Receive up to $200 per home, by installing a gray water recycling system. Gray water is water that has been used in the shower, bathroom sink or clothes washer. Gray water typically contains limited amounts of detergent and organic material and is an ideal source of irrigation for high-water-use plants.   

Gray Water System Rebate Terms & Conditions

Each project must adhere to the rebate terms and conditions. Read the terms and conditions for this rebate for single family residences:

Single Family Residential Gray Water System Rebate terms and conditions

Note: The Gray Water System Rebate form below is a new form. The previous form is no longer accessible.

Laundry-to-Landscape Gray Water Systems

The picture below is one example of a gray water system is the laundry-to-landscape method. This system allows reuse of the water used to wash clothing to irrigate landscape plants. A properly designed system allows you to switch between sewer and landscape pipes with a simple turn of the valve, so that you only water plants when needed. Water that enters the sewers will be cleaned and re-used regionally to water non-food crops, generate energy or replenish riparian habitats.  

    Photo credit: Watershed Management Group

Switch the valve back to the landscape, and your plants will get laundry water directed to the root zone through tubing, such as 1" polyethylene tubing. It is preferred that the water is going to be used within a mulched basin to ensure infiltration into the soil. The picture below shows the layout of the tubing before work is completed and soil and mulch is added to hide the tubing.

    Photo credit: Watershed Management Group

A mulched basin is ideal for receiving the gray water from a laundry-to-landscape system or any other gray water system. Mulch hides the gray water and prevents pets or children from playing in the water. Organic mulch helps prevent evaporation by soaking up the water and overtime will break down and increase the richness of your soil. Creating a basin prevents the water from running off and helps direct water to the root zones of plants, which are full of young roots that can take in water for the plant. The picture below is an image of a grey water basin. 

    Photo credit: Watershed Management Group

Questions?

For questions or inquiries, contact Tempe Water Conservation at conservation@tempe.gov or 480-350-8351.