Design standards for disposal alternatives/special applications.
El Paso City Code § 18.21.300
in effect18.21.300 - Design standards for disposal alternatives/special applications.
A. Greywater Systems. Generally, blackwater and greywater are approximately forty to sixty percent of the total domestic sewage flow, respectively. Subsurface greywater systems may be utilized with disposal of blackwater through a split system only under the following conditions:
1. A greywater disposal system utilizing anything other than conventional sewage treatment and absorption beds or trenches shall be designed and certified by a registered professional engineer or registered professional sanitarian who can provide to the licensing authority evidence that the system complies with all appropriate state regulations and local governmental regulations.
2. If flow restricting showerheads and faucet aerators are utilized throughout, a ten-percent reduction in greywater disposal trench, absorption bed, or evapotranspiration bed size will be allowed when a residential greywater system is incorporated into the disposal system design. The maximum allowable reductions in field size are determined by the type of system and the extent of watersaving fixture usage.
B. Composting Toilets. The composting toilet unit must be listed with the NSF. The NSF seal on a particular unit indicates its ability to meet the requirements of the NSF Standard Number 41, relating to wastewater recycle/reuse and water conservation devices. The liquid waste from the composting toilet unit must be disposed of through an approved subsurface disposal system.
C. Sewage Recycling Systems. For small on-site applications, sewage recycling systems are very limited in types and capability as follows:
1. On-site sewage recycling as flush water for urinals and commodes in commercial and institutional projects may be possible when advanced tertiary treatment processes are engineered into designs that meet or exceed NSF Standard Number 41 testing and certification requirements. An approvable design will be permitted only after the supplier and user of the recycle system enter into a post-installation inspection, maintenance, and repair agreement that satisfies the licensing authority.
2. Proposals to recycle highly refined sewage for use outside project buildings such as for surface landscape irrigation will be subject to requirements indicated in Section 18.21.080 of this chapter (relating to innovative designs) and by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality in 31 TAC Sections 317.1-317.13 (relating to design criteria for sewerage systems).
(Ord. 16818 § 2 (part), 2008; Ord. 9448 (part), 1988)
Source: City of El Paso, City Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/tx/el_paso/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT18BUCO_CH18.21PRSEFA_ARTVIDESTEFDISY_18.21.300DESTDIALSPAPFetched: 10/28/2026