Gray water and rainwater workshops coming to L.A.

California is heading into its third straight year of drought, making water rationing a near certainty in So Cal this summer. Residents who want to learn more about making the most of the water that comes to their homes will have the opportunity at various workshops that will be presented by the Greywater Guerrillas. The Bay Area group of educators, designers, builders and artists will be in the L.A. area Feb. 13-21, running lectures and hands-on sessions about rainwater catchment, gray water systems and composting toilets.

Gray water workshops:

--Feb. 14, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. at a private residence in L.A. (address given upon registration). Cost: $30 to $100, sliding scale. To register, e-mail blake@blakegardner.net

--Feb. 21, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. at a private residence in Encinitas (address given upon registration). Cost: $30 to $100, sliding scale. To register, e-mail dadla@cox.net

Presentations:

How to disengage from the water grid with rainwater, gray water and composting toilets:

--Feb. 13, 7:30 p.m. at LA EcoVillage, 117 Bimini Place, #221, L.A. Reservations required. Cost: free. Info: (213) 738-1254 or crsp@igc.org

--Feb. 17, 7-9 p.m. at UC Irvine, Schneiderman Lecture Hall, Room 100A, Irvine. Cost: Free. Info: dearlexis@yahoo.com

--Feb. 19, 6-8 p.m. at MiraCosta Community College, 1 Barnard Dr., 3400 Building, Room Atzlan B, Oceanside. cost: Free. Info: beckjrandall@gmail.com

Gray water: Problem or solution?

--Feb. 18, 6:30 p.m., Topanga Community House, 1440 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd., Topanga. Info: Ben.Allanoff@sothebysinternationalrealty.com

-- Susan Carpenter

Comments

[sheila]

can you tell us what action is being taken to educate SoCal legislators on this issue? i know that greywater systems are often extremely difficult to get permitted, often requiring a full septic system even to use the water for irrigation. this seems to be a major deterrent to widespread greywater use. this is certainly the case in the desert, where you would think they would be allowed everywhere...

thanks!

[sue0042]

Tom -- I’m happy to report that since I installed my system last August, it’s all gone without a hitch! I estimate I’ve diverted about 600 gallons of reused water into my garden. I'm so pleased that I plan on taking my own advice and also re-routing my shower/bath water...

[Tom]

Thanks for this, Susan.

How is *your* grey water system working out?