Creating a Home Graywater System

[LincTexPilot]

Thanks for this video! The info is very helpful.

[ScottHess1]

Excellent Trathen. I'm passing this link on to scores of friends.

Scott H

[pamhh01]

Great job Trathen! Actions like this are what have helped inspire people to ask for code changes. Hopefully those changes will come soon because that looked like a huge amount of work.

Pam Hartwell-Herrero Sustainable Fairfax

[rilanilan]

One of the questions that I don't think was addressed in this clip was the issue of solvents and soaps etc. that go down the drain.

Does this home use alternatives to standard cleaning soaps/solvents? What amount of those that they do use can be filtered out using their system?

[Irisheyes77christy]

I think that they explained this when he discussed the wetlands area. At around 8:00. Hope this helps.

[Irisheyes77christy]

PS. I would imagine that a person is more careful about what they put down their pipes if they know it directly effects them (their land, food and such).

[trathen1]

We use only organic and natural soaps, mostly liquid soaps such as Dr. Bronners. No real solvents are used and put down the drain. We have yet to hook up the washing machine and we don't use bleach, but if you did use bleach, dyes etc. you can always route that to the sewer.

[matshroom]

thanks janaia! :) amasing! xx

[permacultureli]

great resource...this reuse of water is essential...wonderful...I am about to cunstruct my toilet/greenhouse struchture...and then the kitchen...all at a level above the garden...and the tubes will go in the ground first and foremost for this.

[permacultureli]

we need composting toilets, and hosing the grew waters directly to the garden, and eliminating the pump all day,...use a bucket of water in the kitchen and stick to that amount...and take 1 min. showers...i have done it for years...my water use for personal washing is less than 2 gallons,.

[JanLauGe]

This is really some awesome project, I like it very much. Fortunately I live in a quite rainy region and so we do not need water for the plants in our garden up to now, the few hot weeks in summer can be compensated by using rainwater from the roof catch.

But I still have a question concerning the geywater: If they use the water from the shower, don't they have problems with tensides from soap etc or wrong pH-values ruining their underground pond system? Would be glad to get some details. THX!

[scarmenl]

I think these ideas are great! To make better and healthier use of water can only be to the good.

I don't think that global warming is anything more than a scam that is being used by some very evil people to steal more and more. That being said it does not mean that all of these ideas and projects have no value. They are great ideas and the more that can be done to keep our water/air clean is great.

[greenteen85]

ok global warming aside theres still pollution and human activity living beyond natures means to counter it, let alone a dumb energy system on a finite, dirty and politically volitile crap that is oil

[scarmenl]

I think we just agreed?

[HomesteadProvocateur]

Screw playing by the rules, that will get you no where! Look at how limited they are and I bet they spent a fortune on permits and everything, so that it would be up to code. Sheesh, I understand their incentive to change policy and make a model after which to gain more acceptance, but the fact that one has to do this seems to me very much like bureaucratic red tape. All for just digging a bunch of holes in the ground with pipes. Seriously folks, how hard can this be?!

[HomesteadProvocateur]

I don't mean to sound like a downer, but I'm very much getting frustrated with being told what I can do on my property and to my property for which I have to pay exorbitant taxes and am essentially paying much more than it is worth in the long run when one considers the interest I'm getting charged. It seems to me that they are trying to penny pinch the man, and I am just about ready to take things into my own hands! LOL, sigh.

[wildcatbungalo]

Then petition for the disbandment of the military.

Warning: Successful petitioning will lead to more than 10 million jobs lost.

[HomesteadProvocateur]

What has that got to do with what I've said?

[wildcatbungalo]

Disbanding the military would result in the possibility for an immediate 50% tax cut.

[ScampStrada]

great video !

Could it be done in a nordic climat (quebec) where we have -20 celsius ?

Just close the flow for winter ?

[odin422]

Awesome.

[DFORCE1969]

Thanks for an optimistic episode;I have been suffering from eco-doom depression over this grim winter and these modest but practical and small scale responses are a good idea.

[peakmoment]

Thanks, DForce. We've got an upcoming show on eco-anxiety. Keep your eyes peeled. And probably more on gardens, as spring approaches.

Between storms, get outside and connect with nature, even if it's just a small space. Have migrating birds begun to return to your area? Yesterday hundreds of Canada geese flew overhead!

[DFORCE1969]

I,m going to start planting potatoes,carrots & lettuces in my London

garden in the next few weeks;Here in the UK over the last year or so,millions of people are also starting to grow at least some of their own food,with waiting lists for allotments in some areas;Its a shame you dont have some foreign correspondents;Peak moment international would be a good idea!

[sammieluvsdoomy]

"unsuspected allies" - i love that =)

[ratmanrod]

that might get hot and burn the pipe

[peakmoment]

what might get hot?

[ratmanrod]

i ment the water coming out of the house is going to be hot .The pipe he used for the drain line not rated for hot water.Thought it might get soft and colapse..Love the idea been trying to figure out how im going to doing it i do love you show

[nthnlsmmrs]

One thing to keep in consideration when using a gray water recycling system is that everything that goes down your drain will go into your garden. Make sure to use all natural cleaners and nothing that contains chlorine. Sure, you can switch the valve over to dump into the sewer when you're using harsh cleaners, but if you switch to all natural solutions, you won't have to waste all that water by flushing it into the sewer.