People are always on the lookout for new ways to recycle water, especially now that it is become more scare - as we've seen in California - or more costly like it is here in Ireland. There are a number of methods being touted as the next big thing in water recycling, one of which is greywater recycling. Let's break it down:
The most common question posed when the word greywater is mentioned is, well, just what is it? Greywater is typically considered to be any wastewater in the home, with the important exception of water coming from toilets (known as blackwater) and kitchen sinks (which may be contaminated by the washing of meat). Already, the distinction between wastewater that's recyclable and wastewater that isn't is a little... grey.
The most common question posed when the word greywater is mentioned is, well, just what is it? Greywater is typically considered to be any wastewater in the home, with the important exception of water coming from toilets (known as blackwater) and kitchen sinks (which may be contaminated by the washing of meat). Already, the distinction between wastewater that's recyclable and wastewater that isn't is a little... grey.
Greywater poured into a low-mainteance filter
Effectively, the difficulty lies in how clean greywater can be and what it can be used for. Depending upon where it has come from in the house, this water could be relatively bacteria-free or a breeding ground which becomes septic after a few days. Systems that clean this water can be costly and also use small amounts of energy - this makes greywater recycling a viable choice for large companies and hotels, but not so easy for ambitious homeowners. However, the fact is that even inexpensive, compact greywater systems can help you save water. These systems use a simple filter and disinfectant combination to treat water collected from bathroom sinks and showers and could cut your water usage by 10-20%.
Water used for cooking vegetables can be fed to garden plants
Technology being trialled at the moment hopes to bring water recycling to the domestic market on a larger scale and for a lower cost. For now, homeowners who want to recycle wastewater might want to turn to simpler methods - showering with a bucket that can be filled and used to flush toilets or water garden plants. These small changes to daily life up and cut your water bill little by little: some of us like to wait for the shower to heat up, or throw out water we've used to cook pasta in - this water can all be reused easily to the benefit of the environment and our pockets.