As Communities See Water Points, Some Reuse Grey Water – CBS San Francisco
SAN JOSE (CBS SF) – It’s been years since the Bay Area faced drought conditions. While some counties are trying to introduce water use restrictions, some communities are looking for creative ways to recycle water.
When Ashley Shannon does a load of laundry, her garden and fruit trees get super soaked.
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“I like the fact that I use it once to wash my clothes and then a second time so I essentially make more life out of it,” she said.
Shannon is a Santa Clara Valley Water District employee who recently installed a gray water system in her washing machine. Outlet pipes that would normally take wash water into the sewers have been rerouted to lead outside and around their garden. Valves installed in the ground let the water seep out to irrigate your plants and trees.
It’s a simple but effective system. According to Shannon, there are many benefits including saving water and saving money over time while keeping her landscape getting the water it needs.
“I use soap that is biodegradable. I use no fragrance soap, not a lot of salts. The soap I use is gray water system grade and easy to find, ”said Shannon.
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Their system only cost $ 750 to be installed by a contractor and did not require approval from the City of San Jose.
There are many home improvement plans and videos available online. Other systems that also plug into sinks and showers can cost up to $ 5,000 and require approval because they modify the home’s plumbing.
“It’s a matter of people choosing it because it just makes sense,” said Alan Hackler, a landscaping contractor who installed Shannon’s system.
According to Hackler, the return on investment is better when more people live under one roof.
“Some houses have multi-generation families, they have grandparents and children who live there. These are perfect scenarios because they generate tons of gray water,” Hackler said.
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Currently, the Santa Clara Valley Water District has incentives, including a $ 400 discount on laundry for scenic gray water systems.
