Graywater and Rainwater Installation, Santa Rosa CA
Why choose us?
|
|
Why Choose Santa Rosa Graywater Installation Co. to install your graywater system? Choose a company who has specialized experience in installing all types of residential graywater systems as well as complex plumbing knowledge. We have been in this industry for the best of 20 years servicing San Francisco, Sonoma and Marin County. Specializing in plumbing (Sewer-Water-Gas), branch drain systems, Laundry to Landscape, and high end engineered systems allows me to provide the best service possible. Our plumbing service is conducted by Alt Water and his trusted team of professionals. Graywater is our passion and I love getting to share it with other people. I hold certifications from Greywater Action and QWEL on the installation of graywater systems. Santa Rosa graywater Co. has installed many local graywater systems and I hope to install yours next. Our company is made up of experienced and long term employees who are trying to focus on installations in Santa Rosa and surrounding areas. I look forward to spreading my knowledge of the trade and creating a more sustainable community, one graywater system at a time.
To ensure all State requirements are met, it is best to hire professionals, like us, for the installation of your graywater system. Call us to set up a free consultation. |
What is graywater?
Graywater (or Greywater) is gently used water from your clothes washer, bathroom sinks, tubs and showers. Kitchen sinks and dishwashers are not considered graywater because of the high levels of food, fat, grease, and oil. It is not to be confused with blackwater which is water that has come in contact with feces from your toilet or washing cloth diapers. Under California law you are not allowed to store the water for more than 24 hours, so it is advised to have a system designed to immediately disperse the water into subsurface trenches throughout your garden. Systems are best kept simple. This means a gravity fed system with no pumps or filters that need more upkeep is the best way to go if possible. If when you are looking to retrofit your bathroom plumbing, this is a great time to get your tile and grout professionally cleaned.
One great thing about graywater, is that you are basically doubling the amount of water you get to use while only paying for half. For Example, If you use 100 gallons doing laundry over the weekend and use that water to irrigate your garden, you are essentially using 200 gallons of water while only paying for 100. In an average household, 65% of waste water is graywater. Locally, about 2,000 gallons a month per person is used inside a home. Not all of that generate waste water, because some of that is used in drinking water and cooking. That leaves a potential for approximately 1,000 gallons a month per person, dependent on your water use habits and efficiency of your fixtures. All This saving just by simply changing your plumbing setup!
This water is perfect for irrigating ornamental plants and fruit trees! It can also be used to water garden beds as well, but only under certain guidelines. It is not suitable for root vegetables or food that grows on or in the soil such as Potatoes. If we learned anything from 2020, it was that becoming more self sufficient should be a priority, especially when it comes to your food and water supply.
There are three common systems to facilitate the use of graywater at your home. Read specific details about these on our services page. The easiest and most common in residential properties is the Laundry to Landscape system (or L2L). This system allows the water from washing your clothes to irrigate your landscaping. A reason this is the most common is because it can be installed in existing homes without a permit while working with your existing landscaping. This is typically a gravity fed system because the washing machine acts as a pump by pushing the water out at a higher speed. At a bare minimum, the location of your clothes washer cannot be at a higher elevation then the area you plan to irrigate. If you wish to collect all they graywater in your house, you must install a simple or engineered system. A simple system continues to use gravity as the main way to transport the water into your landscape but collects water from other sources such as your shower, tub, bathroom sink, etc. An engineered system is one where a booster pump and filter is installed to get the water from your bathrooms out into your yard and may also incorporate a storage design of some sort. All storage meets state guidelines and will be used within 24 hours. Permits are usually required by your local City for whole house systems, both simple and engineered. These systems do put out much more water than your clothes washer alone so it is necessary to have enough area in your landscaping to correctly disperse the water below the surface of the ground. An engineered system is ideal for a home that is being renovated and built from the ground up, but can be adapted to existing homes. Depending on where you lives and how cold it gets, you may decide to add insulation to pipes that go outside. Here in Santa Rosa, that is not usually necessary.
One great thing about graywater, is that you are basically doubling the amount of water you get to use while only paying for half. For Example, If you use 100 gallons doing laundry over the weekend and use that water to irrigate your garden, you are essentially using 200 gallons of water while only paying for 100. In an average household, 65% of waste water is graywater. Locally, about 2,000 gallons a month per person is used inside a home. Not all of that generate waste water, because some of that is used in drinking water and cooking. That leaves a potential for approximately 1,000 gallons a month per person, dependent on your water use habits and efficiency of your fixtures. All This saving just by simply changing your plumbing setup!
This water is perfect for irrigating ornamental plants and fruit trees! It can also be used to water garden beds as well, but only under certain guidelines. It is not suitable for root vegetables or food that grows on or in the soil such as Potatoes. If we learned anything from 2020, it was that becoming more self sufficient should be a priority, especially when it comes to your food and water supply.
There are three common systems to facilitate the use of graywater at your home. Read specific details about these on our services page. The easiest and most common in residential properties is the Laundry to Landscape system (or L2L). This system allows the water from washing your clothes to irrigate your landscaping. A reason this is the most common is because it can be installed in existing homes without a permit while working with your existing landscaping. This is typically a gravity fed system because the washing machine acts as a pump by pushing the water out at a higher speed. At a bare minimum, the location of your clothes washer cannot be at a higher elevation then the area you plan to irrigate. If you wish to collect all they graywater in your house, you must install a simple or engineered system. A simple system continues to use gravity as the main way to transport the water into your landscape but collects water from other sources such as your shower, tub, bathroom sink, etc. An engineered system is one where a booster pump and filter is installed to get the water from your bathrooms out into your yard and may also incorporate a storage design of some sort. All storage meets state guidelines and will be used within 24 hours. Permits are usually required by your local City for whole house systems, both simple and engineered. These systems do put out much more water than your clothes washer alone so it is necessary to have enough area in your landscaping to correctly disperse the water below the surface of the ground. An engineered system is ideal for a home that is being renovated and built from the ground up, but can be adapted to existing homes. Depending on where you lives and how cold it gets, you may decide to add insulation to pipes that go outside. Here in Santa Rosa, that is not usually necessary.
You may be eligible for a rebate!
California has allowed your Laundry to Landscape (L2L) system to be installed without having to pull any permits or having to install a backflow on your water meter. Let us help you install a Laundry to Landscape Graywater system. Keep your garden looking green and bountiful without paying for the increase in water use. Offset the costs by using the water you are already using from washing your clothes to irrigate. Don't let your water go to waste, put it to good use in your yard!
Check your local municipality for possible rebates before starting your project. You can typically find these within the "Water Conservation" or "Water Use Efficiency" sections of your water provider. Most municipalities want to pre-qualify you before starting the project, so make sure you contact them right away:
|
|
|
Adapt to a changing climate.If you live in California, then you are well aware that we are facing years of drought much more regularly. Science shows that the periods of drought here will continue to get longer and longer while also becoming more frequent as well. Sonoma and Marin County have historically been impacted by low rainfall, high temperatures, and resulting low reservoir levels. Now is the time to secure a water supply for your landscaping that can continue even when water restrictions are put in place. Reusing your water is one of the best ways to conserve without even having to make the conscious daily effort. Graywater reuse in the urban setting can positively impact our water supply by both reducing the demand for potable water and lower the demand on your lower sewer system (or septic tank). Graywater can give you a year round way to irrigate without using as much additional potable water. Feel good about the water you use, even while we are in a drought. Graywater installation can help you to live a healthier lifestyle too! Most plants do not too much sodium or borax and can no handle all the chemicals in most general body care products and laundry soap. Because of this, you will need to start reading ingredient labels and choosing to use products that have less chemicals which will leave both you and your plants happier and healthier. You may also be inspired to put in grow and eat more fruit. Who knows, It may even encourage you to get all of your laundry completed because you plants need to get watered! Check out our trusted partners if you are looking for handyman services out of state. |