Creating a Home Graywater System

Peak Moment 141: Trathen Heckman takes us on a step-by-step tour of how to make a safe, ecological and legal suburban home graywater system. Follow the water as it drains from the bathroom tub (and sink and laundry) through a unique valve leading into the backyard garden. It flows into an optional wetland and underground pond for filtering. The water is then piped below ground to several destinations in the yard, where it will supply water for plants growing above it. Trathen discusses the process with local government agencies, the system design and construction (with pictures), costs, resource books, and why to undertake a graywater system in the first place. http://www.daily-acts.org

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• water
• graywater
• conservation

[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!

[ratmanrod]

that might get hot and burn the pipe

[peakmoment]

what might get hot?

[LincTexPilot]

Thanks for this video! The info is very helpful.

[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.

[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

[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).

[Irisheyes77christy]

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

[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?

[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,.