Consulting

Representative Sample of Installations (USA)

Retro - fit to existing home

Location:
Daily graywater volume:

Irrigation Area (combined):

Total Dripper Line:

Irrigation system labor:

Plumbing labor:

Approx installed cost:

Annual water savings:

Tucson, AZ
200 GPD

3,000 sq ft
 

450’

4 hours
 

8 hours

$1,900

100,000 G
 

This home is located in the Tucson foothills. With 2 adults and 3 children in the house, a total of 200 gallons of graywater was available for re-use. The existing plumbing was modified to divert bath, shower and laundry water into an IrriGRAY pumping station.    

After being pumped through a 40 mesh filter, the greywater is distributed through 450 built-in emitters across three zones. The purple lines indicate the position of IrriGRAY dripperline, and the yellow lines indicate mainline distribution.

The main garden planting is a mix of very low water use native plants (cacti), medium water use privacy screening, and high water use trees (three citrus and one olive).

Code Compliance:

The dripperline is laid on the soil surface, covered by a minimum of 2” of mulch, minimizing evaporation and avoiding human / animal contact.

The top of the pumping station is slightly above ground level and extends 22” below ground. Graywater can be diverted to sewer by turning the inlet valve handle. A make-up water supply (for continued irrigation during vacation periods) is fitted with an air gap as per State Code. An RPZ is also installed.

Maintenance:

Apart from an annual inspection of the pumping station (self cleaning), the 40 mesh foam filter requires a simple 1 minute clean every month. Time between cleaning events can be extended by adding additional filters.

New home installation

Location:

Daily graywater volume:

Irrigation Area (combined):

Total Dripper Line:

Irrigation system labor:

Plumbing labor:

Approx installed cost:

Annual water savings:

Tucson, AZ

90 GPD

1,400 sq ft

200’

2 hours

3 hours

$1,500

45,000 G

Tucson City recently enacted an ordinance requiring all new houses have dual waste plumbing (separating graywater from blackwater).

Prior to this ordinance, Tucson City / Tucson Water sponsored the installation of an IrriGRAY pumping station / filtration and graywater irrigation system in each of two properties.

The photos were taken during the subdivision launch, and the properties had not been fully planted.

Despite the hot Tucson climate, three people generate sufficient graywater to support total plant coverage of the entire softscape lot area. In addition to water savings, the green micro climate established around the house will substantially decrease cooling energy requirements.

As is the situation with a significant number of new homes, the graywater stub out was 42” below ground, requiring a deep pump installation. The IrriGRAY design principle of filtering graywater after the pump enabled the filter to be located at an easily accessible location above ground level.

Code Compliance:

In accordance with the Arizona greywater code, the dripperline is laid on the soil surface, covered by a minimum of 2” of mulch / decomposed granite, minimizing evaporation and avoiding human / animal contact.

The top of the pumping station is slightly above ground level and extends 60” below ground. Graywater can be diverted to sewer by turning the inlet valve handle. A make-up water supply (for continued irrigation during vacation periods) is fitted with an air gap to prevent cross connection. An RPZ is also installed.

Maintenance:

Apart from an annual inspection of the pumping station (self cleaning), the 40 mesh foam filter requires a simple 1 minute clean every month. Time between cleaning events can be extended by adding additional filters.

Government Facility with regular shower use

Location:

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Mokelumne Watershed CA (San Francisco EBMUD )

180 GPD

3,000 sq ft

600’

4 hours

3 hours

$1,700

69,000 G

IrriGRAY was chosen by the EBMUD team for the Mokelumne Watershed HQ Replacement, for ease of installation, minimal expenditure (80% below project expectation) and performance.  The new headquarters is due for completion Spring 2011.

An average of 6 showers is expected per day, with a minimum of 180 gallons per day.

A mixture of native, medium and high water use plants will be included in the garden areas  as demonstration of potable water savers via re-use of graywater.

During the cold / snow pack non growing season, graywater will be diverted to a standard leach field / septic season.

Code Compliance:

In accordance with the California greywater code, the dripperline is laid on the soil surface, covered by a minimum of 2” of mulch, minimizing evaporation and avoiding human / animal contact.

The top of the pumping station is slightly above ground level and extends 60” below ground. Graywater can be diverted to septic by turning the inlet valve handle.  An RPZ is also installed.

Maintenance:

Apart from an annual inspection of the pumping station (self cleaning), the two 40 mesh foam filters require a simple 1 minute clean every month. Time between cleaning events can be extended by adding additional filters.

NGO Facility with regular washing machine (5 machines) use

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California Conservation Corps
Morro Watershed, San Louis Obispo, CA

1,000 – 2,000 GPD

9,000 sq ft

3,000 feet

24 hours

12 hours

$7,000

Disposal saving 500,000 G per year

The primary issue for the laundry facility at the San Luis Obispo California Conservation Corps is disposal of a large daily volume of washing machine graywater.

The Morro watershed wastewater treatment facility is already over extended (160%+) because of over utilization of the California Mens Colony, and other excess demands on the treatment plant. Graywater disposal costs are a significant impost on the CCC budget.

The aim of this project is to

•  Reduce graywater disposal charges

•  Generate additional revenue from the sale of fruits and nuts grown as a result of graywater irrigation

•  Recharge the Morro Aquifer

Because the primary reason for this project is reduced disposal costs, the engineered solution is focussed on disposal during the non growing season.

A field of native grasses and plants will be established that is larger than the minimum leach field specified under Californian greywater codes. While the primary goal is aquifer recharge (and savings on graywater discharge), native grasses and plants are included to ensure rapid take-up of any potential surface graywater.

During the growing season (spring through fall) a large fruit and nut orchard is irrigated solely by graywater. Due to the size of the orchard, and the high flow required to pressurize the irrigation system, graywater is temporarily stored (typically 6 hours or less) and then pumped into the dripperlines as a large batch. The increased cost is largely the result of installing a large water cistern and related seismic protection.

Code Compliance:

In accordance with the California greywater code, the dripperline is laid on the soil surface, covered by a minimum of 2” of mulch, minimizing evaporation and avoiding human / animal contact.

Maintenance:

An Aqua2Use filtration and pumping station is installed prior to the surcharge cistern, and will require cleaning every month.

Commercial Spa Retreat / Treatment facility

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Annual water savings:

California, north of Los Angeles

1,500 GPD

12,000 sq ft

3,000 feet

48 hours

12 hours

$ undisclosed

285,000 GPY

Septic saving

350,000 GPY

This multiple treatment room facility aims to be a self sustaining location, using natural resources where possible, and maximizing resource re-use.

The system captures graywater from spas, baths, showers and hand basins; and irrigates a tropical orchard as well as a large vegetable garden (above ground edible vegetables).

Due to the size of the orchard and vegetable gardens, and the high flow required to pressurize the irrigation system, graywater is temporarily stored (typically 6 hours or less, but no more than 24 hours) and then pumped into the dripperlines as a large batch.

During the limited non growing season, graywater is diverted to a separate leach field zone, recharging the local aquifer.

Code Compliance:

In accordance with the California greywater code, the dripperline is laid on the soil surface, covered by a minimum of 2” of mulch, minimizing evaporation and avoiding human / animal contact.

Maintenance:

The filter bank requires an inspection and clean every two weeks. Total maintenance time required for each cleaning is 15 minutes.