Can you water your plants with gray water? Used detergent water.
Peoples in California were told to do this during a drought?

Hi future24,

It's important to note that grey water is spelled differently all over
the internet:

These are all the same thing:

"grey water"
greywater
"gray water"
graywater

The State of California has laws on the books permitting the use of
grey water in landscaping, in fact they have a detailed 45 page
booklet about it. Recycling grey water saves everyone money, because
in case you didn't know, you are charged twice for water: First when
you turn onthe tap, second when it goes down the
drain/shower-tub/dishwasher/washing machine/ and toliet. If you
recycle your grey water, you avoid the "down the drain" charge for
every gallon you divert. I used to live in Las Vegas, it's common in
arid areas to encourage residents to use greywater for watering
plants. California has been following suit since 1995 when they
legalized the use of greywater. Now, greywater systems are part of the
plumbing code and homes can actually be plumbed to divert all used
water (except toliet water) to be used for other things, underground
irragation, soakers... There's a 45 page booklet:

Using Graywater in your home landscape
http://www.owue.water.ca.gov/docs/graywater_guide_book.pdf

I found that here:

California Department of Water Resources
http://wwwdwr.water.ca.gov/


State of California - Revised Graywater Standards
http://www.owue.water.ca.gov/docs/Revised_Graywater_Standards.pdf


Here's more resources to educate yourself about the use of gray water

Grey Water Central
http://www.oasisdesign.net/greywater/index.htm
..."Summary: All about all aspects of grey water systems. Why to use
them, how to choose, build and use them, regulations, studies, and
examples. Includes grey water irrigation, grey water treatment, grey
water filters, and indoor grey water reuse..."

Greywater Resources
http://www.oasisdesign.net/greywater/references.htm


Grey Water Information Sites
http://www.crd.bc.ca/water/waterrecycling/greywater/information.htm


Do any of you use Gray Water to water plants 
http://www.mrssurvival.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=UBB21&Number=80905&page=&view=&sb=5&o=
An interesting discussion about the usage of gray water to use for plants.


Youy can send for information at these two agencies:

   The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
   Office of Groundwater and Drinking Water
   (800) 426-4791
   www.epa.gov/ogwdw/

   California Department of Health Services
   Division of Drinking Water and Environmental Management
   (213) 580-5723
   http://www.dhs.cahwnet.gov/ps/ddwem/


Hope this helps!  If I can clarify anything for you, please don't hesitate to ask.


~~Cynthia


Search terms used at Google:
"grey OR gray water OR graywater OR greywater to water plants" california

Question answered quickly, simply and had data links attached to
continue investigation. Thanks cynthia-ga!!!!

Cynthia,
A question, if I may ask.  
You said: "you avoid the "down the drain" charge for every gallon you divert."

This would presuppose a system of measuring either graywater used or
total water passed to the sewerage system and a calculation of the
amount of graywater diverted.
I didn't find this anywhere.  Did I miss something?

Theoretically, of course, somewhere down the pike, if enough is
diverted, this will reduce the expense of the whole system of effluent
management, but this will be rather nebulous.

Where I live in Germany, they have taken a different tack.  Having
foregone the once existing separate drainage system for rainwater
runoff, they require a calculation of roof and terrace areas drained
into the system and add an annual rainfall calculation (whose?!) to
the sewerage bill, which includes 100% of fresh water metered.

Thanks and regards, Myoarin

If I may reply to the above comment. My City basis it's sewer rates on
the amount of water used in the three wettest months of the year. The
hought is that this will closely represent the amount of water going
to the sewer and not to irrigation. This is a semi-arid area so water
may well be used for irrigation during this period. Thus using gray
water rather than fresh water will decrease usage during this period
and result in lower water usage and thus lower sewer rates.

HI Junctural-ga,

That makes sense.

Thanks for your comment.

Regards, Myoarin