Why We Should Be Making Use of Greywater to Reduce Water Wastage

Greywater is the wastewater generated within households, offices or other commercial or industrial buildings which has not experienced fecal contamination. In other words, this term applies to all water streams from within a building except for the wastewater generated by that building’s toilets. Water which has been contaminated by fecal matter is known as blackwater.

There are various sources of greywater, which include:

• sinks
• baths
• washing machines
• dishwashers
• showers

How can we benefit from greywater?

Greywater harbours serious potential for reuse in a variety of areas, including:

• for irrigation purposes
• indoor reuse
• heat reclamation

Since demand on conventional water supplies is reduced through the use of greywater, as is the reduction of pressure on sewage treatment systems, greywater is a commodity which should be made the most of.

It should, however, be noted that the particular use of non-toxic, low-sodium soaps and cleaning products is seriously recommended for making the greywater as safe as possible for reuse with irrigation purposes and vegetation.

Why should we make the most of greywater?

It goes without saying that any way in which water can be reused safely is something which will be beneficial to the environment as a whole. In more detail, the benefits can include:

• A reduction in freshwater extraction from rivers and other water sources
• A reduction in energy use as well as chemical pollution from treatment
• The reclamation of nutrients
• Less impact felt from septic tank and treatment plant infrastructures

Simple ways to collect greywater

Collecting greywater is an easy task with the right know-how, so here are some handy tips about how to gather your own supply from your property’s water streams:

• Bail out used sink water using buckets, and proceed either to pour it into the toilet bowl for use when flushing, or onto plants and vegetation if it does not contain harsh soaps and detergents.
• Collect water from used baths and showers, using the greywater on your garden plants.
• Provided the detergent used in your washing machine is not harsh, use the greywater generated during your clothes wash for watering trees, or even garden or indoor plants.
• While waiting for your shower of kitchen tap to warm up, use a bucket or bowl to collect the cold water. This can then be used for washing your face or hands, or the next time you need to fill the kettle.

Here at Brown Recycling, we are fully committed to the environment, doing all that we can to reach our zero-to-landfill targets with every recycling project we take on. For more information on any of our waste collection or recycling services, or for any other enquiry, simply get in touch with us today. Our friendly team of experts will be happy to help with any questions you may have.