Laws Against Gray Water Usage to Water Plants? (Dallas: homes, landscaping)

[cheleebean]

Are there any Texas laws against using the gray water (water from tubs, sinks) to water your yard?

[loves2read]

newer homes with grey water systems have something that does some type of purification I think vs just running it into a cistern that you draw from for irrigation

I don't know that anyone could prevert you from using water in your bathtub to water your plants/grass but the soap might not do them anygood...

[Poltracker]

You can use gray water for this purpose. The state law regarding gray water usage/disposal can be found in Title 30 of the Texas Administrative Code Chapter 285 subchapter H (tried to link but it would not work).
Counties/cities may have more stringent rules or ordinances in place as well but generally follow the state on this issue.

[Korel]

I found this on that web site: <Try This Link>

(d) Graywater from a graywater system as described in subsection (a) of this section may only be used:

(1) around the foundation of new housing to minimize foundation movement or cracking;

(2) for gardening;

(3) for composting; or

(4) for landscaping at a single family dwelling.

[lh_newbie]

The biggest challenge with grey water is catchment on an existing home. Since most homes are built with slab foundations and therefore provide no access to drainage plumbing, it is simply not an option on most existing homes.

I have written emails and letters to the city of Dallas to request a change in building code to require separate grey and black water drainage systems. If they were combined AFTER they came out of the foundation, the option to go with grey water reuse becomes a feasible option. The cost of separating grey and black water upon construction is very minimal. Please write your local building code offices to try to get the change made.

Brian

[cheleebean]

Thanks all of you for your comments.

I read the link, Korel, it was very informative... To my understanding, IF you have a washing machine draining gray water into your yard, you can use it to water ground cover, (within certain criteria) using a filter on the line, but it had to be in existance before the law was intact. Otherwise to use gray water, you have to have a on-site sewage facility (OSSF) system.


I read another thread on here that certain laws restricts bathtub water use or any water that has been in contact with humans or food particles. In the explanation ,it said that washing the human body introduces pathogens into the gray water--therefore bath water can't be used.

I mean I understand that we don't want to spread disease through sick people bathing and draining it out in their back yards. But if you're healthy, I really can't understand it, and it just seems a little out of focus, when my dog's "pathogens" get on my yard everyday.