Skip to content

Earlier editions: 20222019

Chapter 15 — ALTERNATE WATER SOURCES FOR NONPOTABLE APPLICATIONS

1503.9 Gray Water System Components. Gray water

California Plumbing Code (Title 24, Part 5) · 2025 edition · updated 2026-09-10 · California

Italicized text is a California amendment to the model code, as printed in the official publication.

system components shall comply with Section 1503.9.1 through Section 1503.9.4 .

[HCD 1] Gray water system components shall comply with this chapter.

1503.9.1 Surge Tanks. Where installed, surge tanks shall be in accordance with the following:

(1) Surge tanks shall be constructed of solid, durable materials not subject to excessive corrosion or decay and shall be watertight. Aboveground surge tanks shall be protected from direct sunlight or shall be constructed of UV resistant materials including but not limited to heavily tinted or opaque plastic, fiber- glass, lined metal, concrete and wood. Surge tanks constructed of steel shall be approved by the Authority Having Jurisdiction, provided such tanks are in accordance with approved applicable standards.

(2) Each surge tank shall be vented in accordance with this code. The vent size shall be determined based on

the total gray water fixture units as outlined in this code.

(3) Each surge tank shall have an access opening with lockable gasketed covers or approved equivalent to allow for inspection and cleaning.

(4) Each surge tank shall have its rated capacity permanently marked on the unit. Also, a sign stating “GRAY WATER SYSTEM, CAUTION DANGER — UNSAFE WATER” shall be permanently marked on the holding tank.

(5) Each surge tank shall have an overflow drain. The overflow drains shall have permanent connections to the building drain or building sewer, upstream of septic tanks. The overflow drain shall not be equipped with a shutoff valve.

(6) The overflow drainpipes shall not be less in size than the inlet pipe. Unions or equally effective fittings shall be provided for piping connected to the surge tank.

(7) Surge tank shall be structurally designed to withstand anticipated earth or other loads. Surge tank covers shall be capable of supporting an earth load of not less than 300 pounds per square foot (lb/ft [2] ) (1465 kg/m [2] ) where the tank is designed for underground installation.

ALTERNATE WATER SOURCES FOR NONPOTABLE APPLICATIONS

(8) Where a surge tank is installed underground, the system shall be designed so that the tank overflow will gravity drain to the existing sewer line or septic tank. The tank shall be protected against sewer line backflow by a backwater valve installed in accordance with this code.

(9) Surge tanks shall be installed on dry, level, wellcompacted soil where underground or on a level 3 inch (76 mm) thick concrete slab or other approved method where aboveground.

(10)Surge tanks shall be anchored to prevent against overturning where installed aboveground. Underground tanks shall be ballasted, anchored, or otherwise secured, to prevent the tank from floating out of the ground where empty. The combined weight of the tank and hold down system shall meet or exceed the buoyancy forces of the tank.

(11) [HCD 1] An overflow drain and backwater valve is not required on a clothes washer system.

1503.9.2 Gray Water Pipe and Fitting Materials. Aboveground and underground building drainage and vent pipe and fittings for gray water systems shall comply with the requirements for aboveground and underground sanitary building drainage and vent pipe and fittings in this code. These materials shall extend not less than 2 feet (610 mm) outside the building.

1503.9.3 Animals and Insects. Gray water tank openings shall be protected to prevent the entrance of insects, birds, or rodents into the tank and piping sys- tems. Screens installed on vent pipes, inlets, and over- flow pipes shall have an aperture of not greater than [1] 16 of an inch (1.6 mm) and shall be close fitting.

1503.9.4 Freeze Protection. Tanks and piping installed in locations subject to freezing shall be provided with an approved means of freeze protection.

Get a plain-English answer with a citation back to this text.

Ask AI about this code
Contents — California Plumbing Code (Title 24, Part 5)
California Plumbing Code (Title 24, Part 5)
  1. Chapter 1 — GENERAL CODE PROVISIONS
  2. Chapter 2 — DEFINITIONS
  3. Chapter 3 — GENERAL REGULATIONS
  4. Chapter 4 — PLUMBING FIXTURES AND FIXTURE FITTINGS
  5. Chapter 5 — WATER HEATERS
  6. Chapter 6 — WATER SUPPLY AND DISTRIBUTION
  7. Chapter 7 — SANITARY DRAINAGE
  8. Chapter 8 — INDIRECT WASTES
  9. Chapter 9 — VENTS
  10. Chapter 10 — TRAPS AND INTERCEPTORS
  11. Chapter 11 — STORM DRAINAGE
  12. Chapter 12 — FUEL GAS PIPING
  13. Chapter 13 — HEALTH CARE FACILITIES AND MEDICAL GAS AND MEDICA…
  14. Chapter 14 — FIRESTOP PROTECTION
  15. Chapter 15 — ALTERNATE WATER SOURCES FOR NONPOTABLE APPLICATIONS
    Overview
    1. 1501.1 Applicability. [BSC-CG, DWR & HCD 1] The provisions of …
    2. 1501.2 System Design. [BSC-CG, HCD 1 & DWR]
    3. 1501.3 Permit. [BSC-CG, HCD 1 & DWR] It shall be
    4. 1501.4 Component Identification. System components
    5. 1501.5 Maintenance and Inspection. [BSC-CG, HCD
    6. 1505.16 .
    7. 1501.6 Operation and Maintenance Manual. [BSC-
    8. 1501.7 Minimum Water Quality Requirements. [BSC-
    9. 1501.8 Material Compatibility. Alternate water source systems …
    10. 1501.9 Signage. [BSC-CG, HCD 1, HCD 2 & HCD 1-
    11. 1501.10 System Controls. Controls for pumps, valves, and
    12. 1502.1 General. Alternate water source systems shall be
    13. 1502.2 Supply System Inspection and Test. Alternate
    14. 1502.3 Cross-Connection Inspection and Testing. An
    15. 1502.4 Separation Requirements. Underground alternate
    16. 1502.5 Abandonment. Alternate water source systems that
    17. 1502.6 Sizing. Unless otherwise provided for in this chapter, …
    18. 1503.1 General. The provisions of this section shall apply to
    19. 1503.2 System Requirements. Gray water shall be permitted to b…
    20. 1503.3 Connections to Potable and Reclaimed (Recy-
    21. 1503.4 Location. No gray water system or part thereof shall
    22. 1503.5 Plot Plan Submission. No permit for a gray water
    23. 1503.6 Prohibited Location. Where there is insufficient
    24. 1503.7 Drawings and Specifications. The Authority Having Juris…
    25. 1503.8 Procedure for Estimating Gray Water Dis-
    26. 1503.9 Gray Water System Components. Gray water
    27. 1504.1 General. Irrigation or disposal fields shall be permitt…
    28. 1504.2 Required Area of Subsurface Irrigation
    29. 1504.3 Determination of Maximum Absorption
    30. 1504.4 Groundwater Level. No excavation for an irrigation fiel…
    31. 1504.5 Irrigation, Disposal Field and Mulch Basin
    32. 1504.6 Reserved.
    33. 1504.7 Reserved .
    34. 1504.8 Gray Water System Color and Marking Infor-
    35. 1504.9 Other Collection and Distribution Systems.
    36. 1504.10 Testing. Building drains and vents for gray water
    37. 1504.11 Maintenance. Gray water systems and components shall b…
    38. 1505.1 General. The provisions of Section 1505.0 through
    39. 1505.2 Permit. It shall be unlawful for a person to construct,
    40. 1505.3 System Changes. No changes or connections shall
    41. 1505.4 Connections to Potable or Recycled Water
    42. 1505.5 Water Pressure. Reclaimed (recycled) water systems supp…
    43. 1505.6 Initial Cross-Connection Test. A cross-connection
    44. 1505.7 Recycled Water Supply System Materials.
    45. 1505.8 Recycled Water Supply System Color and
    46. 1505.9 Valves. Valves, except fixture supply control valves,
    47. 1505.13 Signage . Signs in rooms and water closet tanks in
    48. 1505.14 Inspection and Testing. Recycled water supply
    49. 1505.10 Hose Bibbs. Hose bibbs shall not be allowed on
    50. 1505.11 Required Appurtenances. The recycled water
    51. 1505.12 Pipe Separation in Trenches . Reclaimed (recycled) wat…
    52. 1505.15 Minimum Water Quality Requirements for
    53. 1505.16 Maintenance and Inspection. Recycled water
    54. 1506.1 General. The provisions of this section shall apply
    55. 1506.2 Plumbing Plan Submission. No permit for an
    56. 1506.3 System Changes. No changes or connections shall
    57. 1506.4 Connections to Potable or Recycled Water
    58. 1506.5 Water Pressure. On-site treated non-potable gray
    59. 1506.11 Valves. Valves, except fixture supply control
    60. 1506.12 Signs. Signs in buildings using on-site treated nonpot…
    61. 1506.13 Inspection and Testing. On-site treated nonpotable gra…
    62. 1506.6 Initial Cross-Connection Test. A cross-connection test …
    63. 1506.7 On-Site Treated Nonpotable Gray Water Sys-
    64. 1506.8 On-Site Treated Nonpotable Gray Water
    65. 1506.9 On-Site Treated Nonpotable Gray Water Sys-
    66. 1506.10 Design and Installation. The design and installation o…
  16. Chapter 16 — NONPOTABLE RAINWATER CATCHMENT SYSTEMS
  17. Chapter 17 — REFERENCED STANDARDS
  18. Appendix A — RECOMMENDED RULES FOR SIZING THE WATER SUPPLY SYS…
  19. Appendix B — EXPLANATORY NOTES ON COMBINATION WASTE AND VENT S…
  20. Appendix C — ALTERNATE PLUMBING SYSTEMS
  21. Appendix D — SIZING STORM WATER DRAINAGE SYSTEMS
  22. Appendix E — MANUFACTURED/MOBILE HOME PARKS AND RECREATIONAL V…
  23. Appendix F — FIREFIGHTER BREATHING AIR REPLENISHMENT SYSTEMS
  24. Appendix G — SIZING OF VENTING SYSTEMS
  25. Appendix H — PRIVATE SEWAGE DISPOSAL SYSTEMS
  26. Appendix I — INSTALLATION STANDARDS
  27. Appendix J — COMBINATION OF INDOOR AND OUTDOOR COMBUSTION AND …
  28. Appendix K — POTABLE RAINWATER CATCHMENT SYSTEMS
  29. Appendix L — SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES
  30. Appendix M — PEAK WATER DEMAND CALCULATOR
  31. Appendix N — IMPACT OF WATER TEMPERATURE ON THE POTENTIAL FOR …
  32. Appendix O — NON-SEWERED SANITATION SYSTEMS
  33. Appendix P — PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS
  34. Appendix Q — INDOOR HORTICULTURAL FACILITIES
  35. Appendix R — TINY HOUSES
  36. Appendix S — ONSITE STORMWATER TREATMENT SYSTEMS

GoCodebook provides public access, search, citation, multilingual explanation, and practical interpretation of legally adopted building regulations. It is not a substitute for the official ICC or California code publications.