• Dear Water Users (and Reusers):

    Please consider taking IMMEDIATE ACTION by speaking up about the current proposed graywater and rainwater plumbing code update. The succinct letter below is from Laura Allen, Director of Greywater Action. Wholly H2o, co-members with Greywater Action in the CA Greywater Alliance, wholeheartedly supports the actions suggested. The next meeting on this crucial law is this coming Wedensday, March 7th. Please write a letter, plan to attend or both!

    California Plumbing Code Chapter 16 for graywater and rainwater – Wedensday, March 7th, 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

    Department of Housing and Community Development
    Division of Codes and Standards
    1800 3rd Street, Room 260-33
    Sacramento, CA  95811-6944

    This code is of ultimate importance to the future use of rainwater and graywater in this state.  While these local water sources are conceptulized by some as  “alternative” water supplies, without ready access to their use and reuse, our surface and ground water supplies will become increasingly threatened.
    ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
    California Greywater (and Rainwater) Code at Stake!   Your help is needed!

    A new state proposal is set to adopt more a restrictive code which will move California backward and prevent more widespread use of rainwater and greywater.

    As part of a triennial code adoption process the recent (2009) California greywater code is being thrown out and replaced with a more restrictive and cumbersome code. This new proposed code also includes rainwater- with overly stringent requirements- which would make many back yard rain barrel and cistern systems illegal.

    Even if you don’t live in California your voice is needed. This proposed code is part of the “Universal Plumbing Code” which is adopted by many states in the US. If California rejects the restrictive components it can help other states do the same.

    For a more sustainable water future for California we need to change this proposed code!  Please send comments (example letter below) and forward this widely.

    Send to:
    Shawn Huff (from Department of Housing and Community Development) email:shuff@hcd.ca.gov
    Enrique Rodriguez (from Building Standards Commission) email:enrique.rodriguez@dgs.ca.gov
    Governor Jerry Brown email: http://gov.ca.gov/m_contact.php
    Your assembly person and/or state senator

    Dear Shawn Huff and Enrique Rodriguez,

    I am writing to express my concern over the proposed adoption of Chapter 16 of the Uniform Plumbing Code for California. I believe we need a code that will encourage and support water reuse so we can protect California’s water resources and reduce our consumption of fresh water supplies.

    I want California to support low cost, safe and legal systems. Please do not adopt the proposed code until it has been changed so it can benefit, not harm our water future.

    I urge you to make the following changes to the code:

    1)  Restore any text present in the current greywater code that is missing in the proposed code.
    2)  Don’t include more restrictive and prohibitive language in the new code for greywater systems.
    3)  Allow for simple and legal back yard rainwater harvesting systems including gravity fed rainwater irrigation systems with no permit and no treatment of the water (i.e. chlorine)
    4)  Greatly increase the size of rainwater storage that doesn’t require a permit. Other states allow safe types of cisterns up to 5,000 gallons with no permit. The proposed 360 gallons is much to small, that is only the size of 7 rain barrels.

    Thank you for your prompt attention to this issues.

    (Your Name)

    Other things to include in the letter:
    If you have greywater or rainwater systems in your home
    If this could affect your business.
    Local water issues that make this important for your area

    If you are able to attend a March 7th stakeholders meeting in Sacramento about this please see the details below.
    Down load the draft proposal here.

    California Plumbing Code Chapter 16 for graywater and rainwater – 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

    Department of Housing and Community Development
    Division of Codes and Standards
    1800 3rd Street, Room 260-33
    Sacramento, CA  95811-6944

    Teleconferencing will not be available for the meeting on March 7th; however, if you are unable to attend, please forward any comments or recommendations for residential applications to Shawn Huff, Housing Standards Programs Manager, atshuff@hcd.ca.gov.

    If you plan to attend the focus group meeting, please advise Dee Benbow by March 5th via email at dbenbow@hcd.ca.gov.

    For comments on commerical scale projects send to Enrique Rodriguez, Associate Construction Analyst, enrique.rodriguez@dgs.ca.gov, (916) 263-0916.