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  1. 76ER New Member

    joined: Nov 30, 2007
    80 posts
    Southern Ontario
    has anyone out there ever seen grey water recycled in the home? With the ever increasing water bill in my neck of the woods I am interested in recycling grey water from my kitchen sink and bathroom sink to flush my toilet...I spoke with a friend of mine who remembers doing this as a child...just trying to figure out the contraption I would need to construct in order to make this work..any ideas???
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  2. jtb51b Feeling the Heat

    joined: Dec 24, 2007
    327 posts
    Birmingham AL
    I use my grey water for outside watering. I have a small garden that sits in a hole in my backyard (approx 15' elevation drop). My back deck extends off the side of the hill and underneath is a 200 gallon water tote tank, plumbed into the grease trap burrried at the top of the hill. I can turn on the water with a valve and it has plenty of pressure for a sprinkler head.

    Jason
  3. colebrookman Minister of Fire

    joined: Feb 7, 2008
    776 posts
    Middlefield, Ma
    Art Ludwig has written 3or4 good books on the use of greywater. Amazon .com carries them. He does not recommend reuse in toilets I believe. There are waterless composting toilets to really save water.
  4. jebatty Minister of Fire

    joined: Jan 1, 2008
    3,573 posts
    Northern MN
    Many health/septic codes prohibit grey water use as you propose. No opinion on my part, but rationale is all water that comes into contact with humans may carry pathogens and needs to be handled by the septic/sewer system. If the grey water can enter the water table, also a potentially serious health/pollution issue.
  5. begreen Super Moderator

    joined: Nov 18, 2005
    36,118 posts
    South Puget Sound, WA
    Wait, isn't grey and brown water entering the ground via my septic field on a daily basis?
  6. colebrookman Minister of Fire

    joined: Feb 7, 2008
    776 posts
    Middlefield, Ma
  7. colebrookman Minister of Fire

    joined: Feb 7, 2008
    776 posts
    Middlefield, Ma
  8. solarguy New Member

    joined: Jan 14, 2008
    147 posts
    southern, nh
    There is a whole section in most plumbing code books devoted to grey water systems.
    This approach is used in many parts of the world but is behind the curve here in North America.
    It is typically associated with large projects.
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