Greywater Systems
Reusing Bath, Laundry & Sink Water to Conserve Fresh Water
Everyday millions of people wake up and take a hot shower before starting their day.
Some take an evening bath in a standard bathtub or large whirlpool soaking tub.
A couple of times a day people use the bathroom sink to wash up or brush their teeth.
Several times a week families do one or more loads of laundry depending on the size of family.
An average four person household sends well over 38,000 gallons of reusable water down the drain each year from bathrooms and laundries.
Where does all of that used water go?
If you have a septic system this water mixes with your black water (from flushing toilets) and eventually goes into the septic tank and drain fields. Possible ground or drinking water contamination could result. If you live in a municipality it might go into the sanitary sewer system.
In many parts of the country fresh water is scarce, especially during the hotter seasons of the year. Lawn watering contributes a great deal to freshwater depletion. Lower reservoirs, wells and rivers result from increased fresh water usage.
There may be a better way.
Greywater (or Graywater) systems allow homeowners to filter greywater for use in watering gardens, yards,plants and flushing toilets. Not disposing of greywater into septic systems keeps the septic tank and drain field from becoming overtaxed with fluids. In cities the sanitary sewer system also benefits from less volume of greywater to treat and process.
Using composting toilets with greywater systems allows the homeowner to eliminate the need for a septic or sanitary sewer system. The environment benefits with such an arrangement.
What are the options?
There are basically two types of greywater systems: gravity fed manual systems and package systems. The manual systems do not require electricity or pumps because they work on gravity taking the greywater to the area needed. They may require a larger yard area to install the system outside. Packaged systems require electricity but are self-contained and can be installed indoors. With each option codes and local ordinances should be considered.
Not Most Current But a Start
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