Greywater is a term that is usually used to describe the wastewater that comes from your bathroom, washing machines and kitchen. This water is normally quite clean compared to water that comes from our toilets, which is known as blackwater.
Therefore, any kind of water that is drained from the house, except for the toilet, can be described as greywater.
In this water you may find traces of dirt, food, grease, household cleaning products and hair. Thus, in this article, we will be discussing more about what greywater is and how you can use it.
Greywater: Can It Be Reused?
Greywater is any kind of water that is drained from your home. This is all kinds of water from your kitchen, bathroom or laundry appliances. However, this doesn’t include toilet water.
This kind of water does not have a very appealing look to it, as it has been used once and becomes dirty. However, you can in fact reuse your greywater for other purposes, and it doesn’t have to go straight into your sewage system.
By reusing greywater, you are decreasing the amount of water that is sent to your sewage system to be treated. In addition to that you are helping to convert water, thus you will end up using less water, which will reduce our water bills and help the planet.
When it comes to reusing greywater, it is usually used in your gardens. It can be used on your lawns, or flowerbeds in your garden. Try to just stick to these areas, as greywater can negatively affect your vegetable if used on them.
Greywater should only be used on your garden and isn’t safe for humans or animals to ingest in any way.
Greywater System
There are two ways to collect greywater, you can collect it by hand using a bowl and jug, or you can install a greywater system in your home, which will collect the greywater from your baths, sinks and washing machines.
The water is then collected through pipes and sometimes pumps, but this depends on the system.
It is advised that you ask a plumber to install your greywater system, as they will be able to do it much more easily and efficiently. Yet, you are asked to think about the kind of soaps you are using, as some soaps include harsh chemicals that could affect the pipes.
The greywater is then collected and stored in a container. It is recommended that you use gray water within 24 hours of it being collected.
Also, you may want to treat the water with iodine or chlorine, so the water doesn’t have a foul aroma if it is going to be stored for a long time.
A plumber will install a way for you to get access to the water. However, they will also ensure that there is a way to divert the water when it isn’t needed and needs to go to the sewage system with the rest of your water.
Benefits Of Using Greywater
There are various benefits to collecting and reusing your greywater. The following are the top benefits to consider:
- Conservation Of Freshwater – By reusing your greywater, you will be reducing the amount of freshwater that is needed in your home. If you are a keen gardener, then you could end up saving a lot of freshwater by reusing your greywater to water your yard.
The reduction in the need for freshwater will also help reduce droughts.
- Water Waste Reduces – A lot of the water we use is gone to waste, even though there is nothing wrong with the water. Therefore, by using greywater, you are getting the most out of your water before it goes to the sewage system.
This can reduce your water waste by 50%.
- Energy Usage Reduced – As you will be using less freshwater, this will then reduce the amount of energy your household needs to produce to pump water into your home.
Also, the reduced amount of water going to the sewage centers for treatment is reduced, therefore energy is reduced everywhere. This will see a decrease in the amount of fossil fuels that are needed, hence overall greenhouse gasses and emission will be cut.
- Beautiful Gardens – Greywater is the perfect alternative source of water to hydrate your backyard. This is really important for areas that may struggle to get enough water, and often suffer with droughts or hose pipe bans.
Thus, plants get to stay looking beautiful, and they can survive much longer, as they are getting the nutrients that they need.
- Nutrients – Greywater contains its own nutrients that are really beneficial for your lawns and flowers. The water that comes from your bathwater or kitchen contains plenty of organic material, which isn’t harmful to your garden.
While in blackwater, the organic material levels are far too high and also contain a lot of harmful bacteria, which could kill your plants.
- Replenish Groundwater Levels – As greywater is used in your garden, the water is filtered into the soil. Then this water will move into groundwater and help boost groundwater levels in the earth.
This is really beneficial, as it ensures that waterways which are spruced by groundwater like rivers, are always flowing with plenty of water.
Final Thoughts
Greywater is water that is drained away from your baths and sinks in your home. This type of water can be used again in your gardens to feed your lawns or flowerbeds.
In addition to this, by reusing greywater, you can help with water conversion and save more money on your water and energy bills as you will be using much less freshwater in your home.
We hope you have found this article informative, and have a better understanding on what greywater it is and how you could be using it at home!
We waste water in so many ways, like leaving the faucet on while we brush our teeth, bathing instead of showering, and watering our lawns more than we need to.
Through my site, you'll learn more about droughts and their effects on society, how to collect rainwater and use it in your everyday life, and how much water you really need to be using a day. Remember that saving water will also save money on your water bill, so why not give it a go and help me Save The Drop!
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