City and county leaders are weighing a program to allow the use of graywater – reused from the washing machine, bathroom sink or shower tub – for residential landscaping.
The use of graywater became legal in the state in 2010 after a flurry of legislation relating to conservation. The state allows the reuse of water from laundry machines, bathroom sinks or bath tubs for landscaping purposes – it is not viewed as safe for drinking or cleaning – but requires local municipalities to set up permitting processes for graywater use, said Shawn Novack, program manager with the San Benito County Water Resources Association.
Novack’s agency has pushed the city and county to take up the concept and made a presentation at this week’s board of supervisors meeting. The Hollister council will hear a presentation from staff members on the possible use of graywater at Monday’s 6:30 p.m. meeting at Hollister City Hall, 375 Fifth St.
Novack pointed out that an average family of four produces 30,000 to 40,000 gallons of graywater each year.
“That essentially would take care of most if not all of your landscape-watering needs,” Novack said to the Free Lance.
Novack is pushing the idea of requiring installation of graywater pumping systems in new homes that are built here. Those systems would be set up to pump the graywater or store it in a barrel, he said.
Existing homes would be more difficult because the installations can be cost-prohibitive, he said. Using a graywater system can add some costs, too, Novack acknowledged. Users would need to use biodegradable soaps – which can add some costs – and would have to stay away from salts or boron, he said.
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