Gray Water Collection and Recycling

If you are environmentally conscious you will no doubt have heard about gray water use.

Gray water is water left over from kitchen sinks, bathtubs, and your laundry, which can be stored and reused for the garden, washing the dog or the car.

There are many uses for gray water, and depending on the type of collection and storage system you have, there may be many more.

Gray water reuse is a topic of much interest. Most states, counties and even townships have their own opinions and laws regarding the use of gray water, so before installing any type of out of pocket system it would be wise to contact both your local water treatment authority and the health department to find out what you are permitted to do about collecting and using it. If you are allowed to reuse gray water, you may still need a permit and proper system to utilize it.

Gray water needs to be filtered and any use on your garden should be monitored to ensure no harm is being done to vegetation. Gray water should also not be used in flood prone areas. If you are reusing it from a properly manufactured system, it should then be redirected to an outbound sewer line and not reused a second time. Do NOT wash in gray water or drink it.

Gray water should also not be used from any area where people who are infected with contagious diseases have previously used it. Do not use gray water on root vegetables such as carrots, beets or potatoes.

The use of gray water is a massive step toward greater water conservation, and all are encouraged to make further inquiries as to their local laws regarding it's uses and benefits.

On the other side of the coin, we also have black water. Black water is that which is expelled mainly from dishwashers and toilets. It requires heavy chemical treatment before reuse, and is toxic. If you happened to use black water in your garden you may become ill from eating vegetables you have grown. As well, your pets may play in it or trample it into your home making your family very sick. Do not ever collect, store or reuse black water for any reason.

For more information on water conservation and the uses for gray water please visit:

http://videos.howstuffworks.com/discovery-channel/446-go-green-water-waste-prevention-video.htm

Visit Brac Systems of British Columbia to learn more about their water treatment equipment for residential and commercial applications:

http://www.bracsystemsbc.com/news.html