City of Guelph Residential Grey Water Reuse Field Test

Type of initiative FCM Green Municipal Fund - Plans, Studies, Pilots
Sector Water
Project value$234,468
Project Type Feasibility Study
Sub Sector Water Conservation
Grant amount$72,524
Program type GMF
Municipality City of Guelph, ON
Status Fully Disbursed
Population 143,740
Project timeline 2009 - 2012
Project number 10186

Description

The City of Guelph will conduct a feasibility study to gather more information about residential greywater reuse systems. The project team will install greywater reuse systems in participating homes to collect raw greywater from showers and baths and reuse it for toilet flushing. Monitoring equipment will measure the amount of greywater produced and used each day. A lab will analyze water samples to monitor water quality. Researchers will conduct homeowner surveys and interviews to measure acceptance levels, and the city will make changes to the system to address concerns as they arise. The research team will do a full life-cycle cost analysis and gather information on overall system management and maintenance requirements. The study will also gather information on potential energy savings and reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and is expected to lead to the implementation of a new residential greywater reuse rebate program. The goal of the program would be to install 200 residential greywater reuse systems in the city by 2019. Successful implementation of this project would reduce potable water use and utility costs and improve environmental stewardship.
(Project description from original funding application)

Applicant

City of Guelph, ON