The Color of Water in Oregon: A non-partisan, neutral

perspective about graywater

Todd Jarvis, MemberOregon Graywater Advisory Committee

Blogmeister, Rainbow Water Coalition

The Colors of Water

• Blackwater• Bluewater• Greenwater• Yellowwater• Goldwater• Purplewater• Greywater

Blackwater

Diagram from Wikipedia

Bluewater

Greenwater

Water for Food, Water for Life (2007)

Greenwater

Yellowwater

Photos from Wikipedia

Goldwater

Photo from New York Times

Purplewater

Cover photo from Wikipedia

Photo from Keetsa Green Blog

House Bill 2080

• Graywater means shower and bath wastewater, bathroom sink water, kitchen sink wastewater, and laundry wastewater.

• Graywater does not mean toilet or garbage

wastes, or wastewater contaminated by soiled diapers.

Geography of GraywaterStates with Graywater Programs

• Arizona• California• Georgia (?)• Hawaii• Idaho• Nevada• New Mexico• Texas• Utah• Washington• Montana• Oregon• Massachusetts

Countries Actively Promoting Graywater ReuseIndia, Israel, China, South Africa, Australia

?

Graywater definition includesKitchen sink wastewater

MissionThe Oregon Legislature directed the Environmental Quality Commission to consider the recommendations of a newly formed graywater advisory committee when adopting new rules, as well as to:

• Minimize the burden of permit requirements on property owners;

• Prescribe requirements that allow for the treatment, disposal or reuse of graywater; and

• Ensure the protection of public health, safety and welfare; public water supplies; and state waters.

Rules and Regulations

• DEQ regulates the use of graywater outside a building structure in Oregon. How graywater use will be permitted and allowed under the new law will be defined in the new graywater rules.

• Non-potable use of graywater within a structure is regulated under the state plumbing code.

DEQ Water Quality Permitting

Onsite Permits(OAR 340-071)

NPDES Permits

(OAR 340-045)

UIC Permits(OAR-340-

044)

WPCF(OAR 340-045)

NPDES Stormwater

(OAR 340-045)

Graywater Sump;

Installed (Built);Large Flows & High-Strength

Floating Homes

Roof Drains; Stormwater

Mgmt.

Offstream Placer Mining;

Food Processing & Wineries

Construction Activities; Columbia

Slough Watershed

Fees & Evaluation:

~$1,200

Fees & Evaluation:

~$1,200

Fees & Evaluation:

~$100 - $12,000

Fees & Evaluation: ~$0 - $450

Fees & Evaluation:

~$1,500

How Much Graywater?

Data from Water Environment Research Foundation (2007)

How Much Graywater?“The buildings also recycle all of their "gray" water by filtering used water from sinks and bathtubs and reusing it to flush toilets, irrigate roof gardens and fill the structure's outdoor ponds. This reduces water use by more than 40 percent.” (China Daily, 12/30/2009)

An architectural rendering of the trellises designed to shade the western facade of the main federal building in Portland, Ore.(New York Times, 01/30/2010)

Oregon Sustainability Center“Net-zero” Water

Graywater Advisory Committee15 Volunteers

Environmental Atty./ActivistCivil/Structural EngineerToxicologistLandscape ArchitectEnvironmental Atty.ArchitectWater Quality AnalystPlumbing DesignerGreen Bldg. CoordinatorWater Quality ManagerWastewater ManagersUrban Res. ConservationistAcademic

http://www.deq.state.or.us/wq/reuse/gwadvisory.htm

Meetings typically on the 11th of each month somewhere in Oregon

Uses of Graywater

General Use Categories Identified by CommitteeLandscapeEco roofs/wallsInternalExternalAgricultureMunicipalCommercial, IndustrialEnvironment/Habitat

New York Times image

Kitchen Sink Wastewater Situation

“Dark gray vs. Medium Gray vs. Light Gray”

Diagram from Facilitator’s Guide to Participatory Decision-Making (1996)

Meeting No. 2

Meeting No. 3

The Tragedy of Classifications Classifications ≅ Source + Threat + Risk +

Arbitrary + Capricious + Colors

New Business Opportunities for Oregon

IrriGRAYTM Graywater Irrigation Kit

Home Water Bowser

Irrigation BarrelOregon’s fascination

with bins

Equipment photos fromJust Water Savers USA, Inc.

Eugene, Ore.

Oregon Graywater SWOT• Strengths Recycling is part of Oregon’s legacy; graywater

identified in the 2010 “Top 100 Trends”; Oregon Sustainability Center; Federal Bldg. Renovation

• Weaknesses Early emphasis by DEQ on Permits/Fees • Opportunities Australians moving in to manufacture equipment

in Eugene

S. Africa Reality TV series Love & MortarWho will serve as Oregon’s power-house eco-couple?

• Threats Kitchen Wastewater Situation; economy and real estate market; cheap water – why bother?

Rainbow Water Coalition

http://rainbowwatercoalition.blogspot.com/

The End of the Rainbow.Thanks for your invitation.