[kenneth357]

I have a outdoor washer machine and the drain water go in the yard is it OK, in Miami Dade County I do not have sewer in this area I have a septic tank.

[speedball1]

Hi Ken and welcome to The Plumbing Page at ANHD.com. I live in Florida and I know of no code that would allow you to drain gray water out on the ground. For septic systems the kitchen and the washer all go to a grease trap before entering the septic tank, The grease trap is there to trap the grease and lint before it gets out in your drain field and plugs up the system. Route the drain to a grease trap. If you have a septic tank you have a grease trap. Good luck. Tom

[Fr_Chuck]

Agreed, not just onto the ground, but into septic should be OK.

[speedball1]

not just onto the ground, but into septic should be OK.

I hate to disagree with a expert with 70 thousand posts to his name but if you discharge the washer and kitchen sink directly into the septic tank without first going through a grease trap you'll destroy the drain field. Good luck, Tom

[joypulv]

"Many plants used for landscaping benefit from being watered with household gray water, according to a study released Monday by the nonprofit organization Water Environmental Research Foundation. The study looked at seven homes in California, Arizona, Colorado and Texas with new and longstanding gray-water systems that recycle waste water from sinks, washing machines and showers for use irrigating outdoor plants." - LA Times 10/3/12 It goes on to suggest what detergents to avoid.

Of course you asked if it's legal and that has been addressed. I have wondered this myself, living in a rural area, and knowing of people back in the 60s who drained bathing and laundry water out into yards or even non-meat kitchen water directly into compost piles. Especially during droughts.