Oregon approves Grey water reuse

Oregon DEQ approves rules for greywater reuse.
http://www.deq.state.or.us/news/prDisplay.asp?docID=3693

Thanks for the link!!

That's pretty cool that they waive the annual fee if you send a report.

I will have to read up to see if they allow a temporary holding tank -- my ideal would be to drain the bath/shower into a 40 gallon tank that could feed the clothes washer's wash cycle. 

Anybody have best planting suggestions for a greywater output bed?

I'm dissapointed that there is a fee at all after initial install. But it is a move in the right direction that allows the option legally rather than bootlegged systems. I am looking forward to taking advantage of the new regs.

I'm excited about this new legislation. I agree that the fee isn't ideal, but I think once things get rolling it will streamline. I think part of it is to make sure that people are really serious about doing it properly. While making a system "under the table" is fairly easy to do, I'm planning on applying for a permit and going about it "through the books" as a way of showing support for it and letting everyone know that its important even if there is a fee, and a comprehensive outline that basically shows your understanding of how it works.

There are no provisions for a greywater holding tank, unless you treat the water first. Greywater that is stored for more then 24 hours becomes classified as black water. I would not run my shower water to wash my clothes. I like mulch basins as the wood will act like a water battery. I think a greywater fed hugelcultur bed would work well too perhaps. I think the key is directing it to plants that can take steady surges of water, such as trees, or a branched system that spreads the water to many locations. Also, while there are many levels of complexity available such as sand filters and drip dispursers, the simpler the system the more effective it will be, and the less likely to fail.