In our previous post about “Water Drought& Gray Water Recycling”, we discussed what is Gray water and why it is important. http://wp.me/pyOHB-18
In this post we discuss how to collect Gray Water, what to do with it, what to be considered and when not to use it.
Collecting and Recycling Gray Water
Collecting one drop of water at a time
Few tips on how to collect gray water and recycle it:
- Before dispensing of your pet’s water bowl, think about watering your plants with it
- Same for your fish tank water except that the fish tank water is rich with nitrogen based nutrients from the fish waste
- Window A/C unit water condensation can be collected by simply placing a bucket under the system
- Outdoor A/C units produce between 10-15 gallons of water condensation on a hot day which can be used for irrigation by using simple water collection kits available in stores
- Bath water is one of the best sources for gray water, a system for recycling has been developed by using a hose and suction to draw off the water into an outside tank and used for local watering
- Clothes washer water: easy to collect as most washers have an drain pipe at the back, water can be placed in collection buckets to be used later on. It is a bit tiring as the buckets have to be watched as they don’t get filled and spill
It is advisable to collect only as much wastewater as you will need to meet the water requirements of your garden. The rest should go into your sewer or septic system
A filter should always be used either homemade or industrial to remove the debris from the water
There are some professional collection systems for gray water but they do require extra plumbing and they do cost a bit of money. The gray water recycling principle should definitely be adopted by commercial applications for large –scale buildings where showers and toilets are being used constantly- recycling gray water will be cost-effective, best example for an applicable business is “Car Wash” businesses. Washing a car at a Car washing facility is better for the environment as it uses less water (45 gallons/car versus 80 to 140 gallons if washed at home) and the chemicals and detergents are dispose doff in accordance with local regulations rather than going to the sewer at home
The advantage to install a gray water recycling system is a dramatic reduction in water use, especially if gray water is used to flush the toilet thus saving money and help recharging groundwater. Suggested water for irrigation is ½ gallon of gray water / SQ FT/ per week for a well drained garden soil. Gray water could save 6.6 billion gallons of water everyday
Drop of Water
When not to use Gray water:
- In some regions use of gray water is legally banned and requires going through a set of permits. In some regions the regulations are ambiguous like in California where gray water is banned but you get a tax credit if you use it?
- Not enough space: Where there is no yard or it is too small, when houses are close to each other
- Access to plumbing is difficult will not be cost effective
- In very wet areas where gray water will have no value
- Soil that is impermeable or require special adaptation i.e. extra expenses
- Health concerns though the health threat from gray water has proven to be insignificant
- Inconvenient where the systems are very expensive or require major remodeling
Here are some points to consider when using a gray water system:
- Add Nitrogen to the gray water as it lacks it
- Do not store “treated” gray water in a holding tank, lagoon or pond for future use as it supports the growth of microbes that can be dangerous
- Don’t let pets drink from the gray water
- Use a filter to remove hair and other particulates to prevent clogging
- Irrigation needs to be below soil or mulch and not to drain atop bare ground
- Do not use unsealable, unvented containers for your gray water filter basin tank which has to have easy access to them
- Do not leave PVC pipes exposed to sunlight – UV damages as they create toxic smoke in a fire
- Fresh air ensures good system health
- Spread your gray water around the property; don’t always dump it in the same spot.
Placing gray water recycling systems in homes can be cumbersome and expensive, but when constructing new homes it should be considered, as it is easier to apply and construct
Cheers,
Sahar Andrade
Columnist at the “Eco-Chamber”
www.linkedin.com/in/saharandrade
http://www.ecochamber.com/category/columnists/sahar-andrade-columnists/
