How does recycled water differ from 'gray water’?

Recycled water is wastewater treated to approved levels for reuse for approved non-potable uses which are primarily landscape irrigation but can include industrial applications such as cooling tower make-up water. Graywater is defined in the California Water Code as “…untreated wastewater which has not been contaminated by any toilet discharge, has not been affected by infectious, contaminated, or unhealthy bodily wastes, and which does not present a threat from contamination by unhealthful processing, manufacturing, or operating wastes. Graywater includes wastewater from bathtubs, showers, bathroom washbasins, clothes washing machines, and laundry tubs but does not include wastewater from kitchen sinks or dishwashers.” 

Graywater can only be used to irrigate landscaping at the site from which the graywater is generated and can only be done using a subsurface irrigation system. IRWD does not exercise jurisdiction over customer-owned graywater systems.