Huron Municipal Code Ch. 13.15 Graywater Systems

A. Graywater systems promote the efficient use of water and are encouraged to assist in onsite landscape irrigation. All graywater systems shall conform to Chapter 15, of the 2016 California Plumbing Code.

B. Graywater systems may include tanks, filters, pumps and piping for subsurface landscape irrigation through mulch basins, disposal trenches or subsurface drip irrigation fields.

( Ord. No. 374 , § 3, 6-20-2018)

A. The meaning of additional terms as used in this chapter shall be as follows:

City" means the City of Huron, authorized representative acting within the scope of his assigned duties.

"Graywater" means untreated wastewater that has not been contaminated by toilet waste or unhealthy bodily 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.

( Ord. No. 374 , § 3, 6-20-2018)

A. The contents in this chapter shall apply to existing and new development in the City.

B. The implementation of a graywater system at an existing site shall be done in accordance with Chapter 15 of the 2016 California Plumbing Code and subsequent updates.

C. All new development in the City shall include a building drain or drains for clothes washers, lavatories, showers, and bathtubs, segregated from drains for all other plumbing fixtures, and connected a minimum of three feet from the limits of the foundation, to allow for future installation of a distributed graywater system. The point of connection between the graywater piping and other waste piping shall be accessible and provided with signage that is satisfactory to the City's building department.

D. The following exceptions apply:

1. Sites with landscape areas not exceeding five hundred (500) square feet.

2. Additions and alternations to an existing building that use the existing drain.

( Ord. No. 374 , § 3, 6-20-2018)

A. Graywater shall only be used for subsurface irrigation. An exception is allowed for ground surface discharge in a mulch basin as long as the discharge point(s) remain covered with at least two inches of mulch, rock or soil.

B. Graywater may be used to irrigate fruit trees, ornamental trees, shrubs, groundcovers and lawns. Graywater shall not be used in vegetable gardens where the food is a root crop or touches the ground surface.

C. Graywater systems shall be designed to allow no contact of the graywater with humans and domestic pets.

D. The graywater shall be contained on the site where it is generated.

( Ord. No. 374 , § 3, 6-20-2018)

A. A plumbing permit is required prior to the erection, construction, reconstruction, installation, relocation or alteration of any graywater system. The following information is required in order to approve the plans and issue a permit for a graywater system:

1. A set of plans and specifications showing the graywater system. The graywater system shall be designed in accordance with the requirements in Chapter 15 of the 2016 California Plumbing Code.

B. The following exceptions apply:

1. Simple System: Graywater discharge is two hundred fifty (250) gallons or less per day.

2. Stand Alone: System is not connected to any source of potable water or other irrigation systems

( Ord. No. 374 , § 3, 6-20-2018)

A. The contents of Chapter 13.16 are applicable to sites implementing graywater systems.

B. A reduced pressure (RP) backflow preventer shall be provided at the point of connection to the public water system.

C. An airgap (AG) shall be provided if potable water is used to supplement graywater for irrigation.

( Ord. No. 374 , § 3, 6-20-2018)

A. The required maintenance and inspection of graywater systems shall be the responsibility of the property owner.

( Ord. No. 374 , § 3, 6-20-2018)

A. The officers, employees and inspectors of the city engineer, the public works department and building and inspection shall have the right to enter upon the premises of any person at reasonable hours to inspect and to determine whether this chapter is being violated.

( Ord. No. 374 , § 3, 6-20-2018)

Any person found to be violating any provision of this chapter shall be served by the City or authorized representative with written notice stating the nature of the violation and providing a reasonable time limit for the satisfactory correction thereof. The time limit shall not be less than two nor more than seven working days. The offender shall, within the period of time stated in such notice, permanently cease all violations. All persons shall be held strictly responsible for any and all acts of agents or employees done under the provisions of this chapter. Upon being notified by the City of any defect arising in any sewer or of any violation of this chapter, the person or persons having charge of said work shall immediately correct the same.

( Ord. No. 374 , § 3, 6-20-2018)

A. As an alternative method of enforcing the provisions of this chapter, the City shall have the power to turn off the water service to any violating user. The City will not resume service until proof of correction of the violation is provided.

B. Upon disconnection, the City shall estimate the cost of disconnection from and reconnection to the system, and such user shall deposit the cost, as estimated, of disconnection and reconnection before such user is reconnected to the system.

( Ord. No. 374 , § 3, 6-20-2018)