We design and install efficient greywater systems, diverting water from sinks, showers, and laundry to irrigate your landscape, significantly reducing water consumption and promoting sustainable resource use. Our systems are designed to meet local codes while maximizing water reuse potential.
San Francisco homes are ideal candidates for greywater: washers are often in garages or on exterior walls just steps from the garden, and the city's high water rates mean reuse pays for itself faster here than almost anywhere else in the state. A laundry-to-landscape system — the most popular type — sends rinse water straight to mulch basins around fruit trees and shrubs with no pumps or tanks, and under California plumbing code it typically doesn't require a permit. SFPUC has historically supported greywater adoption through its water-efficiency programs; we can help you check what incentives are currently available.
A simple laundry-to-landscape system that doesn't cut into existing plumbing is generally exempt from permitting under the California Plumbing Code. Systems that alter drain plumbing, like shower diversion, typically do require a permit. We'll tell you exactly which category your project falls into before any work begins.
Greywater is ideal for fruit trees, ornamental shrubs, and established perennials, delivered below the mulch surface. It shouldn't be used on lawns, root crops, or anything where the edible part touches the water. We design the system around plants that thrive on it.
Not with the right products and design. The key is switching to greywater-compatible detergents — low in sodium and boron — and distributing water across enough basins that salts don't accumulate. We give you a short approved-product list and check your soil type during the design.
Laundry-to-landscape systems are nearly maintenance-free: an occasional filter check and making sure mulch basins stay clear. There are no pumps or tanks to service. We walk you through the simple seasonal checks at installation.
Smart, efficient irrigation systems including gridded in-line drip for various landscape applications.
Transform water-intensive lawns into beautiful, sustainable landscapes that conserve resources and support local ecosystems.
Swales, rain gardens, berms, and hugelkulturs for effective water management and erosion control.
Conversion of 8,400 sq ft of Petaluma park lawn into a water-wise native habitat garden.
Hillside Tiburon property prepared for market with garden refresh and fire-risk reduction.
Sebastopol homestead with 20+ in-ground beds, 20+ fruit trees, a pollinator garden, and 8-zone smart drip irrigation.
Let's begin the journey to a thriving, harmonious landscape. Connect with us to explore how Organic Motifs can bring your ecological aspirations to life.