Summary
The Bay Area H20 Program will provide education, skills-building and support to encourage water conservation and greywater reuse.
Background
According to United Nations’ statistics, two-thirds of the world, or 5.3 billion people, may be vulnerable to water shortages by 2025. An estimated 36 states in the United States are forecast to face water scarcity in 2013. A General Electric survey found that 66% of Americans felt positive regarding water reuse. The survey also found that 8 out of 10 Americans support using recycled water for such uses as power generation, landscaping, industrial processing and manufacturing, toilet-flushing, car washing and agricultural irrigation. The majority of Americans polled think water scarcity is a national issue as is protection of water resources and have indicated a concern about clean water availability.
In 2011, Sonoma County reported a population of 488,116, of which 10.7% were below the poverty level. The median household income from 2007-2011 was $64,343-$69,099, which is hardly enough to survive in today’s economy. The average monthly bill for a 4-person family using 150 gallons of water per day in San Francisco costs $86.00. For a low-income family, that’s a high cost to pay from their monthly income. Each year, millions of gallons of water that could be reused in the home goes into Sonoma County’s waste water system. One single household has the potential to save between 5,000 – 8,000 gallons of water each year in Sonoma by installing a greywater system.
Approximately 5,000 – 8,000 gallons of recycled laundry water per year can be reused to offset water usage for gardens and landscapes. Studies also suggest that when residents installed greywater systems at their home they also increased other conservation measures which led to additional household water savings. Water re-use is one of the key methods of addressing water scarcity and helping families to reduce their monthly expenses – and in addressing the increasing gap between water demand and supply. When greywater is reused either onsite or nearby, it has the potential to reduce the demand for new water supply, reduce the energy and carbon footprint of water services, and meet a wide range of social and economic needs.
Location
Petaluma, California, United StatesAttachments
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Focus
Primary Focus: Water Conservation
Secondary Focus: Grey Water Reuse
People Getting Safe Drinking Water: 0
School Children Getting Water:
People Getting Sanitation: 0
People Getting Other Benefits:
Start Date: 2013-07-01
Completion Date: 2014-06-30
Technology Used:
For Phase 1, Daily Acts will provide hands-on education, skills-building and support for the installation of 15 home-scale, greywater systems by conducting two greywater workshops, one in Petaluma, CA and the other in Windsor, CA. Daily Acts will also lead a ‘Rain & Greywater Fed Urban Oases’ tour in Petaluma, CA. Workshop participants will be offered a free site visit and a free ‘parts kit’ to carry out the installation of a home-scale greywater reuse system.
Phases:
The project will be phased and Phase 1 focuses on rain and greywater education and greywater reuse system installation. Phase 2 (pending available funding) will focus on water-saving landscapes, water filtration systems and rainwater catchment systems.
Community Organization:
Daily Acts mission is to transform our communities through inspired action and education which builds leadership and local self-reliance. A key component of our work is to provide low-tech, low-cost, home scale solutions that transform the way that we consume our natural resources. We provide our community with practical information, knowledge and tools to transform lawns into food forests, install greywater systems, create habitat, keep bees, rear local chickens, and tend to personal and financial ecology. Our education programs promote skills-building at the individual level, while catalyzing green policy and widespread change throughout our communities.
Government Interaction:
Daily Acts works in partnership with a number of government agencies within Sonoma County including City of Petaluma, City of Cotati, Town of Windsor, Sonoma County Water Agency, Department of Health Services and others.
Ancillary activities:
Other Issues:
Maintenance Revenue:
Maintenance Cost:
Metrics:
Total of 15 home-scale greywater systems installed (by end of December 2013)
Total of 85 people educated at two greywater workshops and water-wise tour (by end of December 2013)
Cost: $25,000
Please see attached proposal.
Co Funding Amount:
Community Contribution Amount:
Fund Requested: $6,000
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