Water district set to give greywater tips

Laguna Beach County Water District’s message will be two-fold during its annual SmartScape Expo this weekend.

Irrigation and landscape experts will offer advice on drought-tolerant plants and efficient watering methods, but this year’s event will also include an expert on greywater.

Greywater is used water from bathroom sinks, showers, tubs and washing machines that can then go to irrigate trees, bushes, shrubs and large annuals.

The practice is gaining traction in California as cities cut reliance on potable water amid a severe drought.

While greywater, which has not come into contact with feces, may look dirty, it is a beneficial irrigation source, according to the advocacy group Greywater Action’s website.

Greywater is a pollutant if it is released into rivers, lakes, or estuaries but it is a valuable fertilizer to plants, the website says.

“People think it’s a complex process with a lot of permitting,” said Aaron Kuehn, co-owner of 2G Water Solutions, which has offices in Huntington Beach and Palos Verdes.

Kuehn will answer questions during the expo that runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday at district headquarters at 306 Third St.

“[Greywater installation] is easy to do and can be cheap to do,” Kuehn said.

The state has approved greywater systems, which rely on certain valves attached to a plumbing system, according to a city staff report. Laguna building officials review plans and issue permits for greywater systems.

The two-day expo will also include a compost giveaway and qualifying customers are eligible to take home free rain barrels, used to collect water for gardening or other purposes.

The district has 150 rain barrels ready to give out, expecting residents will take forecasters’ predictions seriously, district Assistant General Manager Christopher Regan said. Last year staff distributed 75 barrels

Regan hopes residents know that even if El Niño occurs, it will not be enough to end the drought, but every little bit helps.

Another important way to save water is knowing how to adjust and/or turn off irrigation systems, Regan said.

At the expo district personnel will take names of residents who need help adjusting irrigation timers. Residents can also call the district for assistance at (949) 494-1041.

“Despite all this [possible] rain, we still must cut back 24% [on potable water use] during the winter months,” Regan said, referring to conservation targets set by the State Water Resources Control Board.

The district must reduce consumption by 200 million gallons by March 2016, according to the district’s website.

After two months of the state’s mandatory restrictions, district customers saved about 50 million gallons of water.

“Keep as much water on your property as you can,” Regan said.

The district’s mandatory restrictions began June 1.

Customers must limit outdoor sprinkler watering to before 8 a.m. or after 8 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays with a maximum of 10 minutes per sprinkler station/zone with no run-off.

Rain Bird Corp. will offer a $1,000 irrigation system upgrade as a raffle prize during this weekend’s expo.