July 21, 2015
I was asked by the City of Austin to present a training session on graywater reuse systems and specifically address current system regulations and design issues during their Grow Green Landscape Professional training program that they put on every year.
In this presentation I cover the following topics:
- What is graywater and what are the benefits of using it
- Current graywater regulations in Texas and Austin
- Various types of graywater reuse systems
- Graywater production calculations for a typical residence
- The importance of the efficient distribution of graywater into landscaping areas
- Current graywater systems on the market
- Typical graywater reuse system components
- Graywater effects on plant life through a variety of scientific research
You can download a pdf of my presentation if you like.
The City of Austin has provided a YouTube playlist of all the 2015 training sessions of Grow Green Landscape Professionals. Check them out to learn more.
Other topics during this training program included:
- Environmentally-Minded Mitigation – Environmental BMPS for Firewise Landscaping (Ryan Hebrink, Watershed Protection)
- Mitigating to Preserve High-Value Trees – Mitigating to Preserve High-Value Trees (Michael Embesi, City of Austin Arborist)
- Wildland Fire: The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly – Wildland Fire: The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly (Lucien Ball, Austin Water Utility)
- Fire Effects on Native Landscaping – Fire Effects on Native Landscaping (Michelle Bertelsen, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center)
- Landscaping for Wildlife in the Wildland Urban Interface – Landscaping for Wildlife in the Wildland Urban Interface (Meredith Gray, Parks and Recreation)
- Water Conservation: Drought Update (Drema Gross – Water Conservation Division Manager, Austin Water)
- Graywater: Navigating Through City Code (Robert Stefani – Conservation Program Specialist, Austin Water)
- Reclaimed water: Using Bulk Fill Stations (Bill Kemp – Caracara Farm)
- Design: Earthworks and Landscape Design for Water Conservation (Betty Lambright – As Right As Rain)
- Soil: Contractor Use of Soils (Jared Pyka – ValleyCrest)
- Water Conservation: Water Conservation Landscape Programs (Chris Charles – Water Conservation Associate Austin Water)
- Creekside Landscaping – Riparian Restoration (Ana Gonzalez, Watershed Protection Department)
- Green Infrastructure Working Group – Integrate Nature Into the City (Erin Wood – Watershed Protection Department)
- So You want to Build A Rain Garden – So You Want to Build a Rain Garden (Tom Franke, EIT & Michelle Adlong, Watershed Protection Department)
- Turf Problems and IPM – Lawn Problems an integrated pest management approach (Daphne Richards, County Extension Agent—Horticulture Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service)
- Ants: Identification, Biology and Management – Ants: Identification & Management (Wizzie Brown – Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service)
- Mosquitos – Integrated Mosquito Management (IMM) )(abrina V idaurri, MS, RS, City of Austin/Travis County Health Department)
- Plants Running Hot & Cold – Plants Running Cold, Hot & Dry (Denise Delaney, City of Austin Watershed Protection)
- Austin’s Tree Regulations – Austin’s Tree Regulations (Michael Embesi, PDRD Tree Program)
- Landscaping with Trees for Water Conservation – Designing for Trees for Drought (Vincent Debrock)
- Native Plant Combos – Native Plants for Texas Landscapes (Andrea DeLong-Amaya, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center)
Professional Pruning – Professional Prunning (Laura Schuman, Parks & Recreation Department) - Plants for Rain Gardens & Bioswales – Plants for Biofiltration Systems (Elizabeth McGreevy, Roc + Solid Land Design)
- Big Picture Local Food System – Austin’s Sustainable Food System is a Local One (Edwin Marty)
- Alternative Ways to Water – Alternative Gardening and Watering Methods (Meredith Gray and Chris Sanchez, City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department
- Rainwater Harvesting – Rainwater Harvesting for Grow Green Professionals (Dick Peterson)
- Sustainable Landscaping with Tough Herbs – Sustainable Landscaping with Tough Herbs Colleen (Dieter, Red Wheelbarrow)
- Landscaping for Wildlife – Landscaping for Wildlife (LaJuan D. Tucker, City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department)