Greywater-Going Grey to Get Green
From taking a bath to watering your lawn
What do you do with the water that remains after a long, hot bath? Send it down the drain, most likely. Before you pull the plug in your bathtub, consider reclaiming the sudsy but still valuable H2O to water your lawn. Sound strange? It’s not. Millions of Americans are reusing their “graywater” everyday to water their landscape, saving gallons of water and pocketfuls of money.
Amidst severe drought, California recently made some changes to its graywater laws so that more citizens can partake in this eco-friendly practice. Californians can now install simple graywater-reuse systems without buying a construction permit or paying installation fees which should dramatically increase the number of of graywater recyclers. In California alone, an estimated 1.7 million water-reuse systems are installed, most of which were technically illegal because homeowners avoided paying permit fees. With the passage of California Assembly Bill 313 these consumers most likely would now be legal.
What exactly is graywater?
Graywater is untreated water from your house that has not been in contact with toilet waste, like used water from baths, showers, bathroom sinks, and washing machines. Graywater does not include water from kitchen sinks, toilets, and dishwashers. This is called blackwater, which needs to have a separate plumbing system due to high bacterial content which is unsuitable for irrigation.
Why is it so important for you and water conservation?
According to California state officials, an average home produces 160 gallons of graywater per day, or 60,000 gallons per year, most of which is not reused; however, if a family of four reused graywater from washing machines, they could save 22,000 gallons of water a year. By reusing greywater to irrigate landscaping and to fill toilets, you can conserve water, and reduce your water and sewer bills. About 60% of your home’s water outflow is graywater which you can reuse, even during droughts when outdoor water may be limited. Graywater is used for landscape irrigation which can keep your lawn looking pristine, adding value to your home.
How to get started
To reuse graywater, your home first needs a special system that separates graywater from blackwater. Before California’s graywater laws were revised, a construction permit was required to install even a simple system, however, the urgency of California’s water situation eliminated this requirement and, along with it, permit fees. Simple graywater-reuse systems are used to collect water from a single drain attached to a washing machine, showers, or other acceptable sources. Homemade systems can cost as little as $200 while still being effective. If you want to install a system yourself without the help of a landscape contractor, keep these tips in mind.
1. A typical graywater system consists of the following:
A three-way diverter valve (as pictured) which diverts water to a sewer or irrigation system.- A treatment facility such as a sand filter, and a bilge pump to keep your water clean.
- A holding tank which cools the water and temporarily keeps it from the drain hose
- An irrigation system.
2. You must determine if you have enough land to install a graywater system. State guidelines state that there must be minimal to no contact between homeowners and graywater, which requires the area of water released to be covered with at least 2 inches of rock or mulch. Generally, if your home is located on a lot of a quarter acre or larger, with some buffer space between you and your neighbors and/or a yard, you should have a good chance of meeting the specs
3. Your graywater system must release water to an irrigation field or a sewer.
4. You cannot use your graywater system to water root vegetables like carrots and turnips.
5. After designing your graywater system, you must submit the design plan for review and approval by building inspectors adhering to graywater standards.
6. After approval, you can install your system. Upon completion, it must be checked by an inspector.
For more information about
…Installing a greywater-reuse system
August 14th, 2009 at 12:05 pm
[...] So why isn’t everybody doing it? Mostly because it takes time, effort and money to install a mechanical gray water system. And you need to find a contractor with the skills and experience to install the system properly. It’s really worth looking into. For more information on gray water policies in your area, see Oasis Design. For guidance on how to get started with your own gray water system, visit GrayWater.net or Sierra Club Green Home. [...]
September 9th, 2009 at 8:55 pm
There currently exists a manufacutered residential greywater system, made in Colorado, by Water Legacy. It is mainly for new homes but the concept is amazing. The theory is to Not Flush drinking water. The website is http://www.waterlegacy.com
October 16th, 2009 at 3:04 pm
i didnt know you could do this. wow this is awesome.
November 6th, 2009 at 1:34 pm
Something about recycling shower water into recycled water is a little gross but it’s very eco-friendly.
November 11th, 2009 at 4:10 pm
Setting up a graywater system seems like a lot of work. But I guess I can understand it takes work to save water!
January 20th, 2010 at 1:28 pm
This is a great informational article on greywater. Several areas outside of the United States have already accepted greywater as a viable resource (Australia is an example where it is really taking off). This article does a great job of pointing out irrigation as a typical component – it should be mentioned additionally that on average, landscape irrigation makes up 32% of US residential water usage.
I would also suggest checking out Flotender. From the website, “Our solution is simple. Use water from your shower, bathtub, and washing machine to water your landscape via ultra efficient drip irrigation. This provides a second use of water you are already using, allowing you to irrigate year-round, while dramatically reducing your household water consumption.” The system comes pre-assembled and can be installed by any homeowner. http://www.flotender.com