Grey Water
Water is the most precious resource on earth - Grey2Green
image by: Katharina Löw
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Gray water systems: Good idea or bad mistake?
Most of us realize that water is a scarce resource and are looking for ways to use less of it in our homes. We need water to drink, for cooking, cleaning, flushing toilets, and, unless we are into xeriscaping, irrigation. We can save water by using more efficient fixtures, taking shorter showers, fixing leaks, and being more careful about how we use it. We can reuse water by capturing both rainwater and gray water — the stuff that goes down the drains in our bathrooms sinks, showers, tubs and washing machines.
It is possible to clean and filter gray water and reuse it both inside our homes and for irrigation, but it takes effort to do it right and it comes with challenges. First,…
Resources
What is Gray water?
Greywater, diverting water from sinks, showers, or laundry to hydrate the garden (or flush toilets), is coming into sharp focus as a viable option, and we couldn’t be happier. Greywater systems can reuse 50–80% of a household’s water use.
Bottles, Bins, and Funnels: Gardening in a Drought With Water You Waste
I looked at all the times when the most water went down the drain in my house, and found that the three most common points were at the shower, the kitchen sink, and the toilet. Other than reducing my flushes and using a low-flow model, there wasn't much water savings to be found at the toilet, so I went at the shower and kitchen sink with my bottles, bins, and funnels -- and in the process learned a lot more about how I use (and waste) water.
Critical Review: Regulatory Incentives and Impediments for Onsite Graywater Reuse in the United States.
This review covers regulations, barriers, and incentives for greywater regulations in the 50 states.
Drought Diary: My Pursuit of a Home Graywater System
“Water is like gold in a country with chronic drought,” Aunt Amelia said. “Why waste it?” A simple proposition with a seemingly simple answer. How hard could it be? So I set out to buy or build a graywater system for our home. Here are some of the lessons learned to date...
For good or bad, grey water systems becoming more popular due to drought
In Southern California, gardens are going grey. Grey water systems that take spent water from showers, bathroom faucets and washers and use it to quench the landscape are seen by some as the next step in sustainable gardening across bone-dry Southern California. The systems vary from simple gravity-flow styles that don’t require a filter or pump to high-end models like the self-cleaning ReWater — the Rolls Royce of grey water systems.
From Laundry to Landscape: Tap Into Greywater
Recycling your household water is smart and often surprisingly simple. Find out how you can embrace this “new” source of water.
Going Grey: Greywater Systems Catch on During Drought
One of my personal resolutions for 2015 was to install a greywater system - using water from sinks, showers and washing machines - at our house to help irrigate our yard with water that would otherwise be flushed away. But with greywater systems come more rules and regulations, not to mention installation hassles, so I decided to reach out to greywater system expert Laura Allen for answers.
Graywater Awareness and Usage Study
Prepared for the Soap and Detergent Industry. This study summarizes the results of a large, national survey including incidence of greywater usage, usage rates per region, why people use greywater, how they are using it, and demographic information. They found 7% of household in the US were using greywater, with highest concentration of users in the Southwest and West.
Long-Term Study on Landscape Irrigation Using Household Graywater – Experimental Study
This study looked at four existing greywater systems and three newly installed systems (in four states), as well as greenhouse applications of greywater. They monitored soil constituents and plant health. Some of their findings include: Most plants were healthy with long term irrigation of greywater and that greywater systems increased levels of sodium in the soil in the older systems, but not to a level of concern for plant health. They didn’t find greywater having a consistent effect on the levels of E. coli or enterococci in soil, contamination was inconsistent and also found in soil samples irrigated with fresh water. They also observed increased infiltration rates in both field and greenhouse studies, concluding that long-term greywater irrigation may increase soil infiltration rate.
Study of the effects of on-site greywater reuse on municipal sewer systems.
This study looks at how wide-scale use of greywater could impact municipal sewer systems. Researchers concluded the sewers would not be negatively affected.
There's A Simple Way To Make A Big Dent In California's Drought. Why Aren't Government Officials Promoting It?
If just one in ten Southern Californians were to install a greywater system in their home, the state would conserve as much potable water as it expects to generate through the massive $1 billion desalination plant that is about to come online in San Diego County, says Laura Allen, co-founder of Greywater Action and author of The Water-Wise Home.
Ultimate Guide To Re-Using Grey Water
Grey water is an important part of sustainable living because it is easy to treat and reuse in your home for several things. There are a number of countries that are already using this method, but for a majority of the US, this process isn’t heard of. Water is used and then simply discarded. However, one of the best places to start to help the drought in your area is to consider using grey water, and luckily, it is becoming a more and more common thing.
Using Sustainable Water to Plan for the Next Billion
Municipalities are looking for ways to improve the efficiency of their "greywater" management facilities, and local innovations could be the key.
Gray water systems: Good idea or bad mistake?
It is possible to clean and filter gray water and reuse it both inside our homes and for irrigation, but it takes effort to do it right and it comes with challenges.
Greywater Action
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. Through hands-on workshops and presentations, we've led thousands of people through greywater system design and construction and work with policymakers and water districts to develop codes and incentives for greywater, rainwater harvesting, and composting toilets. We believe that decentralized conservation measures can play a critical role in drought resilience, climate adaptation, and the return of healthy stream ecosystems.
Rainworks Blog – Concerning a Sustainable Fresh Water resuorce.
Greywater is the wastewater produced from baths, showers, clothes washers, and lavatory sinks; this is about 50-80% of the household water consumption which goes directly down the drain. Thats a whole lot of free water that could reduce the STRESS on municiple water systems.
The Greywater Guide
This guide has over 60 pages of free information, ranging from basic water saving tips right through to advanced irrigation techniques. Used properly, greywater irrigation can save over 80,000 gallons of potable water per year (family of four). That's great for the environment, but even better for your pocket. Plus, your garden will grow better; 30% better than a garden watered by hose or watering system!
Greywater Corps
We design and install residential greywater irrigation systems and teach homeowners how to use them. our systems are generally simple and low-maintenance, relying on gravity and natural processes to save water and turn your home into an essential part of a healthy ecosystem.
H2OME
Your personal resource for home rainwater catchment and greywater recycling.
Nexus eWater
Nexus has developed groundbreaking technology and is commercializing the world's first integrated water and heat recycling solution: the eWater Recycler.
Raincoast Education Society
The most common inputs of greywater are bathroom sinks, showers, and baths because the wastewater is much cleaner than other sources like the kitchen where water can be greasy or contain food particles.
ReWater Systems
Our time-proven ReWater® systems range from simple to sophisticated, and back-up your irrigation program with potable water so you always get your irrigation demand met, even when you go on vacation. Some of our systems can be adapted to use harvested rain. All now come with our 5th generation controller.
Seattle Greywater Initiative
Navigating policy channels to legalize residential greywater reuse in Seattle/King County... and someday in a neighborhood near you.
Sustainable Sources
The use of greywater for irrigation requires separate blackwater and greywater waste lines in the house. This is not a difficult task in new construction but can be problematic in existing buildings.
2G Water Solutions
At 2G (Second Generation) Water Solutions, we are your local specialists in laundry to landscape conversions: helping average homeowners do their part to help fight California's drought.
WaterNow
Waternow is a non-profit tackling the growing water crisis by jump-starting sustainable water solutions in communities … solutions that can repeat and scale.
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