Water Utilities Objectives Evaluation of Single Family Residence Greywater Systems

Abstract

Meeting the potable water demand for cities across the world is becoming increasingly difficult considering 54% of the world's population currently live in urban areas. Public water providers have considered a variety of programs to promote potable water conservation including the reuse of greywater, untreated wastewater that is not contaminated by toilet or kitchen discharge. Through interviews with water conservation specialists at public water utilities and analysis of water conservation progress reports, this study develops a decision framework for public water utilities in California to determine whether to promote the installation of residential greywater reuse systems. The framework evaluates the feasibility and relative success of two greywater promotion strategies, as well as five alternative commonly implemented water conservation strategies. The framework evaluates each water conservation strategy’s ability to reduce potable water consumption. Results show that the ideal combination of water conservation programs supported by a public water utility is influenced by the reliability and source of potable water, as well as the conservation maturity and water use of habits of rate payers.