WC144 SeptOct 2025 - Magazine - Page 10
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building owners perceive those attitudes. For those building
for enlightened “green” or “net zero” buyers or tenants, it is
easier to contemplate that any residual feelings of disgust or
Barriers to greater use of grey water systems
concerns about safety will be swamped by the desire to contribute to environmental goals. For those building low-cost
BY AARON ATCHESON, HUGH HUNT, AND OWEN ATCHESON
buildings, it is a stretch to ask them to take on the additional
S MOST READERS are aware, implementation of
plumbing of a grey water system in hopes that buyers or tengrey water systems in homes and businesses can result
ants put value on the environmental benefit or the somewhat
in a substantial decrease in water use from a building.
reduced water bills.
Grey water systems involve the reuse, usually after
On the regulatory side, one of the greatest issues relates
some level of treatment, of lightly used water for another
to the complexity of interwoven regulatory schemes,
use in the building that does not require drinking quality
between federal, provincial and municipal regulation.
water. An example is the re-use of laundry rinse water for
Health Canada publishes guidelines on these systems, the
use in toilets or for lawn maintenance. But for an assortCanadian Standards Association publishes requirements
ment of reasons, these systems are rare in most Canadian
for non-potable water re-use systems, and the National
jurisdictions, and without action by some level of governPlumbing Code recognizes grey water and rainwater systems.
ment, are likely to stay that way.
Provinces have additional guidelines. BC has enshrined
certain requirements in regulations, and
Ontario has incorporated grey water
reuse into the Ontario Building Code.
“Grey water systems involve the reuse, usually after some
Layering in municipal building permits
level of treatment, of lightly used water for another use in the
and any additional requirements, and
potential consumers have their heads
building that does not require drinking quality water.”
spinning.
As noted, the financial benefit of
Impediments to adoption can be categorized as psychologicinstalling grey water systems in existing buildings is low, and
al, regulatory or financial. On the psychological side, there are
there are few incentives being offered. From the position of
evolutionary and historical components involved. The impulse
municipalities, whose charges for water include a component
to find water reuse disgusting comes from our inherited safety
intended to pay for the cost of building water infrastructure,
concerns, and the historical belief that only fully cleaned and
lowering the amount of water used from their system makes
treated water is adequate for use, means that partially treated
little financial sense, and providing financial incentives to
water is regarded as less than safe. Additionally, Canadians peradopt them makes even less.
ceive fresh, drinkable water as abundant and inexpensive due
What could be done to turn the tide? Chris Dooley,
to the country’s vast freshwater resources, reducing any urgency
CEO of Greyter Water Systems, Inc., an installer of grey
in adopting water-saving technologies.
water systems that started in Canada and expanded into
Because of the cost and lengthy payback period of installjurisdictions such as Florida and Colorado, points to
ing grey water systems during renovations—and the resulting
incentives that are in place in areas where fresh water supplies
greater importance of adoption in new buildings—what
are limited or water infrastructure has been under-built.
really matters is not the attitude of new home buyers or
Florida allows builders incorporating grey water systems up
commercial tenants themselves, but how home builders and
to 35 per cent greater density in subdivisions, while Colorado
provides a discount on certain fees. While it is admirable that
the City of Guelph makes available up to $1,000 in rebates,
Aaron Atcheson is a partner with Miller Thomson LLP
these incentives are few and far between in Canada, and
in its London, Ont., and is the leader of the firm’s Projects Group. Aaron
practices real estate, environmental, and business law with an emphasis
not sufficient or targeted enough to change builder habits.
on energy and infrastructure projects.
Canadians need to be educated on the realities of grey water
systems and the environmental benefits. Once people see
Hugh Hunt is a student with the London, Ontario office of
Miller Thomson LLP and a student at Western University’s Faculty of Law.
these systems adopted by others within their circles, having
grey water systems in place in new homes could become as
Owen Atcheson is a student in the faculties of psychology and
ubiquitous as renting a water heater.
biology at Huron University College and Western University.
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WATER C AN ADA • SEP TEMBER/OCTOBER 2025
WAT E R C A N A D A . N E T
