Special offer
Tim Bray, B.S. Real Estate (UConn) (Seaport Real Estate Services)

Spam prevention
Rainmaker
1,052,056
Candice A. Donofrio
Next Wave RE Investments LLC Bullhead City AZ Commercial RE Broker - Fort Mohave, AZ
928-201-4BHC (4242) call/text

Real estate is local and hyperlocal, so I imagine in some areas there may be encouragement to use gray water differently.. In my area, there is not a problem with such a thing. However, septic inspectors will recommend having a filter to reduce lint and hair, and many homes in my area that are on acreage will have a second septic system for gray water only near their crops or gardens so they can utilize that water. Every other square mile in my area is Tribal Agricultural land, and gray water is utilized for watering the crops.

Apr 19, 2023 04:41 AM
Rainmaker
5,215,388
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Chicago, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

What the regulations are today I have no clue. Many years ago when adding an addition to a home a neighbor installed a deep dry well, separate from the septic field for gray water. His septic system did not need pumping as regularly as others.

Apr 19, 2023 04:37 AM
Ambassador
2,435,649
Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

All water that exits my home goes into the septic system for processing. So yes. And my septic system was just designed/approved a few years ago (4).

 

That being said, I know of a house built in the 1800s that still has laundry water that goes out a pipe and just runs down the hill. That house also has a foundation made of rocks.

Apr 19, 2023 05:26 AM
Ambassador
4,691,993
Brian England
Ambrose Realty Management LLC - Gilbert, AZ
MBA, GRI, REALTOR® Real Estate in East Valley AZ

Hmm, I am not even sure where the water from my washing machine drains, but I would assume it drains into the sewer.

Apr 19, 2023 05:06 AM
Rainmaker
7,834,939
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD
Apr 19, 2023 04:49 AM
Rainmaker
901,187
Carla Freund
Keller Williams Preferred Realty - Raleigh, NC
NC Real Estate Transition & Relocation 919-602-848

I believe all water goes into the septic system in our area unless someone specifically rerouted the gray water.

Apr 19, 2023 07:20 AM
Rainmaker
851,242
Brenda Mayette
Miranda Real Estate Group, Inc. - Glenville, NY
Getting results w/ knowledge & know-how!

I'm not a septic professional but sure have attended enough inspections AND have my own system... My answer is that it certainly CAN be released into the septic system but will place an added strain on it.  The use of a drywell for gray water discharge can be a way to address this.  BUT... I defer to my septic buddies for the official answer!  :)

Apr 19, 2023 05:13 AM
Rainmaker
5,868,372
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

I have sold a few homes with septic systems, and all water from the home, goes into the septic system.

Apr 19, 2023 06:09 AM
Rainmaker
922,083
David Popoff
DMK Real Estate - Darien, CT
Realtor®,SRS, Green ~ Fairfield County, Ct

Here in Connecticut yes it is, each state and county could be different.

Apr 19, 2023 05:17 AM
Rainmaker
1,196,588
Doug Dawes
Keller Williams Evolution - 447 Boston Street, Suite #5, Topsfield, MA - Topsfield, MA
Your Personal Realtor®

In Massachusetts, that's where grey water goes by Title 5 regulation. At my house, we use products that are safe to go into the septic via grey water.

Apr 19, 2023 07:56 AM
Ambassador
3,344,906
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

 

Parked and Reading. 

 

Apr 19, 2023 07:21 AM
Rainmaker
900,008
Olga Simoncelli
Veritas Prime, LLC dba Veritas Prime Real Estate - New Fairfield, CT
CONSULTANT, Real Estate Services & Risk Management

We live in an area of septic systems. Most water is released into the septic fields. For laundry machines, specific detergents are recommended. Recently, a CT regulation required that additional leaching fields be installed if equipment such as water softeners are put in place in a home, to empty out into their own areas.

Apr 19, 2023 06:30 AM
Rainmaker
2,781,013
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

The logic says the systems in place work just fine yet there are exceptions. I am reminded of how electronics, paint, and insecticides have to be disposed of accordingly yet via temptation, people just go to "out of sight, out of mind" and disrespect the rules in place. It is subjective. That's why communities where pride of ownership is practiced work so well.

Apr 19, 2023 06:15 AM
Rainmaker
2,182,502
Michael J. Perry
KW Elite - Lancaster, PA
Lancaster, PA Relo Specialist

I’ve heard that TIDE injures Septic Systems

Apr 23, 2023 08:18 AM
Ambassador
3,164,119
Tammy Lankford,
Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA
Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

not only allowed, but required.  If I had my way a lot of my "waste water" would not, it would water my lawn and garden.  A little dish soap won't hurt plants.  But I am a rule follower.

Apr 19, 2023 09:32 AM
Rainmaker
4,935,551
Will Hamm
Hamm Homes - Aurora, CO
"Where There's a Will, There's a Way!"

I remember back in Pennsylvania older homes had a pipe just running out of the house into a stream, not today anymore

 

Apr 19, 2023 09:23 AM
Ambassador
5,228,997
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

In NC & SC it is mandated that it does. They used to have separate drain lines but, no longer do.

Apr 19, 2023 08:54 AM
Rainmaker
1,746,165
Georgie Hunter R(S) 58089
Hawai'i Life Real Estate Brokers - Haiku, HI
Maui Real Estate sales and lifestyle info

Here in Maui County we are not allowed to drain gray water onto the ground and it should go into the septic system/cesspool.  Therefore I avoid using bleach in my washer.  Many people ignore the rules and use it to water their banana patch.

Apr 20, 2023 05:41 PM
Rainer
427,147
J.R. Schloemer
Kentucky Select Properties - Louisville, KY

Honestly, I do not know. We have sewers around here, and I have a septic guy for my septic systems that come up, I can see where it would be beneficial to divert the greywater from the brown water. I really do not know, and do not know of any separate systems in my area for greywater disposal,

Apr 20, 2023 03:03 PM
Rainer
378,367
Don Baker
Lane Realty - Eatonton, GA
Lake Sinclair Specialist

it's required, but stupid.  So we do it.

Apr 20, 2023 02:45 PM
Ambassador
6,392,879
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Most do, however I have seen a few that bypass the system and use the water to create a lush area of the lawn.

Apr 20, 2023 06:25 AM
Rainmaker
77,079
Tim Bray
Seaport Real Estate Services - Mystic, CT
B.S. Real Estate (UConn)

I want to thank everyone for their responses as I appreciate your time and professional insight.  I tend to trust but verify given our current environment. My conversation with the local health officials in CT are below and counter to what I have been told by the local inspectors. 

 

My name is Tim Bray, and I am the broker/owner of Seaport Real Estate Services. I am writing to you today on behalf of myself and my clients to raise an issue that we have been experiencing with inconsistencies between home inspectors, septic installers, and septic inspectors regarding the expelling of wastewater from washing machines into septic systems. As concerned citizens and real estate professionals, we are seeking guidance on the rules and regulations that govern this practice, and whether these regulations vary by town or location.

We would greatly appreciate any information you can provide us regarding the regulations surrounding expelling wastewater from washing machines into septic systems. Specifically, we are interested in knowing if there are any variations in these regulations from town to town. Additionally, we seek guidance on what steps we can take to ensure that our clients' septic systems comply with all applicable regulations.

Thank you so much for your time and consideration of this. We are excited to hear back from you soon.

 

Good Morning: Waste water from the washing machine known as grey water should be directed to the septic tank and leaching fields. Should the property owner choose not to do that the Connecticut Public Health Code allows in  Section 19-13-B103d (f) which  states ,” Disposal systems for sinks, tubs ,showers , laundry and other grey water from residential buildings, where no water flush toilet fixtures are connected shall be constructed with a septic tank and leaching system at least one-half the capacity specified for the required residential sewage disposal system. So if  a property owner chooses to do this the home would halve a septic system 1.5 times larger then the minimum required. This gets expensive so it not usually done and I assume the State of Connecticut Dept. of Health  are saying they want all waste going into one system. These regulations are state wide.
I assume some towns could have a regulation that that could be more restrictive than the Public Health Code but not less restrictive

Apr 20, 2023 02:03 AM
Rainmaker
424,200
Julie A. Black
KAUAI DREAMS REALTY Kauai Real Property Specialist - Kapaa, HI
CLHMS, CRS, GRI, Realtor, Broker

My house is on an old style cesspool. We took out the washing machine water from the cesspool once we got our final. 20 years later we took out our kitchen sink. The gray water goes down our valley and waters the gingers. This is a common but not legal practice in our area.

Apr 19, 2023 05:32 PM