With energy prices skyrocketing and issues of sustainability and global warming increasing, more and more people are looking at ways to change their impact on the environment. From increasing the energy rating in our homes to utilising recyclable materials, each step we take moves us closer to achieving a more sustainable lifestyle.
Something that has been around for a long time, but has recently gained traction, is the use of greywater in our homes.
What is Greywater?
Greywater is the relatively clean water that comes from your showers, basins, baths and washing machines. This is the water that is most commonly disposed of down your drain to either a sewerage plant or septic tank system.
A greywater system allows you to reuse the greywater from your home to flush toilets, wash clothes and water gardens without the need for fresh potable water.
As the population grows, so does the pressure on our water resources. By using a greywater system, you are playing a large impact on the sustainability of water for years to come. In addition to being environmentally sustainable, using greywater means you are using less fresh water and significantly reducing water bills by in some cases up to 70%!
There are three main greywater systems that you can use:
You can manually collect water from your shower or washing machine in a bucket and use this water for watering your garden! This is the cheapest method, and you won’t require any council approval to do so!
By installing a diversion and filtration service, you can automatically divert greywater to your garden or lawn by plumbing hoses to take the greywater outside. Some systems may use a filter and pump depending on the distance needed to travel and pressure of water available. This system will generally require approval from your local authorities.
These systems treat water and plumb back into your home fit for a standard household use. This water can be used for toilet flushing, washing clothes and above-ground irrigation. This system will require local council approval.
With rain so scarce in many parts of Western Australia, it is important to make the most of what little water we have available. Rainwater tanks are a great option to collect rainfall, but when the rain is lacking, a greywater system is the way to go!
If you have any questions or feedback on this article, please contact us on 1300 1 EVOKE