[OKC] FW: House Lawmakers Approve 'Gray Water' Legislation

[Shauna Struby]

From: Eric Bradshaw [mailto:Eric.Bradshaw at okhouse.gov] 
Sent: Monday, March 12, 2012 3:23 PM
To: Eric Bradshaw
Subject: House Lawmakers Approve 'Gray Water' Legislation

 



 

Oklahoma House of Representatives

Media Division

March 12, 2012

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Contact: State Rep. Scott Martin

Capitol: (405) 557-7329

 

House Lawmakers Approve 'Gray Water' Legislation

 

OKLAHOMA CITY - Legislation approved by the Oklahoma House of
Representatives would encourage the use of private residential "gray water"
reuse by creating a permit exemption for gray water systems that use less
than 250 gallons of gray water per day.

            House Bill 2835, by state Rep. Scott Martin, defines gray water
as untreated household wastewater that has not come in contact with toilet
waste or water from a kitchen sink. The legislation directs the Department
of Environmental Quality to exempt private residential gray water reuse
systems that meet a series of rules including that they make use of less
than 250 gallons of gray water per day. A gray water system would be used
for gardening, composting or landscape irrigation.

"House lawmakers are looking to improve water conservation in Oklahoma,"
said Martin (R-Norman). "Rather than mandating it, we are just getting rid
of some of the red tape that keeps water conservation enthusiasts from
setting up a gray water reuse system. Common sense reuse is good policy and
one that is being used in other states in the Southwest. We've seen
rationing in times of drought and this gives homeowners a better option than
just cutting back on watering their lawn or washing their car. Inserting
minimal reuse into the options people have to manage their personal water
use will be of great assistance to them. On top of that, the average
consumer has the potential to realize savings on their monthly water bill
through conservation."

            Gray water systems that would be exempt would have to

*	provide for overflow into the sewer or on-site wastewater treatment
and disposal system; 
*	include cover for any gray water storage tank to avoid the creation
of a habitat for mosquitoes and other insects; 
*	be located outside of a floodway and five feet above the groundwater
table; 
*	clearly identify gray water pressure piping as a non-potable water
conduit; 
*	be used on site and not run off the property; 
*	minimize the potential for contact with people or domestic pets; 
*	minimize standing water and ensure the hydraulic capacity of the
soil is not exceeded; 
*	avoid spraying or discharge into a waterway; 
*	be in compliance with municipal or county ordinances; 

            House Bill 2835 was approved by a vote of 91-2 and now proceeds
to the Senate for consideration.

 

-30-

 

NOTICE: The information in this email is confidential, legally privileged,
and exempt from disclosure under law. It is intended solely for the
addressee. Access to this email by anyone else is unauthorized. If you are
not the intended recipient, any disclosure, copying, distribution or any
action taken or omitted to be taken in reliance on it, is prohibited and
unlawful. The Oklahoma House of Reps does not warrant any e-mail
transmission received as being virus free, and disclaims any liability for
losses or damages arising from the use of this e-mail or its attachments.
Recipients of e-mail assume the risk of possible computer virus exposure by
opening or utilizing the e-mail and its attachments, and waive any right or
recourse against the House by doing so. 

-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: winmail.dat
Type: application/ms-tnef
Size: 17717 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://lists.sustainableokc.org/pipermail/okc-sustainableokc.org/attachments/20120312/300a2aea/attachment-0001.bin>