FAQs on Using Greywater Systems in Your Home

As water resources face mounting scarcity pressures from climate change and population growth, homeowners seek ways to conserve this precious resource. Harvesting rainwater for irrigation makes sense, but did you know it’s also possible to recycle the thousands of gallons of lightly used greywater originating from your showers, sinks and washing appliances?

Through onsite treatment and diversion back into non-potable usage channels, households can offset 30-40% of current water demands while lowering sewer volumes. This preserves environmental flows and saves on utility bills.

We answer common customer questions about retrofitting homes to capture recyclable wastewater previously sent down the drain.

What is greywater and how much do homes produce?

Greywater describes drain outputs from showers, bathtubs, bathroom sinks, washing machines and laundry tubs. Relatively clean and devoid of toxic blackwater contaminants sourced from toilets and heavily soiled sources, greywater can be readily filtered and disinfected for beneficial reuse irrigation instead of wasteful discharge.

According to a Fullerton electrician, a properly wired greywater system can typically produce 50-100 gallons of recyclable greywater per occupant each day. For a four-person family, that equates to 16,000-40,000 reusable gallons annually! No one know how important water is more than Californians!

What are appropriate uses for filtered greywater?

Once passed through pretreatment filtration like sediment traps, constructed wetlands and disinfection stages, cleansed greywater is suitable to:

Treatment levels determine approved applications. Strictly prohibit drinking greywater or utilizing without adequate processing. Distribution methods also regulate permissions.

How are greywater systems configured?

Self-contained kits or whole house configurations are possible:

Simple Gravity Diverters

Laundry-to-landscape standalone units filter wash water through plant beds or mulch basins. These affordable low-tech options require hauling diverted flows manually.

Branched Drain Plumbing

Reworked household piping routes segregated greywater to distinct subsurface leach lines or storage tanks for pumped garden distribution. Installation costs rise for reticulated builds.

Parallel Sewer Piping

Fully separate wastewater plumbing keeps greywater isolated from blackwater sewage flows. Complete independence maximizes harvest volumes at increased complexity.

What sustainable benefits do greywater systems offer?

Benefits of household greywater recycling include:

πŸ‘£ Reduced freshwater withdrawals preserve watershed flows

πŸ‘£ Lowered sewer volumes save on municipal processing

πŸ‘£ Conserved irrigation offsets groundwater pumping

πŸ‘£ Reused nutrients nourish landscapes instead

πŸ‘£ Onsite cycling prevents pollution from central facilities

πŸ‘£ Decentralization enhances community resiliency

How are greywater systems regulated and permitted?

Local ordinances govern approvals for introducing non-potable water into environments. Expect fairly extensive water testing responsibility and usage reporting before earning certificates occupying agencies issue allowing operational commencement.

Fortunately, many counties actively encourage decentralized water recycling now. Expect more progressive guidance and streamlined licensing as droughts continue prompting regulators into greater commitments advancing sustainable resource management locally. We help customers navigate policy requirements.

What costs are associated with home greywater systems?

Depending on complexity, retrofitting houses for wastewater recycling ranges from:

  • Laundry-to-landscape gravity fed ($500-$1,500)
  • Branched drainage recovery ($3,000-$7,000)
  • Fully separate sewer channels ($10,000-$15,000+)

Savings accumulates over time from water/sewer bill reductions. Simple paybacks within 10 years are common. Expect decades of resilient functionality when properly maintained as sustainable infrastructure.

How difficult is maintaining greywater systems long-term?

Follow common procedures like:

πŸ”§ Periodically inspecting tanks, filters and pumps
πŸ”§ Flushing idle distribution lines
πŸ”§ Cleaning debris traps and oil separators
πŸ”§ Managing harvested irrigation areas
πŸ”§ Testing effluent quality seasonally
πŸ”§ Adjusting cycle timers and float valves
πŸ”§ Winterizing aboveground components

Adhere to any permit testing schedules for sampled analysis by approved water quality labs. Keep detailed records for regulators. Automated sensors and apps assist monitoring.

What companies assist with greywater projects?

Wetlands Pacific offers full-service assistance tailoring greywater recycling functionality into new construction or existing homes based on usage volumes, drainage conditions and irrigation goals.

With decades of experience implementing sustainable water systems around the region, our team handles all feasibility analyses, designs, equipment supply, excavations, treatment wetland planting and permitting support to progress concepts into reliable functioning infrastructure ready to conserve resources and shrink utility costs immediately with full compliance.

Let us evaluate your household’s wastewater recycling potential today!