PREPARED FOR:
PREPARED BY:
IN COLLABORATION WITH:
M AY 2 0 0 2
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This guide was prepared by Water Resources Engineering, Inc. (WRE), San Francisco,
California, for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). It was
written by Gustavo Arboleda with assistance from Melinda Goldman. Dana Bress of HUD
provided technical review. Julie Ortiz and Sony Atmadjaja with Public Affairs Management
edited and created the design and layout of the guide. Special thanks go to Allan Dietemann,
Program Manager for the Water Conservation Office of the city of Seattle’s Public Utilities;
Jack Goodman of Hartrey Advisors; Tony Gregg, Manager of the Water Conservation
Program, City of Austin, Texas; and John Nelson of Water Resources Management for their
assistance and guidance throughout this project.
Disclaimer
While the information in this guide is believed to be accurate, neither the authors, reviewers, nor HUD make
any warranty, guarantee, or representation, expressed or implied, with respect to the accuracy, effectiveness, or use-
fulness of any information, method, or material in this document, or assume any liability for the use of any infor-
mation, methods, or materials disclosed herein, or for damages arising from such use.
The U.S. Government does not endorse products or manufacturers. Trade or manufacturers names appear herein
solely because they are considered essential to the object of this project.
O V E R V I E W O F R E T R O F I T S T R AT E G I E S
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................1
RETROFIT STRATEGIES ................................................................5
SELECTING RETROFIT STRATEGIES ..............................................13
RETROFIT SAVINGS AND COST ....................................................21
REFERENCES ...........................................................................23
APPENDICES
A. H O W M U C H W AT E R IS U S E D I N D O O R S ? ........................................27
B. W AT E R C O N S E R VAT I O N I N C E N T I V E S ............................................29
C. S U B M E T E R I N G R E G U L AT I O N S ....................................................36
D. G R AY W AT E R R E G U L AT I O N S .....................................................40
O V E R V I E W O F R E T R O F I T S T R AT E G I E S
INTRODUCTION
Close to a fifth of the United States popula- This guidebook refers to hardware measures
tion lives in multi-family rental housing. as retrofit strategies. Retrofit
Most of these residents do not pay a water To provide with parts,
Where tenant incentive to conserve water
bill. Water charges are embedded in their rent devices, or equipment
may be lacking, owners/managers of multi-
and residents are usually free to use as much not in existence or avail-
family properties must rely on retrofit strate-
water as they wish without additional charge. able at time of original
gies to reduce water consumption and manufacture. To install
Water represents a significant amount of the associated operating costs. or fit a device for use in
cost involved in operating multi-family hous- an existing structure,
Lowering water use in older multi-family
ing. In addition to the actual cost of water are especially an older
properties presents some challenges.
associated costs for the treatment of waste- dwelling.
Extensive renovation may not be economi-
water and the energy required to heat the wa-
cally viable for the many properties whose
ter. These expenses are likely to increase as
housing units have obsolete, non-conserving
groundwater and surface water reserves dwin-
water fixtures and appliances. Retrofit strate-
dle, energy costs rise, and treatment require-
gies, on the other hand, are less invasive and
ments become more stringent.
may be better suited for older structures.
This guidebook is intended to help owners
Retrofit strategies include the repair/and or
and managers of multi-family properties ad-
replacement of showerheads, faucets, toilets,
dress these challenges through water conser-
clothes washers, water meters, irrigation sys-
vation. A companion guidebook directed to
tems, and other features. Specific measures
engineers, contractors, and others responsi-
may range in complexity from simply screw-
ble for the actual design and implementation
ing an aerator on a faucet to installing gray
of water conservation retrofit strategies is
water systems that require storage tanks, fil-
also available from HUD.
ters, pumps, and pipes.
Two types of water conservation strategies
are generally recognized: WHY CONSERVE WATER?
■ Behavioral changes to educate and moti-
vate people to become conservation-con- As the world’s population grows and water
scious and engage in conserving practices demand increases, many regions across the
■ Hardware measures to modify, repair, or
United States will face the hard realities of
remove/replace water-using fixtures or groundwater depletion, chronic drought,
appliances. dried-up rivers, poor water quality, mount-
O V E R V I E W O F R E T R O F I T S T R AT E G I E S 1
INTRODUCTION
C O N S E RVAT I O N
ing infrastructure costs, and diminishing al- ■ Type, age, and condition of water-using
ternatives for additional supplies. Water fixtures
treatment facilities are quickly approaching ■ Climate
their treatment capacity due to the increases ■ Price of water where the residents pay di-
in water demand. These constraints are plac- rectly for water used.
ing limits on how much water will be avail-
Outdoor water use is highly site-specific and
able and affordable in the future.
depends on the square footage of landscaped
Water conservation can: areas and the efficiency of irrigation systems
Water ■ Make more water available during and procedures. The type of water-using
Conservation droughts or periods of limited supply recreational facilities will also impact the
is defined as any action ■ Delay the expansion of existing treat- volume of water used outdoors.
that reduces the amount ment facilities and the construction of
of water withdrawn from
water supply sources, re-
new ones INDOOR USE
■ Lower energy consumption by reducing
duces consumptive use, The volume of water used in a typical non-
water heating and treatment needs
reduces the loss or waste conserving housing unit can range from
■ Lower water and energy bills through
of water, improves the
more efficient use of water both indoors around 80 gallons per day to 150 gallons or
efficiency of water use,
and in common and outdoor areas more, depending on the variables noted
increases recycling and
■ Increase property values through the
above. Two adults living in an apartment
reuse of water, or pre-
vents pollution of water. modernization of water-using fixtures, with non-conserving fixtures/appliances may
appliances, and equipment. use about 56 gallons per person each day.
New Mexico Office of the
The distribution of water uses shown in
State Engineer,1997
WATER USE IN MULTI-FAMILY Figure 1 is based on apartments with one
toilet, one showerhead, two faucets, and
HOUSING standard efficiency clothes and dish washers.
An apartment building typically has both in- It is also based on a number of assumptions
door and outdoor water uses. Indoor water regarding how often each fixture or appli-
use is primarily by the occupants of the ance is used. See Appendix A for a complete
housing units, through the use of toilets, listing of the assumptions.
showers, bathroom and kitchen faucets, and
in some cases clothes and dishwashers. INDOOR CONSERVATION
Outdoor water is for areas that may include POTENTIAL
landscaping and recreational facilities such
as swimming pools, spas, fountains, and Indoor water use can be significantly reduced
ponds. In some apartment buildings out- by repairing leaks and installing low water
door uses may include washing cars on the use fixtures and appliances. If the non-con-
premises. serving apartment whose water use is illus-
trated in Figure 1 were retrofitted with faucet
Several factors affect indoor water use:
aerators, a low flow showerhead, an ultra-low
■ Number, age, and income level of occu-
flush volume toilet (ULFT) and high effi-
pants in a housing unit
ciency clothes and dish washers, the total wa-
2
INTRODUCTION
ter use per day may come down to about 33 Figure 1 illustrates the volumes of water
gallons per person per day, or roughly 66 gal- used in a typical water-conserving apart-
lons per day for the two-occupant apart- ment. The assumptions made on types of
ment. This represents a savings of 46 gallons fixtures and frequency of use are listed in
per day for one apartment, or about 40 per- Appendix A.
cent of the non-conserving water use.
NON-CONSERVING CONSERVING
Fixture GPCD Fixture GPCD
Toilet 14.0 Toilet 8.0
Note
Faucets 14.0 Faucets 10.5
Approximate volumes of
Shower 11.3 Shower 6.8
water used in gallons per
Clothes Washer 12.0 Clothes Washer 7.5 capita per day or “gpcd”
Dishwasher 1.0 Dishwasher 0.5
Leaks 3.4
Total 55.7 Total 33.3
15 14.0 14.0
12.0
12 11.3
10.5
9
WATER USE (GPCD)
8.0
7.5
6.8
6
3.4
3
1.0
0.5 0.0
0
TOILET FAUCET SHOWER CLOTHES DISHWASHER LEAKS
WASHER
NON-CONSERVING CONSERVING
O V E R V I E W O F R E T R O F I T S T R AT E G I E S 3
INTRODUCTION
C O N S E RVAT I O N
4
RETROFIT STRATEGIES
Indoor Retrofit Strategies A variety of water conservation retrofit
strategies are available to multi-family prop-
Quick payback strategies
erty owners. Traditional retrofit strategies in-
• Low-flow faucet aerators clude a number of indoor and outdoor
• Low-flow showerheads measures. Less traditional strategies are also
• Toilet inserts available that involve the use of gray water
• Leak detection and repair for toilet flushing and/or irrigation.
Utility financed strategies
• Toilets through direct-install programs INDOOR WATER USE
• Install devices available free of charge in From a multi-family property owner’s per-
water conservation kits
spective, the most advantageous water con-
Strategies involving utility rebates servation retrofit strategies are those with
Strategies involving manufacturer discounts quick investment paybacks or those paid for
Submetering by local water utilities. Utility financed alter-
natives, of course, are only available to prop-
Outdoor Retrofit Strategies erty owners within the service areas of
Eliminate narrow strips of turf utilities that offer such programs. Appendix
B lists some of the water utilities across the
Reduce lawn areas
United States that offer economic incentives
Use separate water meters for implementing water conservation meas-
Install soil moisture or rain sensors ures. Property owners in other areas should
Install special hose bibs consult with their local utilities about the
Replace sprinklers with drip irrigation systems feasibility of obtaining financial incentives or
credits for installing water-conserving fix-
Landscape with native plants
tures and appliances.
Gray Water Use Strategies
Quick Payback Strategies
Install rainwater collection systems
Recycle water for landscape Retrofit strategies that involve relatively mod-
Install hybrid rainwater collection and recycling est investments and quick paybacks from sav-
systems ings on water and sewer bills include:
O V E R V I E W O F R E T R O F I T S T R AT E G I E S 5
RETROFIT STRATEGIES
C O N S E RVAT I O N
6
RETROFIT STRATEGIES
higher in toilets manufactured before 1992. ample, the East Bay Municipal Utility
The design of ULFTs, and the levels of user District (Oakland, California), the City of
satisfaction, have consistently improved Seattle (Washington), and the City of Tampa
since 1992, when the Energy Policy Act es- (Florida) offer up to $100; the City of
tablished the national manufacturing stan- Albuquerque (New Mexico) and the
dard of 1.6 gallons per flush for most toilets. Metropolitan Water District of Southern
ULFT direct-install program details change California offer $75. Property owners need
from one location to the next (see Appendix to check with their local utilities even in the
B). Owners are sometimes given a choice of locations quoted, because program details
model. A contractor retained by the utility change constantly and their availability may
usually installs the toilets, although some di- be discontinued.
rect-install programs call for installation by
Rebates for the installation of high efficiency
the property owner with rebates offered for
clothes washers currently ranges between $75
each confirmed installation. ULFTs can save
and $150 per in-unit washer, and from $50
between 10 to 20 gallons per toilet per day.
to $250 for commercial washers in common
■ Devices Through Water Conservation laundry areas. For example, the East Bay
Municipal Utility District (Oakland,
Kits
California) offers rebates of $150/$50; the
Many water utilities in the United States of- City of Seattle (Washington) offers rebates of
fer water conservation kits to customers in $75 for in-unit washers and from $150 to
their service areas (see Appendix B). The kits $250 for coin-operated machines; and the
generally include two or three faucet aera- City of Austin, Texas, offers rebates of up to
tors, a low-flow showerhead, toilet displace- $250 on high-efficiency washers.
ment devices, leak detection tablets for
toilets, and informational materials. Property
Discounts
owners should undertake installation of the Property owners may be able to obtain high
water conserving devices with their own per- volume discounts on the purchase of ULFTs
sonnel, rather than leave it up to the resi- and high efficiency clothes washers. They
dents to obtain the full water savings from may also be able to obtain discounts from
the free devices. contractors on multiple installations.
Manufacturers or their local representatives
Rebates
should be contacted for information on high
A number of utilities promote the use of ul- volume discounts.
tra-low flush toilets and high efficiency
clothes washers through rebate programs.
Submetering
The details of each program vary from one Submetering refers to the installation of wa-
location to the next (see Appendix B). ter meters on the water supply lines to each
In ULFT rebate programs the property apartment. The meters track the water con-
owner is typically responsible for the toilet sumption of each unit, and the residents are
installation costs. Rebates currently offered responsible for their own water bills. Water Courtesy of
is thus billed according to the amount Neptune Meters
range from $40 to $100 per toilet. For ex-
O V E R V I E W O F R E T R O F I T S T R AT E G I E S 7
RETROFIT STRATEGIES
C O N S E RVAT I O N
consumed — the same fashion that electric- month per unit. Some states, such as Texas,
ity and gas have been billed for years. do not allow the operation and maintenance
costs to be passed on to the residents. Texas
There may be regulations on local or state
also requires either direct utility metering or
water codes that prohibit sub-metering. The
submetering for all apartment units con-
states of Massachusetts and New Jersey, for
structed after January 1, 2003.
example, explicitly prohibit submetering; reg-
ulations are pending in North Carolina. The volume of water saved by the imple-
Some municipalities do not allow submeter- mentation of a submetering system, if any,
ing even if their state water codes do: the city will depend on the cost of water and socioe-
of Augusta does not allow submetering, al- conomic and demographic factors (location,
though the state of Georgia does. The regula- income level, age of residents, etc.). The wa-
tory environment is summarized in Appendix ter savings may vary considerably from one
C. Property owners are urged to verify cur- location to another. One realty company
rent regulations at the local and state level, that owns over 75,000 apartment units
because they will change over time. throughout the country reported average
water savings between 20 and 30 percent of
Property owners have several options when
total use. A submetering study in Seattle did
considering a submetering system:
not record any savings. Reports of minimal
■ Hire a large company with offices na-
savings may be due to the limited conserva-
tionwide
tion options available to residents: fuller
■ Hire a local contractor specialized in sub-
loads in dishwasher, shorter showers, better
metering services
leak reporting. More reliable data may soon
■ Implement the systems on their own, as
be available from an ongoing (2002) na-
some of the larger property owners have
done tional submetering study sponsored by sev-
eral water utilities.
■ Request direct utility metering at apart-
ment units
■ Use a combination of the above.
OUTDOOR WATER USE
The cost of implementing a submeter- Outdoor retrofit strategies involve improv-
ing system may vary among regions of ing irrigation efficiency and limiting outside
the country and even from one prop- water uses. Seven effective means of reduc-
erty to the next. The way water piping ing water consumption are described below.
is laid out in a building can impact
costs. The total cost must also include
Eliminate Narrow Turf Strips
the billing and collection processes, The volume of water saved by eliminating
handling of customer complaints, in- narrow strips of turf will depend on the size
creased maintenance requirements, of the area in question and the material that
and interaction with the local water replaces the lawn: paving/gravel (no water
utility. Based on limited data, imple- use), or plants/shrubs (some water use).
mentation costs may range between $225 Water savings and costs must be estimated
and $500 per unit. Operation and mainte- on a case-by-case basis.
nance costs may fall between $2 and $3 per
8
RETROFIT STRATEGIES
A study conducted in Novato, California, cost about $50 per month. If waste-
showed narrow strips of turf required about water charges are based on indoor wa-
four times the amount of water per square ter use, separate meters will have a very
foot applied on larger turf areas. Actual wa- quick payback.
ter savings will vary in different parts of the
country. Property owners should consult Install Soil Moisture or
landscaping and gardening professionals to Rain Sensors
assess water conservation potential.
The Handbook for Water Use and
Reduce Lawn Areas Conservation (Vickers, 2001) estimates
that use of soil moisture sensors/probes or
Smaller lawns save water and may reduce rain sensors can save 5 to 10 percent of water
maintenance costs. This is particularly true used outdoors, provided the oisture/rainfall
in arid and semi-arid areas where the volume data are used to adjust irrigation schedules.
of water used in irrigation can represent a This estimate must be applied on a case-by-
significant proportion of the total water case basis in multi-family properties.
consumption.
The cost of implementing moisture or rain
The water savings and costs associated with sensors will vary depending on the type and
reducing lawn areas depend on the size of quality of devices used. Rain sensors typi-
the area in question and the material that re- cally cost around $25; installation may take
places the lawn: paving/gravel, or plants/ an hour of plumber time and maintenance
shrubs. Water savings from a reduction in costs are minimal. Moisture sensors can
turf areas would only accrue during the pe- range from $10 for a simple resistance probe
riod the lawn is irrigated. to $75 or more for a tensiometer, a device
that measures soil moisture tension by quan-
Use Separate Water Meters tifying the amount of water a plant can draw
While the meters themselves do not save wa- from the soil.
ter, property owner/manager appreciation of
Install Special Hose Bibs
the amounts of water used for common ar-
eas may prompt them to implement one or Hose bibs or outdoor faucets may be retro-
more measures to improve outdoor water fitted with attachments that require a special
use efficiency. Reductions in water use of 5 key to use the outlet. The retrofit costs un-
to 10 percent from the use of separate me- der $10 and may be installed in a few min-
ters are feasible, although actual savings utes by a plumber or handyman.
need to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
The volume of water saved by restricting use
The cost of installing separate meters de- of outdoor faucets/hose bibs will be site spe-
pends on the size of the meters. Installation cific. Properties where tenants frequently
charges may be around $100. The water wash cars on the premises would benefit
utility generally charges a monthly fee per most from implementation of this strategy.
meter; a 2-inch meter may cost between $10 Water use can be reduced by 50 percent or
and $20 per month; a 4-inch meter may more at each retrofitted hose bib.
O V E R V I E W O F R E T R O F I T S T R AT E G I E S 9
RETROFIT STRATEGIES
C O N S E RVAT I O N
10
RETROFIT STRATEGIES
falling on roofs and grounds for direct use ally charge between $2 and $4 per gallon of
and storage; water may be collected or har- storage for the installation of a complete
vested from concrete patios, driveways and rainwater harvesting system including under-
other paved areas. The water is typically used ground concrete tank, pump, valves, piping,
for landscape irrigation and/or toilet flushing. and catchment appurtenances. Systems with
Successful implementation of large-scale above ground storage or with polyethilene or
rainwater harvesting systems relies on several fiberglass tanks would be less expensive
factors. Most important is a suitable climate (from $0.40 to $1 per gallon of storage).
that affords periodic rainfall throughout the Multi-family properties are likely to require
year; low rainfall and/or extended dry peri- in excess of 10,000 gallons of storage.
ods limit the reliability and effectiveness of a Rainwater collection systems that provide
rainwater harvesting system. The most eco- water for toilet flushing as well as landscape
nomically viable systems are likely to have irrigation will save more water and cost con-
small storage capacities that supplement siderably more. Separate piping has to be
rather than replace water supplies from local provided from the storage tank to every toilet
utilities. on the property. This requires a significant
The costs of rainwater collection systems investment in the re-plumbing of the build-
vary from one location to another and de- ing. Properties about to be renovated and
pend on the situation and life of the system. new properties, however, may be able to add
Contractors in New Mexico and Texas gener- the additional piping at a relatively low cost.
O V E R V I E W O F R E T R O F I T S T R AT E G I E S 11
RETROFIT STRATEGIES
C O N S E RVAT I O N
Gray Water Recycling The costs of gray water systems vary, de-
pending on the size and complexity of the
Gray water recycling systems consist of de- system. Costs may range from $3,000–
vices attached to the plumbing system for $5,000 per housing unit for systems that
Gray water the sanitary distribution or use of gray water provide enough water to cover irrigation
means untreated waste- (water from bathroom sinks, showers, and needs. Property owners should consult de-
water which has not clothes washers). These systems require sign professionals to define the size and
been contaminated by pipes separate from the potable water pip- complexity of recycling systems that meet
any toilet discharge, ing, as well as valves, filters, pumps, and their needs, and to assess the return period
has not been affected treatment facilities.
by infectious, contami-
of their potential investment in gray water
nated, or unhealthy Permits are required in most states for the recycling systems.
bodily wastes, and implementation of gray water systems, usu-
Hybrid Systems
which does not present ally from local or county authorities. The
a threat from contami- primary concern of regulators and health of- Hybrid systems use both rainwater and ef-
nation by unhealthful ficials is that gray water may result in water fluent from bathroom sinks, showers, and
processing, manufactur- quality problems that pose a threat to public clothes washers as their source of water. The
ing, or operating health. Regulations invariably prohibit gray source water is typically treated and then
wastes.
water systems from being connected to distributed to irrigation systems and/or toi-
The California Water potable water systems and typically preclude lets. Hybrid systems discharge excess water
Code (Section 14875- the use of water containing hazardous wastes to the sewer.
14877.3) or water that comes from the soiling of dia-
As with simple recycling systems, the hybrid
pers or similar garments.
systems require permits from local health
authorities. Many states allow only under-
ground irrigation with gray water to prevent
human contact with the water.
Hybrid systems can be more cost effective
than simple recycling or rainwater collection
systems. Once the treatment facilities and
related equipment needed for recycling is in
place, the rainwater collection portion of the
system can be added at a relatively low cost.
Property owners should consult design pro-
fessionals to evaluate the desirability of in-
stalling a hybrid gray water system in their
facilities.
12
SELECTING
RETROFIT STRATEGIES
A variety of reasons may motivate property WATER USE ASSESSMENT
owners/managers to conserve water:
■ Contribute to the protection of a valued Is your multi-family property conserving or
natural resource non-conserving in terms of water use? If you
■ Avoid potential water shortages in the don’t know for certain, the property is most
future likely non-conserving. The determining fac-
■ Save money. tor is the water bill. An examination of wa-
ter bills and a few simple calculations can
Retrofit strategies also may select themselves.
settle the issue.
If toilets in a multi-family building are over 20
years old and managers are constantly receiv- Water and sewer bills come in many sizes Useful Water
ing complaints about malfunctions and leaks and formats. To assess water use it is impor- Units
the time may be right to replace them. Or tant to determine:
■ Number of days in billing cycle: Most
1 cubic foot (cf) =
clothes washers in the laundry room may be
utilities bill either monthly or bi- 7.48 gallons
out of order and beyond repair. Perhaps low
water pressure in the building points to the monthly; assume 30 days in the billing 1 ccf (commonly used
need for a major overhaul of the water piping. cycle if billed monthly, 60 days if billed by water utilities as
bi-monthly. “one unit”) = 100 cf =
Reacting to a clear need to upgrade water- ■ Volume of water used per billing cycle: 748 gallons
using fixtures and appliances is as valid a Water utilities use either hundreds of cu- 1 liter = 0.26 gallons
reason as any to retrofit and conserve water. bic feet (ccf ) or thousands of gallons as
In some instances, however, retrofitting may the units of measurement to record vol-
present clear advantages even without the ume of water used.
pressing need to upgrade. ■ Is there a separate meter for outdoor
O V E R V I E W O F R E T R O F I T S T R AT E G I E S 13
SELECTING RETROFIT STRATEGIES
C O N S E RVAT I O N
approximation of outdoor water use, assum- ence in per capita water usage between win-
ing the property is not irrigated during win- ter and summer months may be attributed
ter months (not always the case in southern to outdoor uses for purposes of obtaining a
states). rough estimate of water use.
More accurate calculations require knowl- Resident-related (indoor) water use may be
edge of the number of building residents qualified as shown in Table 1, below.
(water users) in a given time period. If these
Use of water for landscape irrigation is more
figures are not available, the average number
difficult to qualify, as it depends not only on
of residents over the past few years may be
the efficiency of irrigation systems but also
used to approximate per capita water usage.
on the extent of the facilities. A property
Following are some basic calculations to
with extensive lawns and gardens may use
help assess specific properties.
significant volumes of water even if irrigated
Daily water use for the property = (Number very efficiently.
of ccf in water bill) x 748 / (Number of days
Property owners should consult with their
in billing cycle)
water utility regarding outdoor water audits,
Daily per capita use = Daily water use for or contact a landscaping professional in their
the property / Number of residents area. Many utilities offer audit services free
of charge. The audit involves the physical
The per capita water usage should be calcu-
inspection of the facilities by a utility repre-
lated for several billing cycles, including
sentative who can identify areas in need of
summer and winter periods. The per capita
water-efficiency improvements, recommend
usage in winter months is likely to reflect in-
changes to landscaping, and review irriga-
door water usage. Buildings with no land-
tion practices and procedures.
scaping or significant outdoor water uses
should show similar per capita volumes year-
round. Buildings with significant outdoor INDOOR WATER USES
water uses should show higher water use Strategies may be selected on the basis of
during summer months (except, as previ- property owner preference, conditions spe-
ously noted, in southern states). The differ- cific to the property (for example, toilets
need replacement anyway), availability of re-
Table 1—Indoor Water Use Assessment bates from water utilities, or availability of
special discounts on high volume purchases.
GPCD WATER USE ASSESSMENT The right retrofit strategies may also become
(Gallons per capita per day) apparent from an analysis of the fixtures in
Under 30 Highly efficient water use, no place and the ones that may potentially re-
conservation potential place them.
30-50 Efficient water use, some con- A simplified analysis can be conducted by
servation potential if closer to
filling out Table 2 on the following page.
50 gpcd
Over 50 Non-conserving water use, defi-
The payback periods on Line 13 should be
nite conservation potential evaluated in light of the longevity of the wa-
14
SELECTING RETROFIT STRATEGIES
1. Flush volume in gallons per flush (gpf) _____ gpf _____ gpm _____ gpm _____ g/load
for existing toilets; flow rate in gallons
per minute (gpm) for existing faucets
and showerheads; average water use
per load for existing clothes washers
2. Flush volume, flow rate, or use per load _____ gpf _____ gpm _____ gpm _____ g/load
for water conserving replacements or
toilet inserts
3. Potential reduction in water use _____ gpf _____ gpm _____ gpm _____ g/load
(Subtract Line 2 from Line 1)
4. Daily use for each device (number of _____ flushes _____ min _____ min _____ loads
flushes for toilets; number of minutes
for faucets and showerheads; loads per
day for washers)
7. Total ccf of water saved per year* ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________
(Multiply Line 5 by Line 6 by 0.488)
8. Cost of water per ccf (from water bill)* ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________
9. Dollars saved per year (Multiple Lines 7 ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________
and 8)
12. Net costs (Subtract Line 11 from ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________
Line 10)
13. Payback period in years (Divide Line 12 ___________ ___________ ___________ ___________
by Line 9)
O V E R V I E W O F R E T R O F I T S T R AT E G I E S 15
SELECTING RETROFIT STRATEGIES
C O N S E RVAT I O N
ter savings obtained from the various conser- place and recording the lowest depth of wa-
vation measures. New toilets may be ex- ter during the flushing process. The differ-
pected to have a useful life of about 20 ence between the full and near-empty tank
years; toilet inserts, however, may last five depths is the height of the water column.
years or less. Faucet aerators and low-flow
To determine flush volume:
showerheads may have a useful life of about
ten years. Clothes washers may last 12 years Multiply the height of the water column
(in-unit) or less (laundry areas). by the tank width and length (all in
inches), and then by 0.0043 to convert
The table may yield some results that require
the result to gallons per flush.
additional investigation, and the following
guidelines are provided to facilitate this re- This measured flush volume is not exact, as
search process. Property owners may be able it does not take into account the water that
to obtain some of the required data from a enters the tank as the toilet is being flushed.
water audit conducted by their water utility. The measurement is sufficiently accurate,
however, for purposes of estimating conser-
Toilet Flush Volumes vation potential, particularly in light of the
fact that several other approximations have
Existing toilets are most likely of the gravity-
to be made.
flush type, that is, they have a tank that dis-
charges water into a bowl after a handle is Ideally all toilets on the property are alike
pulled down. Other types include toilets and one measurement of flush volume will
with pressure-assisted flush and units with suffice. If there are different makes and
flushometer valves, such as the ones found models of toilets, more than one measure-
in airports or commercial buildings. ment may be required. An average flush vol-
ume for all toilets in the building should be
Some gravity flush toilets use over 5 gallons
entered in Table 2.
of water per flush, others use less. The ultra-
low flush type (ULFTs), use 1.6 gallons per The flush volume after retrofits should be
flush or less. If the property already has verified with the manufacturers of the vari-
ULFTs there is no need to consider any toi- ous devices. The following values serve as
let retrofit strategy. If older toilets with general guidelines:
larger flush volumes are in place, their flush ■ Use 1.6 gallons per flush for new toilets
16
SELECTING RETROFIT STRATEGIES
O V E R V I E W O F R E T R O F I T S T R AT E G I E S 17
SELECTING RETROFIT STRATEGIES
C O N S E RVAT I O N
■ Toilets are flushed roughly 5 times per age number of people per apartment and
person per day (Residential End Uses of multiply it by 0.37 (or other number judged
Water, a study conducted in 1999 for the appropriate to the site in question) to obtain
American Water Works Association, the number of loads per day. If the property
found an average of 5.05 flushes per per- has common area washers, take the number
son per day from measurements in close of residents in the entire property and multi-
to 1,200 single-family homes). If an
ply it by 0.1 to obtain the number of loads
apartment houses two people and has
for all common area machines. Then divide
one toilet, the toilet would be flushed 10
times per day. that number by the number of machines to
obtain the “loads per washer.”
■ Faucet use in apartments may be around
close to 6 minutes per person per day water consumption. Some properties may be
(from the same 1993 multi-family study able to implement all of the seven outdoor
in Seattle). retrofit strategies presented in this guide-
■ Clothes washer use differs markedly be-
book. Others may be limited by the charac-
tween in-unit machines and washers in teristics of their water use to one or two of
common laundry areas. them.
A 2001 study for the Multi-housing If it were feasible to implement the seven
Laundry Association found that the volume retrofit strategies outlined in the previous
of water used for laundry per apartment unit section of this guidebook, in what order of
was almost four times higher in properties preference should they be considered?
that had in-unit clothes washers. Dwellers Again, the analysis may differ from one re-
apparently adjust their laundry habits when gion of the country to another, and property
they have to use common area washers. In- owners are urged to consult with landscap-
unit washers possibly handle between 0.3 ing and water conservation professionals in
and 0.4 loads per person per day their area. A research paper sponsored by
(Residential End Uses of Water found a usage HUD, Retrofit Water Conservation Strategies
of 0.37 loads per person per day in single- for Multi Family Housing (available online at
family homes). Common area washers may www.pathnet.org/publications/water.pdf)
handle about 0.1 loads per person per day suggests the following rankings:
(from the Toronto study). So what number 1. Eliminate narrow strips of turf
should be entered for number of loads of 2. Reduce lawn areas
washing in the fourth row of Table 2? If the 3. Use separate meters for outdoor water
property has in-unit washers, take the aver- uses
18
SELECTING RETROFIT STRATEGIES
save any water themselves; they do pro- Rainwater collection for both landscaping
mote conservation by helping property and toilet flushing has been implemented at
owners appreciate the volumes of water a number of facilities in the United States,
used outdoors. primarily office buildings. Among them:
■ Soil moisture and rain sensors are only ef-
■ The King Street Center in Seattle,
fective if the information derived from Washington, a 327,000 square feet office
them is used to adjust watering schedules. building, uses a rainwater collection sys-
■ Restriction of outdoor uses such as car tem for toilet-flushing water.
washing is likely to elicit a negative re- ■ The Chesapeake Bay Foundation build-
sponse from residents upon its introduc- ing in Annapolis, Maryland, features
tion; some properties have dealt with this rooftop cisterns that capture rainwater
issue by offering discount coupons usable for hand washing and fire suppression.
at local car washes. ■ The U.S. Navy Energy Showcase build-
■ Drip irrigation systems significantly re-
ing at the Naval Construction Battalion
duce water use, but also increase mainte- Center in Port Hueneme, California,
nance requirements. uses rainwater for irrigation.
O V E R V I E W O F R E T R O F I T S T R AT E G I E S 19
SELECTING RETROFIT STRATEGIES
C O N S E RVAT I O N
One multi-family property, a triplex owned tem with a 5,000-gallon storage tank could
by a builder in Seattle, Washington, has in- cost about $20,000 and have limited use in
stalled a rainwater collection system that locations where rainfall is not distributed
provides water for toilet flushing with the evenly throughout the year. For the same
intent of evaluating this technology for $20,000 a property owner would be able to
wider scale use in new construction. install a hybrid system capable of treating
over 100 gallons per day year round. On the
Gray water recycling systems have been im-
other hand, a gray water system without
plemented in multi-family properties in
rainwater collection would cost roughly the
Ottawa and North Vancouver, Canada.
same as a hybrid system. The incremental
Some properties in the United States have
costs of collecting rainwater from rooftop
installed dual piping upon construction to
and driveway catchments are relatively
use gray water in the future for toilet flush-
small.
ing. The EcoVillage Cohousing Cooperative
in Ithaca, New York, is one such property. The cost of installing gray water systems is
relatively high when compared to the cost of
Hybrid systems using both rainwater collec-
other retrofit strategies. Certain site-specific
tion and recycling of gray water for toilet
conditions, however, could favor the selec-
flushing have yet to make an appearance in
tion of such a system:
multi-family housing, although they are
■ Water is extremely scarce and expensive
more cost effective than systems that have
■ There are severe limitations on waste-
rainwater collection or gray water recycling
alone. The cost effectiveness of such systems water discharges
■ The volume of water used for irrigation
may be enhanced in places where the water
storage tanks (the most expensive compo- is over 20 percent of the total water use
■ Internal plumbing is such that retro-
nent of the system after the separate plumb-
ing of toilets) can serve multiple purposes fitting toilet piping is relatively easy
such as detention storage to reduce flooding ■ The property is required to store water
and erosion from storm water discharges. for flood and erosion control purposes
■ Local utilities offer rebates for the instal-
Which gray water system, if any, is right for lation of gray water systems.
a property? A hybrid system that includes
both rainwater collection and gray water re- Property owners are advised to check local
cycling is likely to be the most advanta- health regulations and water codes before
geous. A rainwater collection system by itself consideration of gray water systems. A list-
will have limited use and a relatively high ing of applicable statutes is included in
cost of up to $4 per gallon of storage. A sys- Appendix D.
20
RETROFIT SAVINGS
AND COST
When properly implemented and main- proponents of selected retrofit strategies, and
tained, the strategies discussed in this guide- research organizations. Studies of multi-
book are very likely to conserve water and family properties and single-family homes
lower water, sewer, and power bills. An ini- were examined.
tial, sometimes significant investment of
None of the estimates has universal applica-
time and money is required to obtain the
bility, but are included to serve as a guide in
water savings. Money spent on retrofits can
the preliminary evaluation of the merits of
sometimes be recovered within two years
retrofit strategies in multi-family properties.
and in other cases over a longer time frame.
Other important points to note:
Quantifying water savings and implementa-
■ The table includes water savings in gal-
tion costs is difficult. The physical condi-
lons per year. For indoor and outdoor
tions affecting retrofit strategies change from water uses involving devices, the savings
one property to the next. Labor and material are per device (toilet, faucet, showerhead,
costs can also vary markedly from one re- clothes washer). For outdoor water uses
gion to another. These challenges are com- involving irrigation the savings are per
pounded by the lack of studies in multi- thousand square feet of area irrigated 30
family settings with results that are applica- inches per year.
ble at the national level. ■ Estimated implementation costs include
O V E R V I E W O F R E T R O F I T S T R AT E G I E S 21
RETROFIT SAVINGS AND COSTS
C O N S E RVAT I O N
22
REFERENCES
Ayres Associates. October 1993. The Impact of Water Conserving Plumbing Fixtures on
Institutional and Multi-Family Water Use, Case Studies of Two Sites in Tampa, Florida. Report
prepared for the City of Tampa Water Department, Water Conservation Section.
Baxter, J. W., Bowen, P. T., Harp, J. F., and Shull, R. D. 1993. Residential Water Use Patterns.
American Water Works Association Research Foundation.
California Urban Water Conservation Council. As amended September 21, 2000. Memorandum Of
Understanding: Urban Water Conservation in California.
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. 1999. Multi-Residential High Efficiency Clothes
Washer Pilot Project: Metro Toronto. Improving Quality and Affordability.
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. April 2000. Water Conservation Case Studies:
Quayside Village. Improving Quality and Affordability.
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. August 2000. Water Conservation Case Studies:
Conservation Co-op. Improving Quality and Affordability.
Currie, J.W., Hillman, T.C., Parker, G.B., and Sullivan, G.P. December 2000. Southern California
Edison High-Performance Clothes Washer Demonstration at Leisure World Laguna Woods. Final
Report submitted to Southern California Edison Company by Battelle Pacific Northwest
Laboratory.
Deoreo, W.B., Dietemann, A., Skeel, T., Mayer, P.W., Lewis, D.M., and Smith J. March 2001.
Retrofit Realities. Journal of the American Water Works Association.
East Bay Municipal Utility District, Water Conservation Division, Oakland, California. October
2001. Water Conservation Market Penetration Study. Prepared by Water Resources Engineering,
Inc., San Francisco, California.
Florida Native Plants. Plant List & Prices. Retrieved December 17, 2001, from http://www.flori-
danativeplants.com/pricelist/pricelist_1.html
O V E R V I E W O F R E T R O F I T S T R AT E G I E S 23
REFERENCES
C O N S E RVAT I O N
Flory, B.E. and Dietemann, A. 1992. An Analysis of Seattle’s Multifamily Retrofit Pilot Program.
Proceedings of the American Water Works Association 1992 Annual Conference, June 18–22,
1992, Vancouver, British Columbia.
Goodman, J. June 1999. Water Conservation from User Charges in Multifamily Rental Housing.
Presented at the mid-year meeting of the American Real Estate and Urban Economics Association.
Hill, S. and Skeel, T. Modified June 2000. Evaluation of Savings From Seattle’s Home Water Saver
Apartment/Condominium Program. Seattle Public Utilities.
Jenkins, J. July 1999. Humanure Handbook: A Guide to Composting Human Manure. Jenkins
Publishing Grove City, PA.
Konen, T. and Anderson, D.L. March 1993. The Impact of Water Conserving Plumbing Fixtures on
Residential Water Use Characteristics: A Case Study in Tampa, Florida. Report prepared for the
City of Tampa Water Department, Water Conservation Section, by Stevens Institute of Technology
and Ayres Associates.
Koplow, D. and Lownie, A. June 1999. Submetering, RUBS, and Water Conservation. Report pre-
pared for the National Apartment Association and the National Multi Housing Council by Industrial
Economics, Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Mayer, P. W., et al. 1999. Residential End Uses of Water. American Water Works Association
Research Foundation.
Mayer, P.W. and DeOreo, W.B. 1995. Process Approach for Measuring Residential Water Use and
Assessing Conservation Effectiveness. Journal of the American Water Works Association.
National Multi Housing Council. 2000. Capital Improvements to Apartments - Projections for
States and Metro Areas.
National Research Center. March 2001. A National Study of Laundry-Water Use in Multi-Housing.
National Water & Power. September 2001. Current Legal Status of Water and Sewer Submetering,
Allocation and Billing For Apartment Properties in the United States. Working Draft Paper.
Native Here Nursery. Project of California Native Plant Society. Retrieved December 17, 2001,
from http://www.ebcnps.org/ebRPD/Home.htm
Nelson, J.O. October 1992. Water Audit Encourages Residents to Reduce Consumption.
Management and Operations Journal, AWWA.
Nelson, J.O. and Kruta, J.C. June 1994. Water Saved by Single-Family Xeriscapes. American Water
Works National Conference.
24
REFERENCES
New England Wild Flower Society Native Here Nursery. Retrieved December 17, 2001, from
http://www.newfs.org
New Mexico Office of the State Engineer. July 1999. A Water Conservation Guide for Commercial,
Institutional and Industrial Users. Water Use and Conservation Bureau.
New Mexico Office of the State Engineer. March 2001. A Water Conservation Guide For Public
Utilities. Water Use and Conservation Bureau.
Tomlinson, J. J. and Rizy, D. T. March 1998. Bern Clothes Washers Study. Prepared by the Energy
Division of Oakridge National Laboratory for the U.S. Department of Energy.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. March 2002. Retrofit Water Conservation
Strategies for Multi-Family Housing. A Technical Memorandum prepared by Water Resources
Engineering, Inc., San Francisco, California.
Vickers, Amy. 2001. Handbook of Water Use and Conservation. Waterplow Press. Amherst,
Massachusetts.
O V E R V I E W O F R E T R O F I T S T R AT E G I E S 25
APPENDICES
APPENDIX A.
HOW MUCH WATER IS USED INDOORS?
O V E R V I E W O F R E T R O F I T S T R AT E G I E S 27
APPENDIX A
C O N S E RVAT I O N
load or wash cycle) ment per day, or 7 minutes per faucet for
Dishwasher (gallons per day 10.0 5.0
a two-faucet apartment, based on 1993
per cycle)
Seattle study. This is close to the 8.1
minutes per person per day recorded in
Leaks (gallons per person 3.4 0.0 Residential End Uses of Water for single
per day family houses.
■ Clothes washer usage: The average
28
APPENDIX B
APPENDIX B.
WATER CONSERVATION INCENTIVES
Below are 27 localities that currently (or recently) offer water conservation incentives.
Incentives change over time, so check with your local water utility for the most recent listing.
O V E R V I E W O F R E T R O F I T S T R AT E G I E S 29
APPENDIX B
C O N S E RVAT I O N
credit of $0.25 for every square foot of ■ Clothes Washers: Up to $250 rebate for
qualifying landscape, to a maximum re- replacing standard washers with high ef-
bate of $700. Low-and medium-water- ficiency washers; this rebate applies to
use plants must cover fifty percent of the washers that are installed in common
project area at maturity. An inspector area laundry rooms.
must approve the application before com- ■ Wash-Wise Program: Up to $100 re-
tween 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. April through up to $500 on the cost of installing a
October. rainwater harvesting system.
■ A modest summer rate surcharge is added ■ Information on gray water systems.
numbered addresses may use water water rate is based on peak and off-peak
outdoors on odd-numbered days, even- times of year.
numbered addresses on even-numbered ■ Revised Plumbing Code will require all
30
APPENDIX B
■ In 2003, a Texas state law will take effect ■ High Bill Inspection (HBI) Program:
requiring all water utilities to directly Indoor and outdoor water audits offered
meter or submeter on all new properties. to customers concerned about high bills.
■ Submetering: Information about subme-
Boston, Massachusetts tering systems is made available to cus-
■ Water conservation kits offered free to tomers on request; implementation is up
customers and include a low-flow show- to the customer.
erhead, two faucet aerators, one toilet
tank dam, and leak detection dye tablets. Corvallis, Oregon
■ Outdoor Water Use Efficiency: The ■ Perform water audits and give out water
Massachusetts Water Resources savings fixtures (showerheads, faucet aera-
Authority offers informational materials tors, toilet flappers, and toilet displace-
to customers. ment devices).
■ Clothes Washer Rebate Program: Offers
Cary, North Carolina $50 for the purchase and installation of a
■ Reclaimed Water System: Provides non- high efficiency clothes washer.
potable reclaimed water for irrigation ■ ULFT Rebate Program: $25 rebate.
O V E R V I E W O F R E T R O F I T S T R AT E G I E S 31
APPENDIX B
C O N S E RVAT I O N
32
APPENDIX B
O V E R V I E W O F R E T R O F I T S T R AT E G I E S 33
APPENDIX B
C O N S E RVAT I O N
34
APPENDIX B
low-flow showerheads and faucet aera- rigation systems must include a rain
tors; aerators and low-flow showerheads sensor
remain available to apartment buildings
free of charge upon request Tempe, Arizona
■ Water conservation kits that include a
Tampa Bay, Florida low-flow showerhead, 2 faucet aerators, a
■ Toilet Rebate Program: Rebates to cus- toilet dam, a toilet tummy, toilet tank
tomers who replace high flush toilets bank, leak detection tablets, Teflon tape
with ULFT’s; up to $100 for first toilet, to install showerhead, and a water dis-
$80 for second, and $60 for third; re- placement bag
bates are per apartment unit ■ Rebates for ultra-low flush toilets
O V E R V I E W O F R E T R O F I T S T R AT E G I E S 35
APPENDIX C
C O N S E RVAT I O N
APPENDIX C.
SUBMETERING REGULATIONS
36
Submetering Regulations, Page 1 of 3
IS SUBMETERING A P P L I C A B L E S T AT E IS IT LEGAL TO ADD FEES TO A R E T H E R E R U L E S T H AT G O V E R N
S T AT E LEGAL? R E G U L AT I O N S / R E G U L AT O R Y A G E N C Y R E S I D E N T ’ S W AT E R B I L L ? S U B M E T E R I N G AT T H E L O C A L L E V E L ?
ALABAMA Yes Public Service Commission does not have author- No known prohibitions on fees -
ity to regulate submetering
ALASKA Yes - - -
ARIZONA Yes Arizona Residential Landlord Tenant Act Recovery of administrative costs allowed -
ARKANSAS Yes Public Service Commission No Permission from the City required in Little Rock
CALIFORNIA Yes The California Public Utilities Commission has Yes Check local regulations. The cities of Petaluma,
not typically regulated owners who provide water San Bruno, Santa Clara, and Vacaville specifi-
to residents cally prohibit resale of water.
COLORADO Yes Property owners may be subject to regulation by Fees not allowed for gas and electricity, -
the Public Utilities Commission not specifically prohibited for water.
CONNECTICUT Yes Private water companies are regulated by the Through permission from Department of -
Department of Public Utility Control Public Utility Control
DELAWARE Yes Delaware Residential Landlord-Tenant Code Pass-through rule must be complied with Encouraged in Newark
FLORIDA Yes in jurisdictions con- Public Service Commission has jurisdiction over State does not prohibit fees, some local Check local regulations. The cities of Margate,
trolled by Public Service about half the counties in the state authorities do New Smyrna Beach, Pinellas County, and West
Commission Palm Beach specifically prohibit submetering.
GEORGIA Yes Code of Georgia Yes if stated in lease Augusta/Richmond County prohibits resale of wa-
ter
HAWAII Yes - - -
IDAHO Not specifically prohibited Public Utilities Commission does not regulate - -
submetering
ILLINOIS Yes Illinois Tenant Utility Payment Disclosure Act No Napierville, Springfield, and areas served by the
Northern Illinois Service Company prohibit sub-
metering
KANSAS No specific laws address Landlord Tenant Act Yes if stated in lease Specifically prohibited in Olathe
submetering but legality
of submetering is implied
LOUISIANA Unclear Unclear whether Public Service Commission per- - Baton Rouge has indicated they will not permit
mits submetering submetering
MASSACHUSETTS No; recently introduced bill Department of Public Health has indicated that No -
may allow submetering landlords are required to provide water to tenants
at no charge
NEW HAMPSHIRE Yes, as long as the owner Public Utility Commission Yes -
is not supplying water to
the general public
NEW MEXICO Yes Landlord Tenant Law/ Public Utility Commission Yes -
NEW YORK Yes None Yes Specifically prohibited in the Town of Webster,
Village of Webster, and Suffolk County
NORTH CAROLINA Yes Utilities Commission Yes, with $2/month limit Specifically prohibited in Fayetteville, High Point,
and Washington.
OKLAHOMA Yes State Water Law Owners may pass 10% of cost per billing -
cycle to tenant
PENNSYLVANIA Yes Pennsylvania Water Law Yes, as long as the pass-through rule is -
followed
Submetering Regulations, Page 3 of 3
IS SUBMETERING A P P L I C A B L E S T AT E IS IT LEGAL TO ADD FEES TO A R E T H E R E R U L E S T H AT G O V E R N
S T AT E R E G U L AT I O N S / R E G U L AT O R Y A G E N C Y R E S I D E N T ’ S W AT E R B I L L ? S U B M E T E R I N G AT T H E L O C A L L E V E L ?
LEGAL?
RHODE ISLAND Yes Rhode Island Water Law Yes -
TENNESSEE Not specifically prohibited Tennessee Regulatory Authority Yes Specifically prohibited in Jackson
TEXAS Yes Texas Natural Resources Conservation No A city code in Waco may be interpreted to prohibit
Commission submetering
VIRGINIA Yes Virginia State Corporation Commission Meter reading fees prohibited, billing Check locally
fees limited to $2/month
C O N S E RVAT I O N
APPENDIX D.
GRAY WATER REGULATIONS
Permits are required in most states for the allow flow from one system to enter the
implementation of gray water systems, usu- other). Regulations typically preclude the
ally from local or county authorities. Thirty- use of water containing hazardous wastes or
six states have explicit gray water water that comes from the soiling of diapers
regulations, as noted on the table that fol- or similar garments. Storage tanks for gray
lows. The primary concern of regulators and water usually require a cover. Some regula-
health officials is that gray water may result tions also address maintenance require-
in water quality problems that pose a threat ments. Some of the location-specific
to public health. Regulations invariably pro- limitations/constraints are listed in the table
hibit gray water systems from being con- that follows, compiled from 1999 data in
nected to potable water systems; the Humanure Handbook: A Guide to
cross-connections are typically avoided with Composting - Appendix 3–State Regulations-
air-gaps (a physical opening to the atmos- Gray Water (Jenkins, 1996).
phere between the two systems that does not
40
APPENDIX D
S T AT E A P P L I C A B L E S T AT E / C O D E L I M I T AT I O N S / C O N S T R A I N T S
Alabama State Health Board, Chapter 420-3- An effluent distribution line of 50 linear feet shall
1; 402-3-1.27 be used to dispose of gray water.
Alaska Alaska Administration Code 72.990 None
defines gray water
Arizona Arizona Department of Gray water may be used only for drip or flood irri-
Environmental Quality Bulletin gation, not for spray irrigation; system requires
Number 12; Arizona Administration approval by Arizona Department of Environmental
Code Title 18, Chapter 9, Article 7. Quality.
Arkansas Department of Health Alternative Case-by-case
Systems Manual
California California Administration Code Gray water may be used only for subsurface irriga-
(Uniform Plumbing Code), tion; administrative authority must approve
Appendix G system.
Colorado Department of Public Health, Gray water systems shall meet at least all mini-
Chapter 25, Article 10 mum design and construction standards for septic
tank systems based on the amount and character
of wastes for the fixtures and the number of
persons served.
Connecticut Public Health Code Section 19-13- Shall be constructed with a septic tank and leach-
B103b and f; Technical Standards. ing system at least one-half the capacity specified
for the required residential sewage disposal
system.
Delaware No existing regulations None
Florida Title XXIX, of the Florida The minimum effective capacity of the gray water
Administrative Code, Public Health retention tank shall be 250 gallons, with such
Chapter 381.0065 system receiving not more than 75 gallons of flow
per day.
Georgia Rules of the Department of Human The minimum effective capacity of the gray water
Resources, Public Health, Chapter retention tank shall be 500 gallons.
290-5-26
Hawaii Hawaii Administrative Rules, Design of gray water systems for dwelling units
Chapter 11-62 shall be based on a minimum gray water flow of
150 gallons per day per bedroom; gray water
tanks, when required, shall be sized with no less
than a 600 gallon capacity.
Idaho IDAPA 16, Title 01, Chapter 03; Current Idaho rules permit gray water systems
Technical Guidance Manual only as experimental systems
Section 10
O V E R V I E W O F R E T R O F I T S T R AT E G I E S 41
APPENDIX D
C O N S E RVAT I O N
S T AT E A P P L I C A B L E S T AT E / C O D E L I M I T AT I O N S / C O N S T R A I N T S
42
APPENDIX D
S T AT E A P P L I C A B L E S T AT E / C O D E L I M I T AT I O N S / C O N S T R A I N T S
Montana Circular WQB 5. Minimum Design Gray water must be disposed of through a septic
Standards for On-Site Alternative tank and drainfield system.
Sewage Treatment and Disposal
Systems
Nebraska Title 124, Rules and Regulations Gray water is defined, but no systems are neces-
for Design, Operation and sarily allowed under Title 124.
Maintenance of Onsite Wastewater
Treatment Systems.
Nevada Nevada Administrative Code A system that uses gray water for underground ir-
444.750 rigation may be used only for a single-family
dwelling (this 1998 statute may have been modi-
fied, as some of Las Vegas largest hotels use gray
water for irrigation).
New Chapter Env-WS 1022 deals with Before an innovative/alternative waste treatment
Hampshire alternative systems system may be used the technology shall be evalu-
ated and approved in an Innovative Technology
Approval
New Jersey New Jersey Administrative Code Administrative authority must approve systems.
7:9A
New Mexico 20 New Mexico Administrative Code System must run through a septic tank and be
7.3 Subpart 1, Part 107.AF used only for subsurface irrigation.
New York Public Health Law 201(1)(1) Gray water systems shall be designed upon a flow
Appendix 75-A of 75 gpd/bedroom.
North Carolina No existing regulations None
North Dakota Chapter 62-03-16-91.6 Gray water systems shall pass through a septic or
other approved sedimentation tank prior to its dis-
charge into soil or other system; surface applica-
tion requires special approval.
Ohio No existing regulations Director of Health approval required; must be
tested to show results of the system are equivalent
to those obtained by sewage disposal.
Oklahoma Oklahoma Administration Code Department of Environmental Quality approval re-
252:640 deals with alternative quired.
systems
Oregon Revised Statute 447.115; Oregon Environmental Quality Commission approval re-
Administration Rules Chapter 340, quired.
Division 71
O V E R V I E W O F R E T R O F I T S T R AT E G I E S 43
APPENDIX D
C O N S E RVAT I O N
S T AT E A P P L I C A B L E S T AT E / C O D E L I M I T AT I O N S / C O N S T R A I N T S
Pennsylvania Title 25, Chapter 73 Liquid wastes, including kitchen and laundry
wastes and water softener backwash, shall be dis-
charged to a treatment tank.
Rhode Island Gray water defined under Chapter None
12-120-002
South No existing regulations, gray water A permit applicant could elect to install separate
Carolina defined under Chapter 61-56 systems to handle gray water.
South Dakota Chapter 74:53:01:10 Design of gray water systems shall be based on a
minimum gray water flow of 25 gallons per day per
person. Three days retention time shall be pro-
vided for each gray water tank.
Tennessee No existing regulations None
Texas Subchapter H: 285.80 Comprehensive state rules have not been adopted.
Each system has to be approved by the city or
county health department
Utah No existing regulations, R317-502- Department of Environmental Quality approval re-
3 deals with alternative systems quired.
Vermont No existing regulations. Innovative Alternative systems are allowed in Vermont only if
systems are regulated under a backup, in ground conventional (septic) system
Chapter 1 of Environmental is installed.
Protection Rules.
Virginia No existing regulations None
Washington Washington Administration Code Gray water may be used for subsurface irrigation
246-272 Section B only.
West Virginia Title 64, Interpretive Rules Board of Those houses served by a gray water disposal sys-
Health, Series 47 tem must have a house sewer of not more than
two inches in diameter. Houses served by gray wa-
ter disposal systems shall not have garbage dis-
posal units. Manufactured gray water disposal
systems must be approved by the director.
Wisconsin No existing regulations None
Wyoming No existing regulations None
44
U.S. D EPARTMENT OF H OUSING AND U RBAN D EVELOPMENT
FIRST-CLASS MAIL
HUD USER POSTAGE & FEES
P.O. Box 6091 PAID
Rockville, MD 20849 HUD
Permit No. G-795
Official Business
Penalty for Private Use $300
May 2002