Greywater RecyclingRecycling
greywater reduces the burden on urban sewage treatment and protects a
dwindling natural resource.
Greywater refers to untreated, gently used water waste from bathroom
faucets, bathtubs, showers and clothes washers that is otherwise
directed to the sewer, and even rainwater applications not typical to
landscape usage. The water has not come into contact with
contaminated sources such as toilet waste, kitchen sink or dishwasher
waste. Greywater is captured, treated and reused.
Greywater
must be treated and disinfected before storage and reuse, to reduce
the number of pathogens that spread disease and begin to turn septic
and smell. Watering restrictions typically do not apply for grey
water irrigation.
Greywater
recycling can be a costly venture, and the economic benefits are not
immediately seen. However, as utilities and water costs continue to
rise, and our environment continues to deteriorate, the long term
benefits, both economically and environmentally, will become evident.
Other benefits include reducing fresh water use... when the weather
warms up, almost half of the water consumed by the average household
is for outdoor use. By capturing greywater for use outdoors,
homeowners can cut water usage in half.
However,
there are a few drawbacks to consider. If you soil is either too
permeable or not permeable enough, you may not be able to recycle
your greywater, or you may need a system with some modifications. You
will also need enough soil to process the greywater and enough plants
to use it. If it’s too wet to benefit from irrigating with
greywater, there may be a better way to dispose of it. If it’s too
cold, you will only be able to recycle in the warmer months (the heat
in the greywater may be more valuable than the water itself)..Health
concerns are often cited as the reason for not allowing greywater
recycling, although there has never been a documented case of
somebody becoming sick as a result of exposure. One last
consideration is actual water use. If you have small flow uses, then
a greywater recycling system may not be economically sound for you.
On the other hand, if you have large flow, you may require a more
complex system, which comes at a significantly higher price.
Talk
to us today about any greywater questions, or to book a free
estimate.
