While our dogs (and some cats) will on occasion drink out of the toilet, it's not something people tend to do. Which does make you wonder why we use fresh potable water to fill and flush the bowl.
Something else well worth thinking about is why that same drinking water when used at the kitchen sink or in the shower is only used once.
It's not like we have an unlimited supply of the stuff.
According to a recent report in the Los Angeles Times, "Widespread recycling of gray water could cut residential water use by 16%, according to one estimate." That's not an insignificant amount of water savings.
The article goes on to say that, "During a prolonged drought in the early 1990s, L.A.'s Department of Water and Power and Department of Public Works conducted an ambitious experiment. In eight homes, including those of several elected officials, they installed "gray water" equipment that diverted the outflows from washing machines, showers, bathtubs and bathroom sinks to irrigate lawns and gardens outside the homes.
"Participants in the program were happy with the results, and the test was officially proclaimed successful in a 21-page research report that found the installations reduced water consumption by about 50% per household on average. No human disease pathogens were found in the outside drainage areas."
That was then, what about now? California is facing another set of drought years, and demand for water has only increased since the early 1990s. And yet gray water systems don't seem any more common now than they were before Los Angeles conducted their study.
It's the regulations. State health and housing officials were asked in 1992 to come up with regulations and permitting requirements to allow for installation of gray water systems. Unfortunately, what resulted is so impractical and expensive that few legally permitted gray water systems have been built. Appendix G of the state plumbing code requires that gray water systems get costly permits, have extensive filtering systems and that they be installed 9 inches underground -- too deep to irrigate most plantings. It seems that concerns about groundwater pollution and disease transmission are what drove the restrictive requirements.
Bottom line for Sonoma County? Aside from rainwater catchment and storage, recycling water at home is limited to capturing your shower, tub and washing machine outflow for use as outside irrigation water -- when the underground distribution system is well below grade. No above ground watering.
Fortunately, State officials are taking another look at the California gray water regulations. More information on possible changes should be available in June. Arizona, Texas, New Mexico and Montana are already ahead of us on this one. Maybe we can learn something from their example.
Contact us here at Boden Plumbing with questions. (info@nodrips.com or 996-8683) We've recently learned about a new gray water recycling system out of Canada that looks promising --- although we haven't tried it ourselves yet. It routes gray water from shower, tub and laundry to a holding tank and then feeds it back into the system to flush toilets. It's called Brac Systems. You might want to check it out.
:: Info on graywater
:: California Graywater Guide
:: more info on graywater and ecological design
:: NRDC Onearth article
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Boden Plumbing primarily serves Sonoma Valley, Napa Valley, and the Petaluma area. We provide a full range of residential plumbing repairs and services.
866-663-7477
www.nodrips.com
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Gray Water Options in Sonoma County
Friday, April 10, 2009
Boden Plumbing a BEA Certified Green Business
Boden Plumbing recently completed the review process for certification by Sonoma County's Business Environmental Alliance, and now it's official -- Boden Plumbing is a certified green business in Sonoma County.
When it comes to environmental responsibility, Terry Boden thought it was important to demonstrate the same smart choices in his business that he encourages his customers to make. The Business Environmental Alliance green certification process helped us to formalize practices we have been incorporating over time - and it also pushed us to make even more improvements.
Here at Boden Plumbing we will continue to look for new ways to save energy and resources. If you're looking for ideas yourself, give us a call. We'd be glad to tell you what we've learned.
What we're liking lately:
> hot water recirculation pumps
> Vertex power vent hot water heaters
> the Sonoma County Energy Independence loan program
> federal tax credit for energy efficiency upgrades
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Boden Plumbing primarily serves Sonoma Valley, Napa Valley, and the Petaluma area. We provide a full range of residential plumbing repairs and services.
866-663-7477
www.nodrips.com
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Direct Install Program Coming Soon to Sonoma County
If you own a commercial property in Sonoma County and are on either public water or sewer, you will soon be eligible to participate in the County's new Direct Install Program for low flow toilet fixtures.
Final details are still being worked out, but when everything is in place, you will be able to change out your non low flow toilet fixtures - at no charge.
Good deal all around. The County saves money in the long run by reducing water use and load on the sewer system, and you finally get those old water hungry fixtures out of your place.
Apparently even apartment units and mobile home parks will qualify as commercial as long as there are three or more units on a single meter.
And remember, this is not a rebate program. You are not required to pay any money up front. Instead the County deals directly with the plumbers that have agreed to participate - and Boden Plumbing is one of those plumbing shops participating.
So watch for more announcements or a notice in the mail from your utility company. Sometimes good things do come to those who wait!
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Boden Plumbing primarily serves Sonoma Valley, Napa Valley, and the Petaluma area. We provide a full range of residential plumbing repairs and services.
866-663-7477
www.nodrips.com
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Loans for Energy Efficiency Upgrades Available in Sonoma County
Sometimes you have to spend money to save money and sometimes you have to spend a little money to save energy. Fortunately, when we save energy we're saving money too. It's a win-win.
This week the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors made it a little easier for County residents and business owners to spend the money necessary to make improvements in the energy efficiency of their homes and businesses.
Starting as early as today, property owners will be able to borrow money from the County at 7% and pay it back in installments on their property tax. If the property is sold, the new owners become responsible for the repayment.
The loans are available for energy-saving improvements such as solar and voltaic units, solar thermal devices, tankless water heaters, energy-efficient windows, and attic and wall insulation. Certain water-conserving upgrades - such as low-flow toilets - also qualify. So don't limit your thinking here!
To find out more, call 521-6200 or visit www.sonomacountyenergy.org
The minimum loan amount is $2,500. If you have a few small improvements in mind, take the time to plan them together in order to take advantage of this opportunity. The good news is that you can combine this program with other energy saving incentives - like the $1500 Federal tax credit we told you about earlier this month - and really put a dent in the energy consumption at your home or business, saving you money in the long run - and banking major brownie points in eco-heaven!
Saving energy - it's a good thing no matter how you look at it.
:: Sonoma County to launch energy-efficiency loans this week from the PD
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Boden Plumbing primarily serves Sonoma Valley, Napa Valley, and the Petaluma area. We provide a full range of residential plumbing repairs and services.
866-663-7477
www.nodrips.com
Tuesday, March 03, 2009
ATTENTION Boden Plumbing Customers!
...for 30% of Your
New Water Heater
Purchase any qualifying energy-saving water heater from BODEN PLUMBING and get reimbursed from the government for 30% of the cost of your new water heater. You'll save energy PLUS up to $1500 in taxes.
Why Not Let Your Uncle Sam Pay for Part of Your New Water Heater?
Thanks to the recent government economic stimulus program, you can get back 30% of your investment when you buy a qualifying hot water heater in 2009.
It’s not a tax deduction, it's a tax credit - which means real cash in your pocket. For example, if you spend $1,000 on qualifying upgrades, you will receive a $333 credit. Your tax bill will be that much lower.
Call us today and ask how you can take advantage of this time-sensitive incentive. After all, it’s not every day that Uncle Sam wants to put money in your pocket!
For more information, visit these websites -
:: www.energystar.gov.
:: www.energytaxincentives.org
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Boden Plumbing primarily serves Sonoma Valley, Napa Valley, and the Petaluma area. We provide a full range of residential plumbing repairs and services.
866-663-7477
www.nodrips.com
Friday, February 20, 2009
100 Ways to Save Water
Visit the Water Use it Wisely website for a list of 100 ways to conserve water. And then come up with another idea of your own!
Why Save Water?
• About 65% of indoor home water use occurs in our bathrooms. Toilets are the single greatest water user.
• UNESCO has predicted that by 2020 water shortage will be a serious worldwide problem.
• Did you know that in the United States, the average person uses 80-100 gallons of fresh water a day? (source: USGS)
• In your house check for leaks from faucets and pipes; even the smallest drip can waste as much as 75 liters a day (about 20 gallons).
• Almost 80% of the earth's surface is covered in water. Of this, 97% is salt water, 2% is glacial ice. That leaves less than 1% as fresh water for us to use.
• The human body is about 70% water; we cannot survive more than a week without water.
• A mere 10% of our home water supply is used in the kitchen and as drinking water.
• Indoor water use peaks twice a day year-round, in the mornings and evenings.
• The biggest peaks during the year occur in the summer, when about half to three quarters of all municipally treated water is sprayed onto lawns.
• As a community grows, the water use grows even faster because the diversity of water uses increases with size.
Source: Environment Canada (via Brac Systems website)
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Boden Plumbing primarily serves Sonoma Valley, Napa Valley, and the Petaluma area. We provide a full range of residential plumbing repairs and services.
866-663-7477
www.nodrips.com
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Water Wisdom Workshop in Sonoma
Saturday, Feb. 21, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Don't worry about the drought - get informed!
There are things we all can do to use water more efficiently and reduce demand. To find out just what, attend the Water Wisdom Workshop this Saturday at the Veteran's Memorial Building in Sonoma. Boden Plumbing will be there with information on hand about the various water-saving fixtures and strategies available. Come with questions! Expect to go home with a lot of good info for the long dry summer ahead.
The event is free and open to the community. The Veteran’s Memorial Building is located at 126 First St. W. , one block north of Sonoma Plaza.
Saturday's event is organized and sponsored in part by the City of Sonoma, Valley of the Moon Water District, Sonoma Ecology Center, Napa Resource Conservation District, and Southern Sonoma County Resource Conservation District. The stated purpose of the event is to educate Sonoma Valley and Napa Valley residents on the importance of conserving water.
Besides the featured speakers, vendors will also be on hand with displays water products, new innovations, and good information on using water efficiently and coping with impending rationing. Vendors have been encouraged to send bilingual representatives, so encourage everyone you know to take some time out Saturday to stop by the Veterans building. Language differences should not be a barrier to saving water!
The following is the speaker schedule for the event:
- 10:00 Water in Sonoma County: its journey to and from your home, Brian Michelson, SCWA
- 10:30 Rebates to Assist You in Becoming More Water Efficient, Carrie Pollard, SCWA
- 10:40 Sonoma County Greywater Regulations Dewayne Starnes, County of Sonoma, PRMD
- 11:20 City of Sonoma Greywater Regulation Joe Burroughs, City of Sonoma
- 11:40 Landscaping with Natives Mark Newhouser, Sonoma Ecology Center
- 12:30 Drip Irrigation for Your Home Garden Joel Grogan, Sonoma Ecology Center, QWEL Certified
- 12:50 Water Wise Plants, Sonoma County Master Gardeners
- 1:10 Your Watershed is a Changing Climate, Lisa Micheli, Sonoma Ecology Center
- 1:30 Low Impact Development with a stormwater focus, Jack Betourne, Napa County Flood Control and Water Conservation District
- 1:50 City of Napa Water Conservation Program, Pat Costello, City of Napa
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Boden Plumbing primarily serves Sonoma Valley, Napa Valley, and the Petaluma area. We provide a full range of residential plumbing repairs and services.
866-663-7477
www.nodrips.com
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