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As California’s historic drought drags on, Los Angeles city council member Paul Krekorian does not want residential wastewater to go unused.

On Tuesday, Krekorian introduced a motion calling for new city standards that would allow use of greywater, or the relatively clean wastewater from sinks, bath tubs, washing machines and other appliances.

Up to 40 gallons of water per day could be collected, the motion says. Currently, each person in California uses about 70 gallons of water per day, according to state reports and The Los Angeles Times.

“We need to explore every reasonable water conservation option that will help us get through this terrible drought and make our city more sustainable,” Krekorian said in a statement, according to The Los Angeles Times. “Using greywater systems in homes throughout Los Angeles just makes sense.”

Currently, state regulations allow for this untreated wastewater to be used underground in irrigation systems. But it’s banned for use in spray irrigation. It also cannot be allowed to runoff into storm water systems or local waterways, according to the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety (PDF).

(MORE: Desalination a Solution for California's Water Problem?)

There are different types of greywater — light and dark, depending on the source and the level of contamination — that can be used and treated in different ways, according to current regulations, Yoran Cohen, Ph.D., a chemical engineer and clean water researcher at UCLA, wrote in a 2009 university article.

"The volume of residential greywater in Southern California appears sufficient to meet a significant portion of outdoor residential water demand,” Cohen wrote. "Coordinated government assistance for the selection, installation and deployment of distributed greywater systems is needed to accelerate the development of greywater recycling, and to alleviate the pressure on already dwindling potable water resources."

Krekorian wants the city to adjust regulations to allow gray water to be used on new construction sites and other “applicable circumstances,” The LA Times reports.

Greywater does come with risks, however. The Los Angeles Times wrote that a city Department of Water and Power report mentioned the risk of chemical contaminants. "When greywater is collected and used in accordance with the California Plumbing Code and when greywater reuse systems are designed, installed, and inspected by qualified professionals, then the risk is minimized, and greywater use is safe. Greywater use represents a potential risk. Greywater is not suitable for consumption. However, it is suitable for subsurface irrigation. Greywater must be handled properly, responsibly and without direct physical contact,” the report said.

All in all, this concept is nothing new. Treated wastewater is used for irrigation and other non-potable purposes around the world and has been for years. Successful use of this water requires only applying it to plants and soils that can handle the water’s additional salinity (as well as the presence of other chemicals) and other treatment strategies, according to a UN report on the topic.

In 2009, researchers from the University of California-Riverside, analyzed the safety of treated sewage water on crops and found no issues, according to a HealthDay report. 

"The levels of pharmaceuticals and personal care products that we found in food crops growing under real-world conditions were quite low and most likely do not pose any health concern," study leader Jay Gan said in a news release from the American Chemical Society at the time.

Next up for Los Angeles: The City Council’s Energy and Environment Committee will review Krekorian’s motion, according to the councilman's office.

MORE ON WEATHER.COM: Shocking Photos of California's Drought