• Graywater includes: used water from bathtubs, showers, bathroom wash basins, and water from washing machines and laundry tubs.
• Graywater does not include: waste water from kitchen sinks, dishwashers, or laundry water from soiled diapers.

Graywater is an alternative watering solution for your landscape.  During a drought when outside watering can be suspended, using graywater is a method many homeowners turn to to save their outside plants and landscape.

No, the County does not have any restrictions on graywater use.

Yes!  California’s Graywater Standards are now part of the State Plumbing Code, making it legal to use graywater everywhere in California.  These standards were developed and adopted in response to Assembly Bill 3518, the Graywater Systems for Single Family Residences Act of 1992.

You are required to have a building permit.  You can apply for a permit by contacting the Calaveras County Building Department or visit http://building.calaverasgov.us/.

A permit is required to install a graywater system at a nominal fee.

The permit fee is around $168 for review of permit specifications and inspection of the system.

Lucky for us, there are many places to learn about graywater systems.  Check out the websites below.  You are also encouraged to visit www.water.ca.gov for more conservation tips.