SECTIONS 14875-14877.3 - California Statutes

WATER CODE

SECTION 14875-14877.3

14875. This chapter applies to the construction, installation, or
alteration of graywater systems for subsurface irrigation and other
safe uses.

14875.1. "Department" means the Department of Water Resources.

14876. "Graywater" means untreated wastewater which has not been
contaminated by any toilet discharge, has not been affected by
infectious, contaminated, or unhealthy bodily wastes, and which does
not present a threat from contamination by unhealthful processing,
manufacturing, or operating wastes. Graywater includes wastewater
from bathtubs, showers, bathroom washbasins, clothes washing
machines, and laundry tubs but does not include wastewater from
kitchen sinks or dishwashers.

14877. "Graywater system" means a system and devices, attached to
the plumbing system for the sanitary distribution or use of
graywater.

14877.1. (a) The department, in consultation with the State
Department of Public Health and the Center for Irrigation Technology
at California State University, Fresno, shall adopt standards for the
installation of graywater systems. In adopting these standards, the
department shall consider, among other resources, "Appendix J," as
adopted on September 29, 1992, by the International Association of
Plumbing and Mechanical Officials, the graywater standard proposed
for the latest edition of the Uniform Plumbing Code of the
International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials, the
City of Los Angeles Graywater Pilot Project Final Report issued in
November 1992, and the advice of the Center for Irrigation Technology
at California State University, Fresno, on the installation depth
for subsurface drip irrigation systems.
(b) The department shall include among the approved methods of
subsurface irrigation, but the approved methods shall not be limited
to, drip systems.
(c) The department shall revise its graywater systems standards as
needed.
(d) (1) The authority of the department under this chapter to
adopt standards for residential buildings shall terminate upon the
approval by the California Building Standards Commission of the
standards submitted to that commission pursuant to Section 17922.12
of the Health and Safety Code.
(2) The authority of the department under this chapter to adopt
standards for nonresidential occupancies shall terminate upon the
adoption of standards by the California Building Standards Commission
pursuant to Section 18941.8 of the Health and Safety Code.

14877.2. A graywater system may be installed if the city or county
having jurisdiction over the installation determines that the system
complies with standards adopted by the department.

14877.3. After a public hearing, a city or county may adopt, by
ordinance, standards that prohibit the use of graywater or standards
that are more restrictive than the standards adopted by the
department, as appropriate for the local area.