We rarely think twice about the water we use, yet every time we shower, wash the dishes, or turn on the washing machine, we're literally pouring a valuable resource down the drain. In addition to reducing the amount of water your household uses, you can also recycle water safely and without much effort. Recycling water saves you money, reduces the strain on your water services, and helps preserve your local environment.
Is Water Recycling Safe?
Providing you only reuse greywater, and you stick to local plumbing codes, recycling your household water is completely safe. After clean, potable water passes through household plumbing, it becomes blackwater or greywater. Blackwater is contaminated with human waste, such as feces from toilets or washing diapers, and it isn't safe to use. However, greywater from showers, bathtubs, and sinks is safe for recycling.
What Are the Benefits?
Water recycling provides both clear and hidden benefits:
- Lower water bills: Your water bills cover both the water you use and the sewerage costs for disposal of dirty water. When you recycle your household water, you draw less fresh water from the local supply and reduce the amount of waste water that leaves your house.
- Watering your yard: You can use recycled water in your garden to grow ornamental plants, fruit, and vegetables. Natural microorganisms in the soil break down the small amounts of grease, food particles, and washing byproducts in greywater and turn them into plant nutrients.
- Car washing: Greywater is ideal for car washing, and you probably use less water washing your car at home than at the local car wash.
- Local environment: Supplying fresh, potable water to households and treating sewerage puts a strain on the local environment. By recycling your household water, you're helping protect your local landscape and wildlife.
Water Recycling Tips
To help your water recycling go smoothly, there are some simple guidelines to follow:
- Use plant-friendly washing products.
- Use greywater within 24 hours of collection.
- Match the amount of greywater you use in your yard with fresh water and don't allow greywater to run off or enter natural water sources. If you're watering edible plants with greywater, don't allow the water to touch the plants' leaves.
- Don't allow greywater to pool outdoors.
Water Recycling Systems
Only a qualified, professional plumber should install a water recycling system in your home. Local codes apply to domestic plumbing systems, and your plumber refers to these when installing your system. Find a plumber with experience of converting a plumbing system for recycling water or building a water-recycling system from scratch in a new home.
Recycling household water reduces waste, helps protect the local environment, and saves you money. It makes sense to start reusing water in your home before it disappears down the drain.
For answers to your questions, contact the Pink Plumber today.
