HB 13-1044 Summary

• Authorizes Colorado residential, commercial, and industrial facilities to collect and reuse graywater (wastewater from sinks, showers, bathtubs, and laundry machines) for nondrinking purposes to reduce potable water consumption.

• Defines "graywater" as wastewater collected before treatment or mixing with other wastewater, excluding sources from toilets, urinals, kitchen sinks, dishwashers, and utility sinks, and defines "graywater treatment works" as devices used to collect and treat graywater within the same building or facility.

• Requires local cities, counties, or city-county governments to adopt ordinances or resolutions authorizing graywater use and establishes that local governments have exclusive enforcement authority over graywater compliance.

• Permits graywater use only where local governments have authorized it and only in accordance with existing water rights, decrees, contracts, and well permits; graywater use cannot exceed what would be allowed under existing water law.

• Encourages groundwater management districts and the plumbing examining board to adopt rules and codes supporting graywater systems; requires no new state appropriations to implement the act.