For release: April 17, 2012

Contacts:
Ron Doughten, Water Reuse Program Coordinator, Portland, 503-229-5472

Three types of permits available based on type of graywater and other factors

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality is now accepting applications from persons and businesses seeking to reuse graywater through a graywater reuse and disposal system for limited purposes such as irrigation or landscape ponds. Graywater includes shower and bath wastewater, bathroom sink water, kitchen sink wastewater and laundry wastewater. Using graywater for select purposes helps preserve limited water supplies.

Permit applications and more details about the graywater permitting program are available online by going to DEQ’s graywater program web page at www.deq.state.or.us/wq/reuse/graywater.htm. For information on obtaining a permit, go to “How to Get a Graywater Permit” on the web page.

DEQ offers the permits on three-tier system that’s based on type and quantity of graywater reused, plus other factors:

·         Tier 1 General Permit (2401 Permit): Designed for most residential users. Available for single-family residences or duplexes with four bedrooms or fewer which generate less than 300 gallons per day of Type 1 graywater, used solely for subsurface irrigation of landscape plants or compost. Type 1 graywater is untreated or has passed through a physical process to remove solids, fats, oils and grease. Cost: $50 new-permit application fee plus $40 annual fee.

·         Tier 2 General Permit (2402 Permit): Suited for many businesses and larger residential complexes and available for any structure that generates less than 1,200 gallons of Type 1 or Type 2 graywater daily. Type 2 graywater has passed through a chemical or biological process, such as a wetland, to further reduce solids and organic matter. In addition to submitting an application and fee, Tier 2 permittees must send DEQ a system design plan, operations and maintenance manual for the system, and a site evaluation report. Cost: $534 new-permit application fee plus $50 annual fee.

·         Tier 3 Individual Permit: Designed for the largest or more complex graywater reuse and disposal systems. This covers any system ineligible for permit coverage under the Tier 1 or 2 general permits, or anyone else not wanting a general permit. In addition to submitting an application and fee, Tier 3 permittees must submit to DEQ a signed Land Use Compatibility Statement, system design plan, operations/maintenance manual and site evaluation report. Cost: Varies based on size and complexity of graywater reuse and disposal system. 

DEQ water quality specialists are available to assist individuals in the permitting process. See DEQ’s graywater web page online under “Program Contacts” for a list of persons to contact in your area.

 The 2009 Oregon Legislature authorized development and adoption of rules to create the graywater permitting program. The Oregon Environmental Quality Commission approved the rules in August 2011. Oregon is one of a growing number of states promoting a statewide graywater reuse policy.