Skip to content

Chapter 15 — ALTERNATE WATER SOURCES FOR NONPOTABLE APPLICATIONS

1503.9 Gray Water System Components. Gray water

California Plumbing Code (Title 24, Part 5) · 2022 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 con- structed of UV resistant materials including but not limited to heavily tinted or opaque plastic, fiberglass, 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 perma nently marked on the unit. Also, a sign stating

2022 CALIFORNIA PLUMBING CODE 309

ALTERNATE WATER SOURCES FOR NONPOTABLE APPLICATIONS

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 drain pipes 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 with stand 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. (8) Where a surge tank is installed underground, the sys tem 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, well-com pacted 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
    2. 1501.2 System Design. Alternate water source systems
    3. 1501.3 Permit [BSC-CG, HCD 1, DWR] . It shall be unlawful for …
    4. 1501.4 Component Identification. System components
    5. 1501.5 Maintenance and Inspection [BSC-CG, HCD
    6. 1501.6 Operation and Maintenance Manual [BSC-CG,
    7. 1501.7 Minimum Water Quality Requirements [BSC-
    8. 1501.8 Material Compatibility. Alternate water source systems …
    9. 1501.9 Signage [BSC-CG, HCD 1, HCD 2, HCD 1-AC].
    10. 1501.10 System Controls. Controls for pumps, valves, and
    11. 1502.1 General. Alternate water source systems shall be
    12. 1502.2 Supply System Inspection and Test. Alternate
    13. 1502.3 Cross-Connection Inspection and Testing. An
    14. 1502.4 Separation Requirements. Underground alternate water so…
    15. 1502.5 Abandonment. Alternate water source systems that
    16. 1502.6 Sizing. Unless otherwise provided for in this chapter, …
    17. 1503.1 General. The provisions of this section shall apply
    18. 1503.2 System Requirements. Gray water shall be permitted to b…
    19. 1503.3 Connections to Potable and Reclaimed (Recy-
    20. 1503.4 Location. No gray water system or part thereof shall
    21. 1503.5 Plot Plan Submission. No permit for a gray water
    22. 1503.6 Prohibited Location. Where there is insufficient
    23. 1503.7 Drawings and Specifications. The Authority
    24. 1503.8 Procedure for Estimating Gray Water Dis-
    25. 1503.9 Gray Water System Components. Gray water
    26. 1504.1 General. Irrigation or disposal fields shall be permitt…
    27. 1504.3 Determination of Maximum Absorption
    28. 1504.4 Groundwater Level. No excavation for an irrigation fiel…
    29. 1504.2 Required Area of Subsurface Irrigation
    30. 1504.5 Irrigation, Disposal Field and Mulch Basin Con-
    31. 1504.6 Reserved.
    32. 1504.7 Reserved .
    33. 1504.8 Gray Water System Color and Marking Infor-
    34. 1504.9 Other Collection and Distribution Systems.
    35. 1504.10 Testing. Building drains and vents for gray water
    36. 1504.11 Maintenance. Gray water systems and components shall b…
    37. 1505.1 General. The provisions of Section 1505.0 through
    38. 1505.2 Permit. It shall be unlawful for a person to construct,
    39. 1505.3 System Changes. No changes or connections shall
    40. 1505.4 Connections to Potable or Recycled Water
    41. 1505.5 Initial Cross-Connection Test. A cross-connection test …
    42. 1505.6 Recycled Water Supply System Materials.
    43. 1505.7 Recycled Water Supply System Color and
    44. 1505.8 Valves. Valves, except fixture supply control valves,
    45. 1505.9 Hose Bibbs. Hose bibbs shall not be allowed on
    46. 1505.10 Required Appurtenances. The recycled water
    47. 1505.11 Pipe Separation in Trenches . Reclaimed (recycled) wat…
    48. 1505.12 Signage . Signs in rooms and water closet tanks in
    49. 1505.13 Inspection and Testing. Recycled water supply
    50. 1505.14 Minimum Water Quality Requirements for
    51. 1505.15 Maintenance and Inspection. Recycled water
    52. 1506.1 General. The provisions of this section shall apply
    53. 1506.2 Plumbing Plan Submission. No permit for an
    54. 1506.3 System Changes. No changes or connections shall
    55. 1506.4 Connections to Potable or Recycled Water
    56. 1506.5 Initial Cross-Connection Test. A cross-connection test …
    57. 1506.6 On-Site Treated Nonpotable Gray Water Sys-
    58. 1506.7 On-Site Treated Nonpotable Gray Water
    59. 1506.8 On-Site Treated Nonpotable Gray Water Sys-
    60. 1506.9 Design and Installation. The design and installation of…
    61. 1506.10 Valves. Valves, except fixture supply control
    62. 1506.11 Signs. Signs in buildings using on-site treated nonpot…
    63. 1506.12 Inspection and Testing. On-site treated nonpotable gra…
  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 …

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.