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The average person uses over 25 gallons per day of water for simple tasks such as bathing or showering, and using their clothing washing machine. Thus the average person creates 25 gallons of gray water a day. Graywater can easily be recycled.
This doesn't sound like much, but over one month this amounts to over 750 gallons of water per person.
Gray water is household waste water that includes the following:
• Shower Water
• Bath Water
• Lavatory or Sink (basin) Water
• Laundry Water
• Untreated Spa Water
Typically, two thirds of the water used in a house results in gray water (excluding water used for the garden and lawns).
Black water is household waste water that includes:
• Toilet Water
• Laundry Water, if the waste water is from washing diapers, or other materials containing feces
Dark water is household waste water from the kitchen. It may contain food contaminants, oils and powerful detergents (especially dishwashers).
Although many jurisdictions ban the re-use of kitchen water (Darkwater), in some situations this water may be used for garden irrigation IF a grease trap is installed between the kitchen waste outlet and a gray water pumping system.
The above definitions apply generally throughout the world, although exact definitions vary from country to country, and in the US from state to state.
Practical Gray water Re-use
In an urban situation, with a utility provided sewage system, we recommend only re-using shower, bath, spa bath and laundry water. Kitchen and lavatory water is best left for the black water waste pipe network. Lavatory or Sink water in most cases does not provide enough water to justify the connection cost, and in any case provides additional water flow to help flush the black water pipe system.
In a rural situation (i.e. a septic system is used), kitchen water can be used (subject to local regulations), IF the following occurs:
• A grease trap is installed between the kitchen sink and the gray water system. This ensures food scraps, fats and oils are irrigated in the garden. In addition to containing high bacteria levels, the significant quantity of fats can create an impervious barrier within the top soil.
• The dishwasher does not empty into the kitchen sink waste, because the detergent is too caustic.
A quality gray water system can pay for itself over a short period of time.
Gray Water Names
Gray water is called Graywater, Gray Water, Greywater & Grey water. Although debate is still underway (and will probably never cease), the likely outcome is Gray water in the US, and Grey water in other countries. Fortunately most search engines now search for all of the above terms if only one is searched.
Click here to see the innovative residential GRAYbarrel gray water system
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