Using Greywater

Grey water is a largely untapped resource in the United States today. It is a free source of water that can safely be used to water plants and flush toilets.

Grey water is also known as greywater, gray water, or graywater. Sometimes it is referred to as sullage. Grey water is any water, except from the toilet, that has been previously used. Water from showers, baths, washing dishes, mopping floors, and laundry is all considered grey water. Up to 80% of the water use in the home results in grey water. Imagine how much water, and money, you can save by using this safe resource. There has not been one documented incident of illness caused by greywater use in the United States. Water conservation is big news. Our ground water resources are being depleted at an alarming rate. Water treatment plants are so strained that they are not always able to be as efficient as they are designed to be. And in this economy, who does not need to save money? Greywater, when eco-friendly cleaners and soaps have been used, is filtered through the soil and naturally cleaned It does not contaminate the ground water and actually recharges it.

Besides that, using the greywater in your landscape adds nutrients back into the soil. You can have the lushest garden, the healthiest roses, and the most beautiful shrubs on the block. While most experts do not recommend using greywater on vegetable and fruit plants it is fine on lawns, ornamental plants, and trees.

You can also use greywater to flush toilets. There is a system that is easy to hook-up and diverts the water used from washing up into the toilet tank. How many times does your toilet flush per day? How many gallons of water are used in that process? The savings could be enormous.

Most states have restrictions about greywater use, especially in situations where a new construction or a remodel is in progress. Often homeowners will just retrofit their existing set up for greywater use and leave it at that.

If you are planning on using greywater then here are some tips:

• Always use biodegradable, earth friendly soaps

• Don't use water that has been potentially contaminated with bacteria from raw meat

• Don't use greasy water. The grease will accumulate and draw flies, roaches, and mice.

Greywater systems can be as simple as connecting a hose to the washing machine drain hose and diverting the water either directly to the garden or to a barrel. A hose can be attached to the barrel and then a garden can be irrigated with the greywater. Just be sure that you do not use a soaker hose as particles in the greywater can clog them. Alternatively water can just be dipped from the barrel and used to hand water plants.

You can also use greywater to presoak dishes that are later going to be washed. You can use it in the washing machine for a prewash cycle, or to wash your car (if the greywater has not been used to clean something gritty). Greywater from the laundry can be used to wash floors, and so on.

By using greywater you can help conserve natural resources, build the ground water levels back up, and save yourself some cash. It's worth thinking about