I've been looking into greywater too, but honestly, the plumbing part has me hesitating. Did you find the city helpful when you called about regulations, or was it mostly bureaucratic runaround? I'm worried I'll get stuck in permit limbo...
I called the city last year about greywater regs, and honestly, it was a mixed bag:
- Got bounced around departments twice before landing with someone who knew their stuff.
- Once I found the right person, they were actually pretty helpful—gave me clear guidelines and even emailed some docs.
- Still, the plumbing itself can be tricky. If you're not 100% confident, I'd recommend getting a pro involved. Better safe than sorry...permits are one thing, but leaks or contamination issues are another headache entirely.
Yeah, dealing with city regs can be a total crapshoot sometimes. Had a client last summer who wanted greywater recycling installed—thought it'd be straightforward, but nope. Took me three calls and two visits downtown just to get clear on the specifics. Once we got rolling, it wasn't too bad, but you're right about the plumbing being tricky. Rainwater harvesting setups tend to be simpler in my experience...fewer moving parts and less chance of cross-contamination headaches. Just my two cents though.
Yeah, city regs can really throw a wrench in things. I looked into greywater recycling a couple years back and quickly realized it wasn't worth the hassle for my budget—too many hoops to jump through. Ended up going with rain barrels instead, and honestly, they've been pretty low-maintenance. Glad you got it sorted eventually though...sounds like your client lucked out having someone patient enough to navigate all that red tape.
"Ended up going with rain barrels instead, and honestly, they've been pretty low-maintenance."
Rain barrels are definitely straightforward, but I wouldn't write off greywater systems completely. Yeah, the initial setup can be a huge pain, especially dealing with city regs—I get it, been there myself—but once they're up and running, they're surprisingly hassle-free. Installed one for a client about three years ago, and aside from occasional filter cleaning, it's been pretty much set-it-and-forget-it. Plus, greywater gives you a consistent supply even during dry spells when rain barrels sit empty. Don't get me wrong, rain harvesting is great for simplicity, but greywater recycling can really pay off long-term if you're willing to bite the bullet upfront.
