Conserve Water By Using A Greywater Recycling System

The average American household consumes 70 gallons of water a day for indoor uses. Of that 70 gallons, 50%-80% of it is considered 'greywater' and can be recycled. This process can reduce household water use by as much as 80%.

Greywater is the water that comes from your bathroom and kitchen sink, shower, bathtub or washing machine. It is not clean drinking water but it is not sewage or 'blackwater' either. Greywater contains soap and detergents that act as contaminants when processed with blackwater and end up contaminating lakes and rivers. When you use the same greywater in your garden, nitrogen and phosphorus from the soaps and detergents act a fertilizer for many plants. Greywater can also be reused as toilet water, saving additional fresh water for other uses.

Households can install pipes and a tank, called a 'greywater system' that diverts their greywater through filters and often into a holding tank where it is stored until it is used for irrigation or toilet water.

Many areas of the world that face water shortages, are using these systems as an effective way to conserve water. Many new, certified green buildings are using greywater systems to meet water conservation goals.

Unfortunately, many areas of the United States still do not allow simple greywater systems to be installed under their current residential sewage regulations. However, earlier this month, California changed state-wide plumbing codes to allow this water conservation technique to be used residentially. Hopefully other areas will follow suite.

While there is no one stop shop for greywater installation, you can get more information on buying a system at Sloan Valve or Green Building Supplies. There is also a great garden watering system sold by a South African company called GardenResQ. If you are plumbing savvy, there are DIY instructions at greywaterguarrillas.com.