Greywater Reuse - Greywater Action

Introduction to Greywater

• Greywater Definition: Water from bathroom sinks, showers, tubs, and washing machines, not in contact with feces.
• Contents: May include dirt, food, grease, hair, and some cleaning products.
• Usage: Safe for irrigation; valuable for plants but potential pollutant in water bodies.
• Benefits: Water conservation, reduced sewage load, reconnects urban living with natural water cycles.

Usage Guidelines

• Direct Piping: Water plants or trees.
• Plant Safety: Use plant-friendly products; avoid products with salt, boron, chlorine bleach.

Philosophy

• Design Simplicity: Prefer simple, low-tech designs using gravity over pumps.
• System Preference: Low-maintenance systems that avoid clogging are preferred.
• Complex Systems: Suitable for multi-family, commercial, or industrial uses; involve pumps and filtration.

Basic Guidelines for Greywater Systems

1. Storage: Avoid storing for over 24 hours.
2. Contact: Minimize human and animal contact.
3. Infiltration: Ensure water soaks into the ground, avoid pooling.
4. Simplicity: Keep systems simple, avoid pumps and filters.
5. Flexibility: Install a 3-way valve for easy switching.
6. Irrigation Needs: Match greywater output with plant needs.

Types of Simple Systems

From the Washing Machine

• Laundry Drum: Economical, requires manual hose movement.
• Laundry-to-Landscape: Flexible, low-maintenance; does not alter plumbing.

From the Shower

• Branched Drain: Gravity-based, minimal maintenance, long-term efficiency.

From the Sinks

• Usage Caution: Kitchen sinks high in organic matter; bathroom sinks can combine with shower systems.
• Constructed Wetlands: For nutrient absorption and particle filtration.

Pumped Systems

• Usage: Necessary when gravity cannot transport greywater.
• Cons: Additional cost, electricity use, potential breakdown.

Indoor Greywater Use

• Simpler Outside: Economical to use greywater outdoors.
• Simple Methods: Use buckets for non-system reuse, like warming shower water.

Plants and Greywater

• Preferred Plants: Suitable for trees, bushes, large annuals.
• Challenges: Difficult for widespread small plants.

Additional Resources

• Links to further reading on greywater products, systems, and maintenance.