Graywater rebates

What is graywater? 

Graywater system three-way diverter valve

Not all indoor water is suitable for reuse. Water from kitchen sinks, diaper-soiled water, and "blackwater" (toilet flush water) are not acceptable sources of graywater.

Why use graywater?

During water shortages or drought, graywater used for landscape irrigation can be a reliable supply of water for your plants.  Watch this short graywater animation and This Old-House video for a quick overview of a laundry to landscape graywater system.

Using graywater provides multiple benefits:

• Reduces the use of fresh water
• Lowers water bills
• Puts less strain on treatment systems and septic tanks
• Reduces energy and chemicals used for wastewater treatment
• Recharges groundwater

Using graywater at home

An easy way to incorporate graywater is to install a brass three-way diverter valve at your clothes washer, redirecting the water from your laundry to your landscape.

A laundry-to-landscape solution saves around 3,600 gallons a year if you have a water-efficient clothes washer, and up to 11,200 gallons a year if you have an older top loader. A rebate is available for the brass diverter valve.

If you go through your city permitting process, you may also be able to use other sources of graywater, like showers and bathroom sinks, for your landscape. Learn more about the permitting process in Chapter 15 of the CA plumbing code

Best practices

Tips for using graywater:

• In the winter, plants get their water from natural rainfall. To prevent overwatering, turn off your diverter during the rainy season.
• Use environmentally friendly detergent.
• Professional installer resources - Greywater Action Directory and Qualified Water Efficient Landscaper (select Graywater as "speciality")

Graywater is not recommended for the following situations:

• Watering vegetable gardens
• If drain pipes are not accessible
• If your soil is too permeable or impermeable
• If the amount of water use does not justify the cost of installation
• If you live 100 feet (and up the hill) from a creek

Rebate

EBMUD offers a rebate of up to $100 for the purchase of the following equipment essential to a graywater laundry-to-landscape system: brass three-way diverter, air admittance or anti-siphon valve, and PVC conveyance line (for an explanation of system components, view this video). If the cost of these components is less than $100, the actual purchase price will only be rebated. The rebate will be issued as a check within two billing cycles of rebate approval.

Tax Notice: All rebates that, individually or in combination, total $600 or more in a tax year require submittal of a W-9 form to the District prior to payment. All personal information provided within the W-9 is kept confidential in accordance with the Privacy Act. If your total rebate amount is $600 or more, you will receive a 1099 form to comply with Internal Revenue Service requirements. The determination of whether your rebate is taxable or not may depend on several variables. You are recommended to contact your tax professional.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the graywater rebate, you must fulfill the following requirements:

• Be an EBMUD customer
• Review This Old House Laundry to Landscape video (5 minutes)
• Within 90 days of purchase, submit a completed Graywater Rebate Application and copy of the eligible graywater system components receipts.

Application

More information