Grey Water
Why it's important
There’s a reason that a key component of green building is water efficiency and reuse. Nationwide water use statistics are nothing short of staggering. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the average American uses 88 gallons of water per day. Nationwide, landscape irrigation is estimated to account for nearly one-third of all residential water use, totaling nearly 9 billion gallons per day. And some experts estimate that as much as 50 percent of water used for irrigation is wasted due to evaporation, wind, or runoff caused by inefficient irrigation methods and systems. That means billions of gallons of clean, fresh water is wasted daily, due to ineffective irrigation systems.
You may be thinking, “There’s got to be a better way! How can I reduce my home’s outdoor water use?” You’re in luck — there’s a very simple, easy, and inexpensive way to do so. Greywater systems redirect greywater (water used for washing) from going into the sewer system and into an irrigation system instead. For any eco-friendly home, recycling usable water is definitely something to seriously consider. Installing a greywater system means you’ll conserve water and reduce your monthly utility bills, all while providing valuable nutrients to your lawn and garden.
Elemental Green - THE COMPLETE BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO GREYWATER SYSTEMS
Note: The methods explored on this page focus on ways to install more-or-less automatic systems. While these are a great option for builders and land-owners, renters or landowners with buildings which can't easily be modified can use tubs or buckets placed in a sink when people rinse their hands or produce without any cleaning chemicals. Or while standing in the shower while using grey-water safe hygiene supplies. Water collected can be put immediately out on the garden, or be kept in a container similar to a rain barrel for later use on plants.
What is Grey Water?
"The concept is simple in principal: you want capture all the water from your sinks, showers and other drains into one place called a “surge tank” which is a fancy way of saying a tank that can take a lot of water at once and then slow down the flow. From there you want to allow the water to slow down just enough so any solids can settle out to the bottom and then let the cleaner water move on."
Grey Water System Diagram
"In the diagram to the right you can see the basics of a system. You’ll see how the washer can be switched with a branched valve to either go to the sewer or the outside irrigation. The water then travels outside, into the garden and finally into drip points above mulch beds."
Are Grey Water Recycling Systems Expensive?
Do It Yourself grey water recycling systems can be pretty inexpensive. If you are running plumbing drain lines directly outside into the garden, the costs are relatively low. You will need some dedicated drain lines plus labor. You may also want a diverter valve (about $30) that will let you choose if you want the water going down the sewer or into your garden. You can learn more about installing a “laundry-to-landscape” system at greywateraction.org. However, remember that you must comply with your local plumbing code when doing this type of work. Most municipalities require some level of filtration before the grey water goes into the ground, as soaps and detergents can damage plants and groundwater.
https://www.buildwithrise.com/stories/greywater-recycling-systems-for-homes
Additional Resources
Types of systems
Laundry Drum
Laundry-to-Landscape
Branched Drain
Constructed Wetlands
Pumped Systems
Organizations
North America
USA
Greywater Action " is a collaborative of educators who teach residents and tradespeople about affordable and simple household water systems that dramatically reduce water use and foster sustainable cultures of water."
Their resources include a directory of greywater installers, an online class, compost toilets and rain water harvesting info, including some pages about building codes and policies.
