Graywater Systems

Alternate Water Sources Working Group

The Alternate Water Sources Working Group, which includes Permit Sonoma staff, convenes quarterly for speaker presentations and conversations on topics of water efficiency, conservation and reuse.

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Meeting on September 18, 2018

What is Graywater?

Graywater is wastewater collected from showers, bathtubs, bathroom sinks, and clothes washing machines. Graywater does not include water from toilets, kitchen sinks, or dishwashers. Graywater can be routed to your landscape to help meet your irrigation needs.

Types of Systems

There are three types of graywater systems. They are listed below along with permit requirements.

Please contact the Well & Septic division with questions about permitting for graywater systems.

Clothes Washer System
- Septic permit: Not required
- Building (plumbing) permit: Required
Simple System*
- Septic permit: Required
- Building (plumbing) permit: Required
- Design review and inspection: Required
Complex System*
- Septic permit: Required
- Building (plumbing) permit: Required
- Design review and inspection: Required

*These types of graywater systems are not fully covered on this website.