Light wells are a Del Mar phenomenon which allow basement level living areas with natural lighting and ventilation where real estate is premium and buildings must be designed to limit visual impact for neighbors, and preserve existing views.
In addition to solving problems for living spaces, light wells also present an opportunity for onsite waste water management. Any basement level plumbing will typically require an ejection pump to the sewer because of their depth. Greywater fixtures — showers, baths, lav sinks and laundry — can be alternatively be plumbed to a surge tank in the light well to use reuse the water for landscape irrigation. This opportunity allows residents to capture all greywater fixtures, and avoid taking up valuable outside space with limited lot sizes.
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- Surge tank installed prior to building walls
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- Greywater Surge Tank in Light Well
These photos show a the development of greywater systems at two adjacent custom homes in coastal Del Mar. Greywater storage in the light well has all the required connections to sewer with the adjacent sewer ejection system (not shown) and three-way diverter valve.
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- Plumbing for future vent, greywater irrigation line, electrical and make up water
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- Greywater tank in second house
The greywater is pumped up and out of the light well to irrigate a variety of landscape plantings in the back yard areas overlooking the ocean.
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- Greywater tank in first home is in light well (first image)
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- Future greywater irrigation area
