What Is The Cost To Install Greywater Systems In Los Angeles?

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What Is The Cost To Install Greywater Systems In Los Angeles?

Background – As water scarcity becomes increasingly more evident throughout California, more developers, corporations, and institutions are exploring ways to conserve water and reduce municipal water expenses. Greywater harvesting is emerging as one of the most effective solutions for projects in Los Angeles and surrounding area. This category of water comes from lav sinks, showers, and washing machines, and may be treated and reused for non-potable demands, like toilet flushing, site irrigation, cooling tower makeup, and beyond. While the societal and environmental benefits of greywater harvesting are clear, many architects, engineers and developers are still hesitant to consider greywater integration due to upfront costs. The following will explore these costs relative to the Los Angeles area, what determines commercial greywater harvesting system pricing, and how to get the most from such an investment.

System Size – One of the biggest factors affecting greywater harvesting system pricing is simply the size of the system itself – the larger it is, the more components it will require, and the more extensive and costly the labor for installation it will require. Systems are sized based on type and volume of daily water supply for a building, the scale and layout of the building, the type and extent of the water demands in the building, and the demand pressurization. A small commercial or institutional building with only a few employees may only generate 500 gallons of greywater per day, while a large multifamily residential building, hotel or dormitory may generate upwards of 5,000 gallons per day. Prices begin around $250,000 for a typical commercial or multi-residential greywater scope, and increase to $500,000 and beyond, for large-scale commercial scopes featuring hybrid systems (multi-source/multi-demand). Due to treatment standards required by State, County, and Municipal agencies, greywater systems must include extensive filtration and sanitation in order to achieve third-party certification.

Installation – The complexity and scale of the system installation is another key factor in determining system pricing. The larger the building and site, and therefore, the water harvesting system required, the greater the number of components, piping, fittings, etc, and the more extensive the installation labor required. A commercial office or hotel may require extensive piping, multiple filtration systems, and complex distribution networks to serve toilet flushing alone, or toilet flushing, landscape irrigation, and cooling tower makeup.

Maintenance – Because greywater systems are designed to reduce water consumption for the long-term, the cost of system maintenance must be factored in. As with other plumbing and mechanical systems, greywater harvesting system requires regular observation to ensure proper function throughout the year. This includes regularly cleaning filters, testing valves and pumps, testing sanitation systems (Ultra Violet and chlorine dosing systems), and confirming overall water distribution continues to be optimal. Depending on system complexity, and the frequency to replace consumables (filters, chlorine, etc), annual maintenance costs range between around $800 and $2,000+, and though building staff may perform basic operations and maintenance tasks, third party specialists may be contracted for more involved tasks involving highly complex systems.

Incentives – The cost of implementing greywater in the Los Angeles area may be offset when developers and owners qualify for incentives (loans, rebates and grants) available through State and Municipal authorities, and local utilities. In recent years, incentives have increased for those who install greywater harvesting systems to reduce water consumption. Though they vary widely in scale, incentives are quickly becoming more common in California, will aid in reducing the cost os greywater integration.

Who Are We?

Wahaso Water Harvesting Solutions has learned all that should be done when installing commercial greywater harvesting systems and managed to refine these principles so that businesses and industries have a fairer end of the deal. We are detail-oriented with impeccable internal standards, a healthy project routine, and admirable customer support.

For any commercial Greywater Systems requests we’ll be glad to offer you customized information when you contact us. Or click link to get a free analysis and estimate.