The Complete Beginner’s Guide to Greywater Systems

"There’s a reason that a key component of green building is water efficiency and reuse. Nationwide water use statistics are nothing short of staggering. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the average American uses 82 gallons of water per day. Nationwide, landscape irrigation and other outdoor uses account for nearly one-third of all residential water use, average, totaling nearly 8 billion gallons per day. And some experts estimate that as much as 50 percent of water used for irrigation is wasted due to evaporation, wind, or runoff caused by inefficient irrigation methods and systems. That means billions of gallons of clean, fresh water is wasted daily, due to ineffective irrigation systems.

You may be thinking, 'there’s got to be a better way. How can I reduce my home’s outdoor water use?' You’re in luck — there’s a very simple, easy, and inexpensive way to do so. Greywater systems redirect greywater (water used for washing) from going into the sewer system and into an irrigation system instead. For any eco-friendly home, recycling usable water is definitely something to seriously consider. Installing a greywater system means you’ll conserve water and reduce your monthly utility bills, all while providing valuable nutrients to your landscape and garden.

There’s a reason that a key component of green building is water efficiency and reuse. Nationwide water use statistics are nothing short of staggering. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the average American uses 82 gallons of water per day. Nationwide, landscape irrigation and other outdoor uses account for nearly one-third of all residential water use, average, totaling nearly 8 billion gallons per day. And some experts estimate that as much as 50 percent of water used for irrigation is wasted due to evaporation, wind, or runoff caused by inefficient irrigation methods and systems. That means billions of gallons of clean, fresh water is wasted daily, due to ineffective irrigation systems.

You may be thinking, “there’s got to be a better way. How can I reduce my home’s outdoor water use?” You’re in luck — there’s a very simple, easy, and inexpensive way to do so. Greywater systems redirect greywater (water used for washing) from going into the sewer system and into an irrigation system instead. For any eco-friendly home, recycling usable water is definitely something to seriously consider. Installing a greywater system means you’ll conserve water and reduce your monthly utility bills, all while providing valuable nutrients to your landscape and garden.

What is greywater?

Greywater is the name given to water that’s already been used for washing purposes, like laundry, handwashing, showering, and bathing (NOT water that’s been in contact with feces, like from the toilet or washing diapers). Greywater systems, then, are used to redirect and recycle this 'once-used' water for other purposes. Greywater may look unclean (it does have the characteristic 'grey' tint, after all), but it’s perfectly suitable for watering the garden, irrigating your trees, and more.

Is greywater safe for plants?

For the purposes greywater typically serves, like irrigating landscaping, ornamental gardens, or trees, greywater is safe (if you use the right cleaners and body care products) — and can even be beneficial. Greywater contains traces of dirt, food, grease, and hair, which become pollutants when released into bodies of water. But to plants, these things are nutrients and valuable fertilizers. This makes greywater an even better option for watering and irrigation than regular water!

(Note: If you want to use greywater for your vegetable garden, just be sure it doesn’t touch any edible parts of the plant.)"

Learn more:
https://elemental.green/complete-beginner-guide-to-greywater-systems/

#SolarPunkSunday #Solarpunk #PracticalSolarPunk #Graywater
#GreywaterSystems #WaterConservation
#WaterIsLife #LoTech #LowTech

The Complete Beginner's Guide to Greywater Systems

Want to reduce your home's water use? You're in luck! A greywater system is a simple, affordable way to conserve water and cut your home's utility bills.

Elemental Green | Dream Discover Design

How To Build A #DIY #Greywater System (Complete Guide)

January 9, 2022 by Dylan Crosbie

"Welcome to our complete guide to building your DIY greywater system!

A greywater system will decrease your carbon footprint, save water and decrease your utility bills. The system recycles water from your home and allows you to use it again for irrigation and flushing toilets.

It can be a simple, low-tech system that will be cost-effective in the long run and lower your water usage by up to 40%."

Learn more:
https://climatebiz.com/diy-greywater-system/

#SolarPunkSunday #Solarpunk #PracticalSolarPunk #Graywater #GreywaterSystems #WaterConservation #WaterIsLife #LoTech #LowTech

How To Build A DIY Greywater System (Complete Guide) - Climatebiz

This guide has it all, from understanding how a DIY greywater system works, to breaking down the required materials to build your own.

Climatebiz

Ooooh... I just found the date for the next #RipeForRepair meetup in #PortlandME, and also some cool events at the #PortlandPublicLibrary (building #Habitat, #SeedSwaps, etc). What #SolarPunk related events are happening where you are? The #SolarPunkSunday team wants to know!!!

#RepairCafes #ToolLibraries #ToySwaps #ClothingSwap #Mending #Workshops #CircularEconomy #Sharing #BuildingCommunity #PracticalSolarPunk

@wavesculptor @froge @Broadfork Just followed #PracticalSolarPunk to try it, too.

@froge
I am now trying #practicalSolarPunk -- only me following last time I looked. What do you reckon, or any better ideas?

@Broadfork

Last for today / a while.

most of day working on polytunnel ground: clearing obstructive "good soil" piles and areas near NE end with black soil/bracken root. sieving to west-most cut-in-half IBC-frame raised bed, lined with ground-cover fabric.

20 mm cylindrical screen laying on top of bed -- _very ergonomic_, but really needs worst gravel re-sieving with 12 mm sieve - lot of it but too wet. at least it's out of way. medium size spoil stone/gravel back to NE end paths. barrow also emptied of [waterlogged] soil. drizzle by dusk again.

6 pine poles for the final hoop cut and prepared, waiting to go in. still.

how about #practicalsolarpunk ?

A brief look at what defines #naturecore #forestcore and #solarpunk has me still wondering what label I should be using. I'm on #CortexImplant because I'm a geek who has worked in software development my whole corpo life, but I'm a child of the countryside at heart.

I grew up in rural England wandering day and night through ancient woodland and hillsides dotted with sheep. Now my house is a Florida bungalow surrounded by tropical flora and fauna and not the Cotswold cottage that my teenage self had planned. Global/local rural/virtual social/introvert the paradoxes run deep.

Ah well, guess I'm not going to find a neat label, and I'm not looking for a design aesthetic. I'm a messy human who loves trees and cats and birds and command line interfaces...

Oh, and rambling on for no good reason. I'm all about that!

#agingCyberpunk #practicalSolarPunk #notAnIntroduction

Sponge cities. These green rooves sound brilliant to this #solarPunk

'On every roof something is possible’: how sponge cities could change the way we handle rain - The Guardian 2024/05/02

https://archive.md/Zv7lG

#WaterConservation #greenCity #PracticalSolarPunk