Sandra Baynes, BES, MA

1
Barriers to Grey Water Recycling
May, 2002

• Presented by
• Sandra Baynes, BES, MA
• Senior Researcher

2
Outline

• Definitions
• Research
• Barriers
• Recommendations

3
Greywater Definitions
- light grey - bathroom sink shower - dark grey
- kitchen sink - black water - includes
toilets - recycled water is used for toilet
flushing and depending on treatment, sinks
showers - used for irrigation
4
Grey-Water Systems (not to be confused with grey
water recycling)

• Class 2 sewage system only used for treatment
  and disposal of grey water
• not be constructed where the daily design grey
  water flow to the system exceeds 1000L per day
• Sewage Inspection Permit must be completed prior
  to construction of the system
• Rural residents are very keen on grey water
  systems and composting toilets
• see Health Unit or MOE for more information

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Grey-Water Pit
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Water Statistics

• average Canadian uses 326 l/p/d72 g/p/d of
  water
• Toronto Healthy House (THH) uses 40 l/p/d9/g/p/d

Canada 326 l/p/d
THH 40/l/p/d
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Impacts of Grey Water Reuse
26 reduction in water demand via toilet flushing
approximately 30 to 70 wastewater captured for
reuse
AWWA Research Foundation - Residential End Use of
Water Data
8
Water ReUse Benefits

• lessens the impact on municipal supply, private
  wells and wastewater treatment
• reduces water bills
• demonstrates environmental stewardship

9
Grey Water Research

• External Research Projects
• - grey water planters - Ontario
• - monitoring and control of on-site wastewater
  treatment - Nova Scotia
• Multi-Residential Housing
• - Quayside Village CoHousing, Vancouver BC
• - Conservation Coop, Ottawa ON (concluded)
• Single Family
• Toronto Healthy House

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Conservation Co-op Ottawa, Ontario
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Conservation Co-op

• 84 unit facility
• downtown Ottawa
• environmental philosophy
• 8 units dual plumbed
• light grey system
• system experienced challenges
• new system -
• system removed February 2002

12
Quayside Village CoHousing North Vancouver, BC
13
Quayside Village CoHousingVancouver, BC

• 19 unit multi-residential cooperative
• dual plumbed
• - Waterloo Biofilter
• - collects water for toilet reuse (dark grey)
• - OM trial January 2002
• - operational

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(No Transcript)
15
Quayside Village CoHousing Vancouver,
BC Waterloo Biofilter
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Interior of Waterloo Biofilter showing
distribution nozzle and foam medium
17
Treated Water Storage Tank
The polyethylene storage tank has a capacity of
1500 litres - contains a submersible pump
capable of 40 gals (180 litres) a minute delivery.
18

• Toronto
• Healthy
• House

19
Toronto Healthy House

• 1,700 square foot, semi-detached, three-bedroom
  family dwelling 4 floors of living space on a
  vacant (infill) lot in the Riverdale area of
  Metropolitan Toronto, Ontario
• off-grid, self-sufficient, water-efficient
  fixtures
• Rainwater collected, filtered, purified stored
  for drinking washing. Recycled for use in the
  showers, washing machine or
  toilets.
• affordable, total annual operating costs expected
  to be under 300.
• biological monitoring underway
• now connected to hydro for computer operation
• and sells back surplus energy from solar power.

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Grey Water Socio-Economic Barriers

• Water Agencies/Government
• Financial
• Board of Health/MOE
• Resident Support
• Maintenance

21
Water Agencies - Government Barriers

• few demonstration sites in Canada
• unfamiliar with technology
• reluctant to authorize permits
• prefer revenues for water supply and treatment
• costs for water services fixed
• billing changes

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Legislation

• Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality
  (Health Canada, 1996)
• Guidelines for Canadian Recreational Water
  Quality (Health and Welfare Canada, 1992)
• National Plumbing Code of Canada
  (National Research Council Canada)

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Ontario/National Plumbing Code

• A non-potable water system shall not be
  connected to a potatble water system. 7.1.1,
  1995
• This effectively prohibits water reuse.
• Exception experimental purposes

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Financial Barriers

• not mass produced, systems costs are high in
  multi-res and single family applications
• technology changing
• generally cost prohibitive where municipal
  service exist
• billing may not be adjusted at wastewater side -
  sewer surcharge

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Costs to Consider

• Payback period for system
• Maintenance
• Repair
• Operations Chlorine, Electrical, Testing
• Operator Education and Turnover
• Lending Mortgage Costs
• Insurance Costs

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Savings Barriers

• small scale projects do not result in significant
  savings
• Quayside estimates an 800 CDN/355 GBP savings
  cost of operation
• costs for testing and maintenance outweigh
  savings
• urban municipal costs too low
• unmetered areas do not realize water savings

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Resident Barriers

• presently do not see financial savings in urban
  cases
• lifestyle change
• multi-res may not have trained maintenance staff
• homeowners commitment to upkeep
• costs for maintenance time and repair a concern
• health concerns with unfamiliar technology
• partial unit project not cost-effective
• resident turnover

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Health Unit Barriers

• technology not proven
• hesitant to take risks to authorize permit
• needs ongoing testing -

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Maintenance Barriers

• each system currently different
• delegation of tasks who does what? when?
• every time shut off, must be cleaned out
• training difficult with residential turnover
• routine testing,
• time commitment
• not many familiar with system Royal Roads
  Onsite Wastewater Training System or University
  of Guelph

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Recommendations

• more demonstration projects with proven results
• develop guidelines and protocols for acceptance
  of onsite water and sewage systems
• reward healthy housing in both council policy and
  implementation bylaws
• Provincial MOE and MMAH review own policies,
  regulations, legislation
• widely distribute proven results to
  municipalities
• develop demonstration project with several
  households/units instead of just one.

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Recommendations (continued)

• reduce system costs to encourage more new
  homeowners to request systems
• demonstrate newer technologies
• make maintenance simple or hire a contractor
  (similar to a pool maintenance contractor)
• annual maintenance should be done by a licensed
  contractor
• increase public education for general public,
  local councils and building officials - showing
  environmental stewardship, water savings etc.

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More Information

• email sbaynes_at_cmhc-schl.gc.ca
• http//www.cmhc.ca
• articles, reports on CMHC Website
• Research Highlights
• About Your House series
• water page