Greywater

Greywater Irrigation May Not Be A Good Choice If:

* Soil is not suitable - If your soil is either too permeable or not permeable enough, you may not be able to recycle your greywater, or you may need a system with some modifications.


* Area too small - You need enough soil to process the greywater and enough plants to use it.


* Climate unsuitable - If it's too wet to benefit from irrigating with greywater, there may be a better way to dispose of it. If it's too cold, you will only be able to recycle in the warmer months. In cold climates, the heat in greywater may be more valuable than the water itself. See Drain-water Heat Recovery.


* Permit hassles - Many jurisdictions in North America have no clear guidelines regarding greywater processing. With water shortages looming in the near future for many regions, this may change sooner than later. Health concerns are often cited as the reason for not allowing greywater recycling, although there has never been a documented case of somebody becoming sick as a result of exposure to greywater.


* Low cost/benefit ratio - Where legal requirements dictate a complex system and there is only a small flow of water, greywater recycling is not economically feasible.


* Inconvenience - If the greywater system you are considering is more expensive and requires more maintenance than a properly functioning septic or sewer system.





Precautions

* Prevent contact or consumption - Avoid accidental connections between freshwater and greywater plumbing

- Label greywater plumbing, including garden hoses

- Use gloves when cleaning greywater filters

- Wash your hands after contact with greywater

* Microorganisms on plants - Don’t apply untreated greywater onto lawns, or fruits and vegetables that are eaten raw (eg. strawberries, lettuce, carrots)


* Breathing of microorganisms - Don’t recycle untreated greywater with sprinklers. Droplets can evaporate leaving harmful microorganisms in the air where they can be breathed in


* Use only greywater that is fairly clean to start with - Greywater containing water used to launder diapers or generated by anyone with an infectious disease should be diverted to a sewer or septic system


* Don’t store greywater - Use it within 24 hours before bacteria multiply. After 24 hours it is well on its way to becoming blackwater


* Don’t overload your system - If you’re having company and your system is designed for 2 people, divert the greywater to the sewer or septic system for the evening


* Chemical contamination - Don’t buy household cleaning products you wouldn’t want in your greywater system. Divert greywater containing harmful chemicals to the sewer or septic system

* Prevent contamination of surface water - Discharge greywater underground or into a mulch filled basin


solution

Use greywater system to supply water at grange park and street tree around ocad