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Mother Nature’s share. Rainwater can be of higher quality than a water agency’s source water, making it a more cost-effective choice for
graywater. But legal red tape hampers its use in some states.
SIMPLE DOES IT sell than rainwater catchment, and it’s a lot of water,” Roth says.
“A lot of water.”
While others eager for more-sophisticated graywater/rainwater
storage and filtration systems duke it out in the codes arena, builders DON’T FORGET THE 350
can start with a simple, cost-effective landscape irrigation system. Regardless of a state’s particular graywater code (if any), builders need
to keep in mind that NSF/ANSI 350 certification is essential for on-site
Bill Roth, president of Modern Design + Construction in Santa commercial and residential water reuse systems. NSF International
Fe., N.M. (www.moderndesignplu sconstructioninc.com), has been tracks companies (http://bit.ly/2gilRnR) with this status; as of mid-
working on graywater systems for 10 years. “We don’t do capture November, four were certified: Bio-Microbics Inc. (www.biomicrobics.
systems, just distribution systems. You take the water out of the com) in Shawnee, Kans.; E-Z Treat Corp. (www.eztreat.net) in
house and to various locations,” he says. “These systems aren’t Rocky Mount, N.C.; INTEWA Ingenieur-Gesellschaft für Energie- und
bombproof, but they don’t have any moving parts, and you aren’t Wassertechnik GmbH (http://bit.ly/2f1tWak) in Aachen, Germany;
treating or storing it.” and Nexus eWater Pty. Ltd. (www.nexusewater.com) in San Diego.
In one application, Roth collected water from all the fixtures of Companies can use one service to help acquire another for less.
a home, and ran it via 2-inch pipe to two distribution areas (small INTEWA’s AQUALOOP system, for example, is part of WERS-
leach fields) in the yard. He used the calculations provided by the Manufacturer, which gives it a 20 percent discount on the NSF-
2012 plumbing codes for minimum side yard capture area. certified version, according to Green Builder Coalition Executive
Director Mike Collignon.
Roth points out that the technology needed for graywater use is
already part of the builder parlance.“It’s taking PVC pipe, dual plumbing “I think we’re going to see more western cities and states consider
fixtures, backflow valves, a manhole and a bit of engineering,” he says. allowing graywater systems in their codes,” he says. “The combination
of a finite amount of freshwater and an increasing population is a
Selling clients on graywater is straightforward. “It’s a case of recipe for necessary change. Thankfully, the products already exist
sitting down with a client and introducing the concept of a passive for us to make that transition to a more water-efficient society.” GB
gray system early in the game,” he says. “In a lot of cases, they are
interested because of the low cost.”
He estimates a system may add $800 to $1,000 to the price of a
1,500-square-foot house, but that’s not a deterrent. “It’s a lot easier
www.greenbuildermedia.com November/December 2016 GREEN BUILDER 45
