Before install day
The process starts with a brief pre-install consultation. A Greenwater technician reviews your home's drain line layout — typically using photos or a short video walkthrough — to determine the best valve placement locations and where the filtration unit will sit. Most homes are straightforward; the consultation takes 20–30 minutes.
You'll also discuss your garden irrigation setup during the consultation. The filtration unit output connects to either an existing drip irrigation system or a new distribution line we run to your garden. Knowing your garden layout in advance helps the technician plan the most efficient routing on install day.
What happens on install day
A Greenwater installation follows four stages:
Drain line assessment
The technician locates accessible drain points for your shower and bathroom sink lines — typically at the drain stack or accessible clean-out points. No wall cutting is required in the vast majority of installations.
Valve pack installation
Diversion valves are installed on the gray water drain lines. These valves route water to the filtration unit when quality sensors detect reclaimable gray water, and pass water to the normal sewer line when it doesn't qualify — such as during the first few seconds of a cold shower.
Filtration unit installation
The three-stage filtration unit — roughly the size of a large water softener — is installed in your utility room, garage, or crawlspace. It connects to the diversion valves and to your garden irrigation lines or a dedicated outdoor distribution point.
Commissioning and calibration
The system runs through calibration cycles. The AI establishes baseline sensor readings for your specific water chemistry and usage patterns. You receive access to the Greenwater monitoring dashboard, which shows live water quality, diversion volumes, and cumulative savings.
Does installation require permits?
In most US states, Greenwater's installation method does not require permits. The system connects to existing drain lines at accessible points without modifying your plumbing stack, which keeps it out of the permit-required category under most local plumbing codes. States with specific gray water codes — California, Arizona, Texas, New Mexico, and others — explicitly permit this type of connection without a permit for residential systems under a certain daily volume threshold.
We verify permit requirements for your specific address and jurisdiction before every installation and handle any required filings if your jurisdiction does require them.
What changes in your home after installation?
From a day-to-day perspective, nothing changes in how you use your home. Your showers, sinks, and toilets work exactly as before. The only visible change is the filtration unit in your utility area and the garden distribution line to your yard.
What does change is your water bill. Households in our pilot program report a 30–50% reduction in outdoor water use — the category that typically makes up the largest portion of residential water bills during spring and summer months.
How long does it take for the system to start saving water?
The system begins diverting and recycling gray water on the same day as installation. Savings are immediate — every shower you take from day one produces water that goes to your garden rather than the sewer.