Grey water recycling is a sustainable plumbing practice that’s growing in popularity among both private homes and large-scale commercial buildings. Grey water refers to water supplied from sources such as showers, sinks, and washing machines, which hasn't had contact with major contaminants. By implementing grey water recycling systems, this water can be treated and reused for other purposes, such as landscape irrigation or to flush toilets. Learning how to install grey water systems allows plumbing businesses to offer an environmentally conscious plumbing option within their services.
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Grey water recycling reduces the demand for freshwater supplies and minimises the environmental impact of wastewater disposal. Globally, wastewater management makes up over half of a typical household water bill, with 60% of a typical American household's water bill based on the management of wastewater. Combined with growing concerns of a global water shortage, there are significant financial and environmental benefits to recycling water.
Grey water offers a great opportunity to minimise waste by reusing water for tasks that don't require potable water. However, installing a grey water system requires an understanding of local laws and the requirements of individual residences.
As a rule, grey water cannot be stored for more than 24 hours. After 24 hours, stored untreated grey water stored may:
While some types of common household “grey water systems”, such as keeping a bucket in the shower or leading a pipe from the laundry to the garden, don’t require professional plumbers, large-scale or chemical grey water systems do. Learning how to install a range of grey water systems benefits plumbing businesses hoping to target residents wanting to improve their long-term water usage management, yet don’t have the expertise to set up the systems themselves.
These systems collect water from bathtubs, showers, and bathroom washbasins to be used for irrigation. They typically employ subsurface drip irrigation or a subsurface trench method for distributing the water.
Like simple grey water systems, gravity grey water systems provide a direct diversion from the feed pipe to sub-surface irrigation in the garden. They require the inlet to be higher than the outlet for gravity to work, which may result in uneven watering due to pressure issues if not installed correctly.
Pumped grey water systems utilise a small pump for even irrigation system performance. They often use a combination of filtration, a surge tank, a pump, and sub-surface irrigation. Different inlet sizes (50mm to 100mm) can be used to attach to a single point (such as a washing machine) or combine water from the whole household. These can be installed underground and leave a small footprint; with the largest surge tanks around 600mm in diameter. They do not accumulate water (like a rainwater tank) but distribute it efficiently.
Grey water treatment systems are a more complex set-up, which improves grey water quality for use in surface irrigation, toilets, and laundry. They disinfect the water through the chemical of mechanical filtration systems. The more intensive option, these systems require permits and regular servicing. Due to the improved quality of the water, they can store the disinfected water for longer than 24 hours in a second tank. However, they are also the most expensive grey water system option, with installation, servicing costs and yearly maintenance.
The integration of grey water systems into both new and existing infrastructures shows the commitment to preserving our most precious resource: water. As technology advances and awareness grows, the role of the plumbing industry in facilitating this shift towards a more sustainable future grows. By staying informed about the latest developments in grey water recycling and advocating for its benefits, plumbing professionals can lead the charge towards a more sustainable and water-efficient future.
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