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permit application
residential grey water disposal system for <redacted>, ca
<redacted Applicant> <Redacted Locataion>, ca
Permit application
residential grey water disposal system for <redacted location>, ca
The owner of the subject property seeks to reuse the water from one tub/shower to benefit landscaping in the hell strip between the sidewalk and the street via a gravity flow diversion system and mulch bed infiltration basins.
While the system as submitted does not follow the details of the model system of Appendix G of the California Plumbing Code (CPC), the owner believes that it meets the intent of the CPC, and may be approved under section G-12 (a). Similar systems have been permitted by other Approving Authorities, including the City of Santa Barbara and the City of Berkeley. The proposed system is sized to prevent grey water from surfacing, even with surge flows and conservative design assumptions. The mulch bed creates an in-situ treatment environment, effectively treating the effluent prior to its infiltration into the soil. No pumps are utilized, and there is no storage of grey water. The system is completely aerobic, and requires minimal maintenance.
The proposed systems drawings rely heavily on the work of Art Ludwig and his books: Creating An Oasis With Greywater: Choosing, Building and Using Greywater Systems, Builders Greywater Guide, and Branched Drain Greywater Systems, http://www.oasisdesign.net/greywater/
per section g-6 of the cpc:
1.
The subject property has two bedrooms, and thus
calculations are based on 3 occupants.
2.
The surge volume is the emptying of the bathtub, 36
gallons in 10 minutes.
NOTE: These calculations are
conservative with respect to actual flows. The house has effectively 1-1/2 full
time occupants who practice fairly rigorous water conservation measures.
Fixture |
People |
Uses/ |
Gallons/use |
Gallons/week |
Gallons/
Day (average) |
Weekend
Day Surge (gallons) |
Low
Flow Shower |
3 |
7 |
13 |
273 |
|
3/day |
Bathtub |
1 |
1.5 |
36 |
54 |
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
|
|
|
327 |
46.71 |
81 |
The owner performed a crude percolation test, and found
the soils surprisingly impermeable.
This suggests the use of Clay with small amounts of sand or gravel,
the most conservative soil type from Table G-2 of Appendix G of the CPC. Given this assumption and the
calculated demand about 56 square feet of infiltration area is required.
The most desirable planting within the mulch/infiltration basin would be a true dwarf, self pollinating fruit tree, tolerant of damp conditions, such as a dwarf fig, Ficus carica Negronne for example. However, there are no fruit trees, save for crabapples, on the City of El Cerrito Master Street Tree List, http://el-cerrito.org/public_works/pdf/Master_Street_Tree_List.pdf. The next most desirable plantings would be basketry plants native to California wetlands, particularly species with a relatively low form. Juncus effusus L. is one such candidate.
Descriptive information on both these types of planting candidates is attached.
The mulch basins provide a tremendous amount of bio-active
surface area, in a damp, aerobic environment. This is similar to the digestion
beds of the long-established Microphor treatment system, which, while it has
recently switched to a synthetic fiber media, has long used redwood bark to
hold solids in contact with aerobic bacteria long enough to break them down.
http://www.microphor.com/html/whats_new.html
http://www.microphor.com/pdf/MSD-HowSystemWorks.pdf
Residential greywater is much weaker than blackwater,
with lower B.O.D. (biological oxygen demand), lower coliform count, lower solids, lower nitrogen, etc., and will
easily be treated in situ to
higher than primary water treatment levels before absorption into the soil
and/or transpiration by the plantings.
A plot plan on the proposed project property is attached,
with structures, existing water lines, paved areas, bedrooms, plumbing
fixtures, property lines, and the minimum horizontal separation distances of
Table G-1 of the CPC shown.
Sketches and photos of the details of construction,
including a plan and section of the infiltration basins, connection to the
existing plumbing stack, and elevation of the outfall line are attached. 1-1/2
inch ABS pipe and fitings will be used for all piping downstream of the diverter
valve.
To divert shower/bath drain water for reuse, the diverter
valve will be set to the bypass position. Water from the shower/bath drains by
gravity to the infiltration basin.
The mulch in the basin will be periodically renewed. The diverter valve
shall be set to drain shower/bath directly to the sanitary sewer in the winter
or other times when the soil is saturated.
Ficus 'Negronne'
Botanical Name: Ficus carica Negronne
Soil Types/Tolerance:
Normal, loamy
Plant Height: 8 ft - 10 ft
Plant Habit: Upright
Growing Zones: 7 – 10 [El Cerrito is USDA zone 9]
Sun Exposure: Full Sun
soft rush |
Juncus effusus
L. |
Plant Symbol = JUEF |
Contributed by: USDA NRCS National Plant Data Center
There are several taxonomic
varieties of this species.
Ethnobotanic: Coiled basketry prevails in Southern California,
with the mottled yellowish brown of soft rush providing a natural colored and
variegated background (Turnbaugh and Turnbaugh 1986). Juncus stems
are used in the coiled baskets of Southern California tribes such as the
Cahuilla, Luiseo, Chumash, Diegueo, Agua Caliente, Gabrielio, Juaneo, Death
Valley Shoshone, and Fernandeno (Barrows 1967; Murphey 1959). The foundation material is made of Juncus
balticus and Juncus effusus, and the sewing material is made of Juncus
textilis. The Quinalt of western Washington used soft rush for
plaiting tumplines for baskets (Gunther 1973). They also mixed soft rush with cattails to make string. The Snoqualmie used the stalks for
tying things.
The early sprouts of soft rush were sometimes
eaten raw by the Snoqualmie of Washington (Gunther 1973). Juncus shoots were eaten raw, roasted in ashes, or boiled by
Maidu, Luiseo, and others (Strike 1994).
Owens Valley Paiute ate the seeds.
Soft rush stalks was gathered in wetlands and was eaten on occasion by
the Nlaka'pamux and Lillooet people of British Columbia (Kunlein and Turner
1991).
Soft rush, also called candle
rush by the Japanese, is used for tatami mats. Large mats were also made by California Indians by piercing
holes in Juncus and threading
cordage through the holes so the Juncus stalks were aligned side-by-side (Strike 1994). These flexible mats could be rolled and
stored when not needed.
Wildlife: A wide range of mammal and avian species depend on Juncus
species for food and habitat (Hoag
and Zierke 1998). Waterfowl,
songbirds, and small mammals such as jack rabbits, cottontail, muskrat,
porcupine, and gophers (Martin 1951) eat rush seeds. Rushes provide habitat for amphibians and spawning areas for
fish. Muskrats feed on the
rootstalks of soft rush, and various wetland wading birds find shelter among
the stems.
Livestock: Cattle will graze Juncus effusus late in the season after more palatable plants are eaten. Rushes tend to be resistant to grazing
pressure and fairly unpalatable to cattle, so tend to increase in species
composition in pastures.
Erosion & Restoration: Rushes provide the following conservation uses:
erosion control, sediment accretion and stabilization, nutrient uptake and
transformation, wildlife food and cover, restoration and creation of wetland
ecosystems, and wastewater treatment applications. The rhizomatous nature, nitrogen fixation capabilities,
dense root system, and phenotypic plasticity to flooding and drought stress
provide high soil and slope stabilization capabilities, particularly in areas
with flooded soils or fluctuating hydrology. The rhizomes form a matrix for many beneficial bacteria,
making this plant an excellent addition for wastewater treatment. This species can have invasive
characteristics in certain situations.
Please consult the PLANTS Web
site and your State Department of Natural Resources for this plants current
status, such as, state noxious status and wetland indicator values.
General: Rush Family (Juncaceae). Soft
rush is a rhizomatous, perennial herb with a large, tufted, cespitose growth
form. Juncus effusus
stems are stout but soft, 5-15 dm tall and 1.5-3 mm wide. The basal sheaths are bladeless or the
inner ones tipped with a short awn, the edges usually overlapping nearly to the
subtruncate or emarginate tip, with the veins converging at the tip. The leaves are dull chocolate brown or
chestnut-colored at the base, the inner sheaths dark toward the summit. The inflorescence is a many-flowered,
loosely clustered panicle, 2- 10 cm long.
The capsule is oblong-obovoid, of about the same length as the perianth,
obtuse or retuse. The seeds are
retucilate.
Distribution: For current distribution, please consult the Plant
Profile page for this species on the PLANTS Web site. Soft rush occurs in wet places on hillsides or valley flats
below 2500 m. It occurs through
California to British Columbia, the eastern United States, Mexico, and Eurasia.
Juncus effusus is easily propagated from bare root stock or
seedlings, from container stalk, or directly seeded into the soil. Bare root stock or seedlings are
preferred revegetation methods where there is moving water. These plants can be invasive. They are useful for stabilization and
revegetation of disturbed areas. Juncus
effusus requires moderate summer
watering (irrigation), generally 1 - 4 times per month depending on the
absorption rate and water retention capacity of the soil. Salt rush plants may need to have their
roots in moist or wet soils. These
native plants are especially good for stabilizing or restoring disturbed or
degraded areas for erosion and slope control.
Live Plant Collections: The following information on Juncus balticus is provided by J. Chris Hoag and Mike Zierke (USDA,
NRCS, Plant Materials Center, Aberdeen, Idaho). Due to their taxonomic and habitat similarity, it is likely
that Juncus effusus establishes in
a similar manner.
Planting plugs is the
surest way to establish a new stand of this species. Plug spacing of 25-30 cm will fill in within one growing
season. Fluctuating the water
level during the establishment period may speed spread of Juncus. Water
levels can be managed to enhance spread and control weeds.
Clip leaves and stems to
15 to 25 cm (6 to 10 inches) before planting; this allows the plant to allocate
more energy into root production.
Transplants should be planted as soon as possible in moist (not flooded
or anoxic) soils. Plants should be
transported and stored in a cool location prior to planting. The roots should always remain moist or
in water until planted.
Soil should be kept
saturated after planting. Plants
can tolerate 2.5 - 8 cm of standing water as long as the level fluctuates over
the growing season. Allow roots to
become established before flooding soils if possible.
Ideally, plants should
be planted in late fall just after the first rains (usually late October to
November). Survival is highest
when plants are dormant and soils are moist.
Fertilization is very
helpful for plant growth and reproduction. Many more seeds are produced with moderate fertilization.
Seed Collections: The flowering period is late May to August,
occasionally to September. Seed
ripens in early August. Phenology
will change by area, aspect, elevation, and specific site conditions.
Seed may be collected by
hand, using a pair of hand shears, or with a gas-powered handheld seed
harvester.
The tiny, black seeds
are easily lost from the capsules when collecting by hand. Be careful to keep capsules upright
before putting in collection bag.
Use paper sacks when collecting seeds for this species.
To clean the seed, run
the collection through a hammermill to break up debris and knock the seeds
loose. Use a 1/20 inch screen on
the top and a solid sheet on the bottom of the seed cleaner. Adjust the air flow to blow off the
chaff. The cleaning process can be
speeded up by shaking the hammermilled collection to settle seed to the bottom
of the pan. The top portion of the
chaff can then be discarded and the seed-rich mixture that is left in the
bottom can be run through the seed cleaner.
Seed germination in
greenhouse:
Seeds need light,
moisture and heat for germination.
Soaking the seeds in water for 1 - 7 days will decrease the time the
seed takes to sprout.
To grow seeds, place on
soil surface and press in lightly to assure good soil contact. Do not cover the seed. Soil should be kept moist. Greenhouse should be kept hot
(32-38C).
Seeds begin to germinate
in approximately 1 week. Maintain
soil moisture until plants are to be transplanted. Seedlings cannot withstand long periods without water while
growing in the greenhouse.
Plants are ready in 100
- 120 days to come out as plugs.
By planting seeds in August, plugs are ready to plant in soil by
November. These plants are very
small; growing plants to a larger size will result in increased revegetation
success.
Hydrology is the most
important factor in determining wetland type, revegetation success, and wetland
function and value. Changes in
water levels influence species composition, structure, and distribution of
plant communities. Water
management is absolutely critical during plant establishment, and remains crucial
through the life of the wetland for proper community management (Hoag et al.
1995). Juncus species can tolerate periods of drought and total
inundation. It is important to
keep transplanted plugs moist, not flooded, until roots are established. Water levels can then be managed to
enhance or reduce spread as well as control terrestrial weeds.
Muskrats have evolved with
wetland ecosystems and form a valuable component of healthy functioning wetland
communities. Muskrats use emergent
wetland vegetation such as Juncus
species for hut construction and for food. Typically, an area of open water is created around the
huts. Muskrat eatouts increase
wetland diversity by providing opportunities for aquatic vegetation to become
established in the open water and the huts provide a substrate for shrubs and
other plant species.
Juncus species tend to be fairly resilient to insect and
disease problems. Aphids may feed
on the stems, but rarely cause significant damage. If an insect or disease problem is encountered in the
greenhouse, treatment options may be limited by cultural constraints if these
plants are to be used by Indian basketweavers. Pesticide exposure is higher for basketweavers than the rest
of the population. Juncus culms are split with the mouth to process basketry
materials; therefore, an unusually high degree of human exposure and risk occur
with plants designated for ethnobotanic use. Rushes are perennial, rhizomatous plants. In most cases, they will out-compete
other species within the wetland area of the site, eliminating the need for
manual or chemical control of invasive species.
Traditional Resource
Management: The management of Juncus
effusus stands includes the
following: ownership of prime basket rush sites, stimulation of new growth
through harvesting stalks, periodic burning, and not harvesting when soils are
very mucky and likely to be compacted.
The stalks are cut above the rhizomes and roots, leaving plenty of buds
to regrow new shoots. As with
other rhizomatous species, harvesting stimulates new growth and maintains the
clone in a juvenile or immature growth phase, where productivity is highest.
Contact your local Natural
Resources Conservation Service (formerly Soil Conservation Service) office for
more information. Look in the
phone book under United States Government. The Natural Resources Conservation Service will be listed
under the subheading Department of Agriculture. This plant is available at many nurseries nationwide.
Cooke, S.S. 1997. A field guide to the common wetland
plants of Western Washington and Northwestern Oregon. Seattle
Audubon Society and Washington Native Plant Society. 414 pp.
Dahl, T.E. and C.E. Johnson
1991. Status and trends of
wetlands in the coterminous United States, mid-1970s to mid-1980s. USDI,
FWS, Washington, D.C. 28 pp.
Gunther, E. 1945 rev.
1973. Ethnobotany of western
Washington. University of Washington Publications in Anthropology,
10(1). University of Washington
Press, Seattle, Washington.
Hickman, J.C. (ed.)
1993. The Jepson manual. Higher plants of California.
University of California Press.
1399 pp.
Hoag, J.C. n.d. Wetland plant fact sheet - Baltic
rush (Juncus balticus). Interagency Riparian/Wetland
Project. USDA, NRCS, Plant
Materials Center, Aberdeen, Idaho.
3 pp.
Hoag, J.C. & M. Zierke
(February) 1998. A reference
guide for the collection and use of ten common wetland plants of the Great
Basin and Intermountain West.
Riparian/Wetland Project Information Series No. 13. USDA, NRCS, Plant Materials Center, Aberdeen, Idaho. 13 pp.
Hoag, J.C. & M.E. Sellers
(April) 1995. Use of greenhouse
propagated wetland plants versus live transplants to vegetate constructed or
created wetlands. Riparian/Wetland
Project Information Series No. 7.
USDA, NRCS, Plant Materials Center, Aberdeen, Idaho. 6 pp.
Hurd, E.G., N.L. Shaw, &
L.C. Smithman 1992. Cyperaceae
and Juncaceae - selected low-elevation species.
Proceedings of Symposium of Ecology, Management, and Restoration of
Intermountain Annual Rangelands, Boise, Idaho. May 18-22, 1992.
Pages 380-383.
Kuhnlein, H.V. & N.J.
Turner 1991. Traditional plant
foods of Canadian indigenous peoples.
Nutrition, botany and use. Gordon and Breach Science
Publishers. 633 pp.
Manning, M.E., S.R. Swanson,
T. Svejcar, & J. Trent 1989. Rooting
characteristics of four Intermountain meadow community types. Journal
of Range Management 42(4):309-312.
Martin, A.C., H.S. Zim, &
A.L. Nelson 1951. American wildlife
and plants: A guide to wildlife food habits. Dover Publications,
Inc., New York, New York. 500 pp.
Merrill, R.E. 1970. Plants
used in basketry by the California Indians. Acoma Books, Ramona,
California.
Moser, C.L. 1993. Native American basketry of southern
California. Riverside Museum Press. 155 pp.
Murphy, E.V.A. 1959. Indian uses of native plants.
Mendocino County Historical Society. 81 pp.
Strike, S.S. 1994. Ethnobotany of the California
Indians. Volume 2. Aboriginal uses of California's indigenous plants. Koeltz
Scientific Books, USA/Germany. 210
pp.
Tiner, R.W. 1984. Wetlands of the United States:
Current status and recent trends.
USDI, FWS, National Wetlands Inventory, Washington, D.C. 58 pp.
Timbrook, J. (June)
1997. California Indian
Basketweavers Association newsletter.
Turnbaugh, S.P. & W.A.
Turnbaugh 1986. Indian baskets.
Schiffler Publishing, Ltd., West Chester, Pennsylvania. Pages 194-205.
Michelle Stevens
formerly USDA, NRCS, National
Plant Data Center
M. Kat Anderson
USDA, NRCS, National Plant Data Center
c/o Plant Sciences Department, University of
California, Davis, California
http://plants.usda.govhttp://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov
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programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex,
religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital
or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons
with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program
information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at 202-720-2600 (voice and TDD).
To
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Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call 202-720-5964 (voice or TDD). USDA is an equal
opportunity provider and employer.
Read
about Civil Rights at the Natural Resources Convervation Service
Summary: Special plumbing fittings which reliably split a gravity
flow of unfiltered greywater into two streams, for use in Branched Drain Grey
Water Systems. These flow splitters are ABS plastic double ells which have been
drilled and tapped to fit an inspection/ cleanout plug.
Complete design and installation
instructions for flows splitters are found in The New Create an Oasis with Grey
Water (book).
Three Way Diverter Valves
Jandy Never Lube Three Port Valves are the greywater industry
standard. Besides being well-made and guaranteed never to leak or break, they
have the huge advantage that you can unscrew the face plate and turn it to make
any of the three ports the "inlet."
The face plate can also be removed for
cleaning out the valve or to snake any clog nearby.