Graywater to Landscape

Rebate Information

Up to $400 per household for clothes washer to landscape systems! Up to $1,000 per household for dual plumbed shower/bath and bathroom sink to landscape systems!

• Clothes washing machine to landscape or "Laundry to Landscape" (doesn't need a building permit)
• Bathtub and/or shower to landscape (requires a building permit)
• Bathroom sink to landscape (requires a building permit)

Receive a rebate of $400 per laundry to landscape system and up to $1,000 per household for a dual plumbed system, when you install a graywater system to irrigate your landscape. The rebate applies to single or two-unit residential buildings only.

Graywater systems must meet all applicable state and local requirements to prevent potential health threats and environmental contamination. Please refer to the Graywater System Regulatory Requirements regarding state and local graywater system requirements.

What Graywater Is & Isn't

Graywater is: wastewater from showers/baths, bathroom sinks, and clothes washing machines only. Graywater may contain fats, oils, grease, hair, lint, soaps, and household cleaners. However, it can be safely used to irrigate most landscapes (except root crops or edible crops that touch the soil) as long as regulatory requirements and guidelines are followed.

Graywater is not: wastewater from kitchen sinks, dishwashers, or toilets, or from clothes washing machines when used to wash diapers or other infectious garments. Wastewater from these sources is referred to as "blackwater" and cannot be used due to the risk of contamination by bacteria, viruses and other pathogens.

Water Savings & Graywater System Cost

You can save water and money during the irrigation season when you use graywater to irrigate instead of or in addition to potable (i.e. drinking) water. A benefit of using graywater is that it is generated year-round and is thus readily available when needed during the irrigation season. Although the amount of water you can save is dependent upon the specific size and design of your landscape, landscape water typically accounts for about 25% of total residential water use during the dry season.

A typical Laundry to Landscape graywater system costs about $800 to $2,200 for parts and installation labor. Laundry to Landscape systems can be installed by a handy homeowner as long as the regulatory design requirements are met, but hiring a professional is generally recommended. Graywater systems that connect existing wastewater plumbing lines from showers/bathtubs and/or bathroom sinks to an outdoor landscape must be installed by a licensed plumber. These systems typically range in price from $1,000 to $3,400.

If you have any questions regarding graywater system rebates or need additional information, please call our Conservation Department at 831-475-8500.

Graywater System Rebate Eligibility

Complete rebate eligibility requirements are listed on the Graywater System Rebate Application (PDF). However, we still want you to be aware of the following:

Laundry to Landscape

• Rebate applies to parts and materials and contracted installation labor only. Sales tax is not included.
• Graywater systems must be installed and rebate applications must be postmarked within 90 days of the purchase date of parts and materials.
• A licensed contractor may sign Page 2 of the rebate application to verify that the installation is compliant with local and state regulations, in lieu of post-inspection by the District.
• If the system is not installed by a licensed contractor, a representative of Soquel Creek Water District (SqCWD) must be permitted to inspect the property to verify installation and proper construction prior to rebate approval.
• The applicant/customer is responsible for identifying and complying with all applicable state and local laws regarding system permitting, design, and operation (see information below for more details).
• The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) requires all rebate program participants receiving $600 or more per calendar year in rebates to be issued an IRS Form 1099 unless exemptions apply. If you have received rebates from SqCWD totaling $600 or more in the current calendar year, you must submit a completed IRS W-9 Form (PDF) with your rebate application to receive a rebate. The Social Security or Tax ID number requested in the rebate application process is in compliance with exemptions to the Federal Privacy Act of 1974, 42 UCS 405 (c)(2)(c). Social Security numbers provided as part of the application process are held in confidence under terms of the Privacy Act and are not divulged or otherwise conveyed to individuals or organizations outside the SqCWD Rebate Program.

Dual Plumbing (Shower / Bath to Landscape & Bathroom Sink to Landscape)

• Rebate applies to parts and materials, contracted installation labor, permitting fees, and any required backflow installation only. Sales tax is not included.
• Graywater systems must be installed and rebate applications must be postmarked within 90 days of the purchase date of parts and materials.
• A licensed contractor may sign Page 2 of the rebate application to verify that the installation is compliant with local and state regulations, in lieu of post-inspection by the District.
• The applicant/customer is responsible for identifying and complying with all applicable state and local laws regarding system permitting, design, and operation.
• A copy of the building permit must be submitted with the rebate application for all graywater systems connecting to any source other than a clothes washing machine.
• The IRS requires all rebate program participants receiving $600 or more per calendar year in rebates to be issued an IRS Form 1099 unless exemptions apply. If you have received rebates from Soquel Creek Water District (SqCWD) totaling $600 or more in the current calendar year, you must submit a completed IRS W-9 Form with your rebate application to receive a rebate. The Social Security or Tax ID number requested in the rebate application process is in compliance with exemptions to the Federal Privacy Act of 1974, 42 UCS 405 (c)(2)(c). Social Security numbers provided as part of the application process are held in confidence under terms of the Privacy Act and are not divulged or otherwise conveyed to individuals or organizations outside the SqCWD Rebate Program.

Graywater System Regulatory Requirements & Permitting Requirements

Graywater systems must meet California Plumbing Code requirements (Title 24 Part 5, Chapter 16A) and local (i.e. City of Capitola or County of Santa Cruz) permitting, design and operation requirements to prevent potential health threats and environmental contamination. 

This table summarizes local permitting requirements:

• Local agencies do not require permits for clothes washing machine or Laundry to Landscape graywater systems; however, all other graywater systems (i.e. shower/bathtub and bathroom sink) require a permit to install. A greywater permit template can be found at the Central Coast Greywater Alliance.
• Additionally, local permit requirements vary depending upon how many gallons of graywater are collected per day. Systems distributing 250 gallons or less per day are classified as "simple" and those distributing more than 250 gallons per day are classified as "complex". In general, simple graywater systems have fewer requirements.
• In addition to permitting requirements, if a pump is used to distribute the graywater, Soquel Creek Water District requires a backflow prevention device. A backflow prevention device is used to protect the potable water supply by preventing the flow of non-potable water and materials into the potable supply line.
• Graywater should never be stored.

Design & Operation Requirements for Laundry to Landscape Systems

The most common and cost-effective residential graywater systems are Laundry to Landscape systems. While these systems do not require a permit, there are eleven basic design and operation requirements that must be met:

• The design must allow the user to direct graywater flow to the irrigation field, or to the sewer or septic system. The direction control of the graywater must be clearly labeled and readily accessible to the user.
• The installation, change, alteration or repair of the system may not include a potable water connection or a pump and may not affect other building, plumbing, electrical or mechanical components, including structural features, egress, fire-life safety, sanitation, potable water supply piping or accessibility.
• The graywater must be contained on-site where it is generated.
• Graywater must be directed to and contained within an irrigation area.
• Ponding or runoff is prohibited and is considered a nuisance.
• Graywater may be released above the ground surface provided at least two inches of mulch, rock, or soil or a solid shield covers the release point. Other methods that provide equivalent separation are also acceptable.
• Systems must be designed and operated to prevent graywater contact with humans and domestic pets.
• Water used to wash diapers or other infectious garments may not be used and must be diverted to the building sewer or septic system.
• Graywater may not contain hazardous chemicals derived from activities such as cleaning car parts, washing greasy or oil rags, or disposing of waste from home photo labs or similar hobbyist or home occupational activities.
• Exemption from construction permit requirements of this code shall not be deemed to grant authorization for any graywater system to be installed in a manner that violates other provisions of this code or any other laws or ordinances of the Enforcing Agency (i.e. the City of Capitola or the County of Santa Cruz).
• An operation and maintenance manual must be maintained by the owner for all graywater systems. Directions in the manual must indicate the manual is to remain with the building throughout the life of the system and indicate that upon change in ownership or occupancy, the new tenant must be notified that the structure contains a graywater system.

Questions

If you have questions about the regulatory requirements associated with graywater systems, please contact the applicable building code official. If you reside within the City of Capitola, contact the building department at 831-475-7300. If you reside within the unincorporated areas of Santa Cruz County, call the Santa Cruz County Planning Department at 831-454-2280.