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our greywater project

Susan Taylor Brown

Posts: 151

Location: Scotts Valley, California Zone 9B

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posted 9 years ago

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We have been working for months with our old house and old plumbing which is now new plumbing to get our permitted greywater system in place. We have the first greywater permit given for our city and it is for the tub, the shower, and the laundry. I know a lot of people do it unpermitted but we are really hoping to help spread the word.

We bought the PS Plug & Play greywater system. No, not cheap, but we are very pleased. Using this system we can use a greywater dripline which will give us a lot of ease of use in setting up the irrigation for our fruit trees.
The inspector just signed off on our rough-in and now we can firm up the irrigation plan and get the trees/guilds figured out and planted.

My goal? To create a wildlife habitat on our surburban (almost rural) property using mostly California native plants and inspire others to do the same.
Also to learn how to grow some edibles - more than the herbs I have grown before.

Tracy Wandling

steward

Posts: 2154

Location: Sunshine Coast, BC

660

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posted 9 years ago

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Well, THAT is exciting! How neat to be leading the way! I'm hoping to get The Man onboard with a greywater system as well. It just makes so much sense.

Keep us posted on how it's working, and how you're going to set up for irrigation. I'm sure all your little wildlife friends are going to love your yard when you've executed all of your plans. Cool stuff!

My new garden My first permaculture garden build My art and graphic design site My new blog

K Putnam

pollinator

Posts: 247

Location: Unincorporated Pierce County, WA Zone 7b

posted 9 years ago

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Very cool. So is this also feeding into your mulch basins or a separate project?

Don't let perfect be the enemy of good.

Susan Taylor Brown

Posts: 151

Location: Scotts Valley, California Zone 9B

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Tracy, yes, very exciting. I swear I let out a little squeal when we ran water in the bathtub and had it come out here. We are almost done remodeling our master bedroom/bathroom (lived here for 1.5 years and have yet to sleep in the master bedroom) and we have a beautiful new shower that I will not have to feel guilt about using. Yay!

K, one of the nice things about this system is that we will not have to use mulch basins but can use a special greywater drip line. The holes are a little bigger. Our system goes through 2 filters before being pumped out and is considered one of the cleanest systems out there. It originates from Australia.

Susan Taylor Brown

Posts: 151

Location: Scotts Valley, California Zone 9B

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Yesterday we got our dripline for our greywater system installed. We planted 7 citrus trees (4 Lisbon Lemons, 1 lime, 1 Valencia Orange, and 1 Blood Orange). Three inches of compacted hardpan to get through but once we did, some pretty nice dirt underneath. I think it bodes well for a good work environment for the micro-herds once we get them some water. I love that there will be a little less guilt each time we do laundry or take a shower and hear that water running in the house. I have to cover the driplines with mulch and get the labels on the pipes up by the system then the inspector can come out and sign off on them. Not everyone wants or needs to do a permitted system but we are trying to help inspire others and also working with the local water district to allow the shower greywater permit to be a simple over-the-counter permit.

I can't believe how much different the yard looks already, with just a few trees planted.

install1.jpg

install3.jpg

install4.jpg

John Polk

steward

Posts: 7926

Location: Currently in Lake Stevens, WA. Home in Spokane

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posted 9 years ago

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I love that there will be a little less guilt each time we do laundry or take a shower

I hear you there.
Sometimes, the shower feels so great that you don't want to get out.
Now, instead of telling yourself "I'm trying to save water" you can just say "Those trees could use a little extra water today".

Kind of funny that most states allow shower water (but NOT kitchen sinks).
Whatever you do, DON'T tell them that everybody pees in the shower. LOL

Tracy Wandling

steward

Posts: 2154

Location: Sunshine Coast, BC

660

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Wow! Susan, this is so cool. You have done amazing things this summer! I hope that your neighbors show an interest, and you can get a little Greywater Revolution happening in your area. I've bookmarked the grey water system page, and will be showing it to The Man. Hopefully he'll see the benefits.

My new garden My first permaculture garden build My art and graphic design site My new blog

Susan Taylor Brown

Posts: 151

Location: Scotts Valley, California Zone 9B

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John, yes, I think it is sad that the kitchen sink water is tied up to so many other issues. We are brainstorming a few things to do about that, for the short term. There was a bill to allow it here in CA but it was shot down. I was told recently that they are rewriting it and hope to get it passed soon. In our case, since we are on septic, it would seem like it shouldn't matter.

Tracy thank you. It IS cool. It has been a busy summer just trying to get hardscape stuff in place. Some new fencing and a TON (okay TONS) of recycled concrete made into retaining walls. Lots of edges now and micro climates. But I am really ready for fall so I can my plants in the ground. My nursery of baby plants is overflowing but that is a good thing.

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