How And Why To Reuse Greywater

How And Why To Reuse Greywater. Photo – Wikipedia – lic. under CC-BY-2.0

Did you know 50-80 percent of household waste water is considered greywater?

What is it?:
When many think of greywater, they imagine sewage. It isn’t. Grey water is actually water from your home that has not been in contact with human waste. The sources of grey water include showers, sinks, bathroom vanities and even washing machines if they used a natural, biodegradable detergent. It should be noted water should not be used from dishwashers or the kitchen sink. This is because of the caustic additives, organic materials and fats.

How it Benefits you:
There may be a few situations in which collecting your greywater is beneficial to you. It is an excellent way to save on your water bill. Depending on your method of collecting greywater, you can save up to an astonishing
40,000 gallons a year!

Whether you have municipal water or a well, you will be saving your valuable resources. Reusing your greywater is an exemplary way to help the environment.

If you live in an area that is prone to drought or drought like conditions, using greywater is a must in order to be able to properly (and legally) maintain your garden, yard, vehicles or any other activity that is deemed unnecessary during these times. Simply save your greywater and put it to the side until you are ready to use!

How to Properly Collect Greywater:
Speaking of collecting greywater I’m sure you’re wondering how. One simple way is to place a bucket under your sink in order to catch excess water that would otherwise go to waste. You can do this in the bathroom when brushing your teeth or washing your face or the kitchen when washing vegetables. You can also place a bucket in the shower to catch the water as you wait for it to heat up. Another option is to purchase a greywater collection, filtration and pressurizing system. These can cost as much as $10,000.

You may also wash your dishes in a dishpan rather than directly in the sink. Wash vegetables in a pan with a little vinegar added. Both of these allow you to use the excess water in your yard or garden.

Uses of Greywater:
The most common and simple way of using greywater is to use it in gardens and irrigation systems. You should not place it directly on vegetables of fruits. This is especially true for the ones you eat raw such as carrots. It
may also be used in a drip irrigation system.

You may also use it for purposes such as flushing the toilet. If you purchased the before mention filtration system depending on the level of advancement, it may make greywater safe for drinking.

Location and Regulations:
There are places in the United States, Europe and Australia where the International Plumbing Code (IPS) is already in effect. The IPC is in charge of protecting the public health when handling installation inspection in homes, commercial buildings and schools. They also handle wastewater design and installation.

The International plumbing code allows greywater to be used for toilet flushing and subsurface irrigation. Another code that may be used is the Uniform Plumbing Code. For states that adopt this code, greywater may be reused in underground disposal fields.

Be sure to take safety precautions when using greywater. Research the use from multiple sources. Checking with local authority will insure it is done properly.