Water Efficiency
Install a Greywater System
What Is It?
Gray water (also known as graywater, greywater or grey water) is wastewater discharged from domestic activities and appliances, including but not limited to washing machines, sinks, showers, bath tubs, dishwashers, or other sources but excluding toilets, urinals or any drains equipped with garbage grinders. A gray water system recycles this water for other uses, such as irrigation or toilet flushing.
Benefits
Using gray water instead of treated, potable water reduces demand from water utilities and thus reduces water bills. Gray water systems ease strain on the public water supply, lower the use and increase the life of sewers and/or treatment systems, and save energy use from pumping and treating water.
Regulatory Impacts and Requirements
- The Massachusetts Plumbing Code requires a special State-issued permit for gray water systems
- All permits are issues by the Board of State Examiners of Plumbers and Gasfitters via the Special Permission Plumbing Request Application Form
- The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) regulates gray water systems under state regulations 314 CMR 20.00
- MassDEP: Regulatory Provisions for Composting Toilets and Gray waterSystems
News
- “Greywater systems: can they really reduce your bills?” The Guardian, July 21, 2014
RESOURCES
a sample of Providers
- Boston Standard Company
- Water Wise Group (wholesale distributor)
- Aqua2use
