Source: AJC.com

Going green could become the rule of law, not just a trend, in Sandy Springs. Spurred by the ongoing drought, city officials are considering a mandate for water-saving systems in most new homes.

The options include a “gray water recovery system” for residential construction priced at $500,000 or more, which is the majority of new housing in the affluent city. If approved, the requirement would be a first for metro Atlanta.

The council on Tuesday is expected to vote on several building code changes that are designed to reduce long-term water demand. Most of the options carry a modest cost, including low-volume faucets, bath fixtures and appliances in all new construction, and waterless urinals in new commercial buildings.

The requirement for a gray water recycling system, however, has raised hackles among builders. The Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association estimates it will cost $5,000 to $7,000 per home. The organization represents 2,000 builders in the metro area, and opposes the requirement.

“One, it’s going to be expensive. Two, I don’t see this as helping our drought conditions,” said Chris Burke, a vice president with the association.

Gray water is water that has already been used in a home and that can be used for other purposed, such as outdoor watering. It doesn’t include toilet water. Designs vary, but generally, a recovery system uses dual piping to capture the spent water, then deposits it in a storage tank, which is pumped for irrigation. Burke argues such systems will divert used water from the local sewer system and delay its return to the river system. Proponents, including some Sandy Springs officials, say the systems will reduce demand on the water supply, because landscapes can be irrigated with reclaimed water.

“All of the gray water is being recycled,” said Karen Meinzen-McEnerny, a council woman who supports the change.

She suspected future homeowners will support the water conservation measures. “We’re all in the same boat here,” Meinzen-McEnery said. “We all need to pull together. We need to be creative in how to conserve.”

Mayor Eva Galambos will vote on the water-conservation changes only in the event of a tie on the council. But she said she supports the changes, including the water recovery systems.

“If I had known this was a possibility when I built my home 10 years ago, if my architect had told me it was an option, I would have done it,” Galambos said.

The region need to respond to demands on the Chattahoochee River, she said.

“We have a long-range problem. This isn’t just the drought. The Chattahoochee River isn’t going to cut it if we’re going to continue to grow,” the mayor said. “You have to be constructive and look at water as a limited resource.”

Other council members are undecided. Dianne Fries said she’s worried about going beyond the norm of other communities.

“I know we need to look to conservation and we need to look to the future,” she said. “I worry about a mandate that would only put difficulties on the Sandy Springs builders and developers. This is a tough one.”