Water is one of our most precious resources, and in California we feel that reality every day. A greywater system — which redirects water from showers, sinks, and laundry to irrigate your landscape — is one of the simplest, most impactful ways to close the loop in your home.

At Traditional Craftworks, we like to think of greywater as an old idea brought into the present: using what you already have, designing with care, and letting your home work in rhythm with the land.

Conserve Fresh Water
Greywater systems can reduce household potable water use by ~30 – 40% depending on landscaping needs. That’s thousands of gallons a year that don’t have to come from reservoirs or treatment plants.
Keep Your Garden Green & Super Healthy, Even in Drought
Instead of sending lightly used water down the drain, you can water fruit trees, shrubs, or native plantings. It’s irrigation with a built-in rhythm: every time you take a shower or do laundry, the garden gets a drink. Also plants love greywater and thrive on it.
Lower Your Utility Bills
In a typical Bay Area home, outdoor irrigation is one of the biggest uses of water. By switching part of that to greywater, a large Bay Area home with landscaping can save ~$900 – $1200/year on water bills, depending on yard size and habits. And water costs will only continue to rise.
Simple, Scalable & Legal
Laundry-to-landscape systems often don’t require permits in California and can be installed in a weekend with the right plumbing knowledge. More advanced branched-drain systems can scale up to handle whole-house greywater.

Builder’s Note
Installing a greywater system is one of those rare home projects that’s good for your wallet, your garden, and your watershed. It keeps water moving in cycles, nourishes your landscape, and helps your home become more resilient.

As with any artisan building approach, it’s about designing with intention and letting natural systems do the work.