Handling Grey Water
Water used in the laundry, dishwasher, shower, tub, and sinks is considered “grey” or gray water, and can be recycled easily. It usually is dumped directly into the septic tank or sewer along with the “black” (toilet) water.
Diverter valve from www.cleanwatercomponents.com
But gray water from the laundry can be easily and safely used in the garden simply by adding a diverter valve. Only some states allow this type of watering, and you do need to use an environmentally safe detergent. If you are washing diapers, shop rags, or using bleach, the water should still be sent to the sewer or septic tank.
Reusing grey water can reduce your water usage and extend the life of your septic system. There are other systems designed to reuse more of your grey water, but these do require more infrastructure, permitting, and a willingness to keep an eye on the process and tinker with it to keep things operating smoothly.
Grey water filter system
Filtering Grey Water for Reuse
Here is a grey water filter system called “Auqa2use.” The Aqua2use grey water diversion system is an advanced, affordable grey water treatment system. Available as gravity filtration or pump-assisted unit, this grey water filter is the perfect choice for turning your waste grey water into usable irrigation water. Click here for more information
Here is an installation video of this product:
Here is a YouTube video showing a man installing a grey water tank system in his tiny house.
For more information on maintaining and draining holding tanks visit this page.
Note: Many state do not allow grey water reuse so check with your local authorities. Grey water is either regulated by the plumbing code (building department) or the department of the environment.
Outdoor Gray Water Filtration and Reuse
Here is yet another great YouTube® video of one man’s gray water reuse system. It’s quite extensive and qualifies as an Aquaponics system. See more about Aquaponics on my Off-grid page.