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What Is Greywater?
Greywater is any household wastewater with the exception of wastewater
from toilets, which is known as blackwater. Typically, 50-80% of household
wastewater is greywater from kitchen sinks, dishwashers, bathroom sinks,
tubs and showers. Of course, if you use a composting toilet, 100% of your
household wastewater is greywater.
Water Fact:
As water filters through the
biological surface layer of Freshly generated greywater is not as nasty as blackwater, but if it's not
soil, it is purified by handled properly it can soon become so. Greywater decomposes at a much
microorganisms and plant faster rate than blackwater and if stored for as little as 24 hours, the
roots.
bacteria in it use up all the oxygen and the greywater becomes anaerobic
and turns septic. After this point it is more like blackwater - stinky and a
Let's Go Green Inc. health hazard. In fact, many jurisdictions have strict regulations about
911 Ranchview Cres NW
disposal of greywater, some even require it to be treated as blackwater.
Calgary, Alberta
Canada T3G 1A4
1-888-248-9754 Not all greywater is equally "grey". Kitchen sink water laden with food solids
and laundry water that has been used to wash diapers are more heavily
contaminated than greywater from showers and bathroom sinks. Although
greywater from these sources contains less pathogens than blackwater,
many regulatory bodies consider it as blackwater.
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Area too small - You need enough soil to process the greywater and
enough plants to use it.
To recycle greywater safely, users must understand the nature of the grey
water itself as well as the natural cycles and processes involved in the
purification of it. Each set of circumstances requires its own unique recycling
system for optimum results.
For most residential purposes, low-tech, home made grey water systems
tend to outperform and outlast expensive pre-made systems.
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Health risks are often cited by regulators as reasons for requiring high-tech
expensive systems although there are no recorded instances of greywater–
transmitted illness in the US. However, greywater may contain infectious
organisms. Bear this in mind when designing and using a system. A poorly
designed system could become a pathway for infecting people.
Precautions
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a surface waterway
People - Those who design, make and maintain the system, generate
the greywater, tend the garden and eat the food it produces. People
are a critical but often overlooked component of the system
Features
no filter
no pump
no surge tank
little or no
maintenance
lasts forever
Branched Drain
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Features
same as drain to
mulch basin
automatically
disperses greywater
to several locations
Constructed Wetland
Features
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Features
food production
ground should slope sharply away from the outlet at first, then may
gradually flatten
apply the greywater in a warmer microclimate, eg. the south and west
side of a house with a windbreak to the north will be significantly less
frosty and may extend your irrigation season
in cold climates, the heat in the greywater may be its most valuable
aspect
Drain-water heat recovery extracts heat from shower drain water and
use it to preheat water entering the hot water heater. Click here for
more information on drain-water heat recovery.
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site
greywater sources
irrigation needs
climate
water availability
What other lifestyle changes are you willing to make regarding water
conservation?
Landscape goals
Other goals
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Exceptions
Pump zeal - Pumps won't work without filtration and filters clog
quickly due to the high solids content in greywater. Pumps shorten
the life of your system, and you may be substituting electricity waste
for water waste
In Conclusion
low flush/composting toilets and "If it's yellow let it mellow" policy
aerators on faucets
natural landscaping
rainwater harvesting
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The information on this page is used with the kind permission of Art Ludwig.
Art is an ecological systems designer who has done extensive work with
greywater systems. For more information, please visit his website
www.oasisdesign.net where you'll find more than 300 pages of information
about greywater as well as the leading books on greywater.
© 2005-2009 Let's Go Green Inc. ~ All Rights Reserved ~ Learn About Greywater Recycling
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