water plants

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Irrigation field calculation

• Area of circular mulch basin

– (circumference x pi (3.14) x width of basin)‏

• Area of rectangular mulch basin

– (length x width)‏

• Area of crescent/semi circle mulch basin

– (circumference x pi (3.14) x width of basin divided by 2)‏ Only do this if you are not irrigating many locations,

• r if you have a very small area

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Example: calculating area of basin

3 feet

Circumference= 2*л* r

= 2 x 3.14 x 3 (radius) = about 2 x 3 x 3 18 ft x 1 ft wide = 18 square feet of infiltration area

Raised Beds

¼" holes drilled in underside

• f tubing. These will clog over

time, but if in an annual bed they will be seen and maintained. Soil should be covered in straw mulch. Using tees avoids clogging issues, but limits distribution area. Not code compliant in CA If you covered tube with 2" of mulch it would be

Labeled 3-way valve Mulch basins around trees, GW discharged under 2",

• nto mulch.

Laundry irrigates 6 fruit trees around yard. City water irrigates vegi beds.

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• Only from laundry
• Needs 1” pipe and tube
• Anti-siphon (auto-vent) at high point‏
• No storage
• Mulch used in landscape
• Leave end of tube open

Key points for L2L

More Resources

• On-line forum

– – http://www.oasisdesign.net/forum/viewf

http://www.oasisdesign.net/forum/viewf

• rum.php?f=5
• rum.php?f=5
• Information

– greywateraction.org – greywateraction.org/installers (find an

installer)

– Book: Create an Oasis with Graywater

Sketch Your System

• 1. Draw a simple sketch of

the footprint of your house and landscape

• 2. Identify what plants you

can irrigate

• 3. Draw the irrigation portion
• f the system
• 4. Share your system with a

neighbor

L2L mock-up installation

• Indoor

 3-way valve prep  washer hose connection  auto-vent prep

• Outdoor

 laying tubing  distributing water to plants  preparing mulch shields  testing system