How To Divert Laundry And Kitchen Wastewater From Septic Tank? (TOP 5 Tips)

Install lint filter. Install a lint filter on the washing machine’s discharging water line to catch excess lint and prevent it from getting in your septic system. Excess Lint will bind with solids and not break down in a septic system.

How do you divert water out of a septic tank?

Avoid altering the slope of your landscape to ensure water drains away from the drain field as intended by the builder. Angle your gutters in a way that diverts water from the drainfield. Have new ditches dug to divert excess water from your yard and drainfield.

Should laundry water go to septic tank?

Wastewater from your washing machine and dishwasher may either go to your septic tank and/or cesspool or to a separate disposal system called a dry well. This wastewater can be problematic due to its high concentrations of soaps and detergents, grease and paper.

Is kitchen drain connected to septic tank?

All drains in the home converge to a single pipe that leads to the septic tank buried outside. When the waste water from your toilet, shower, sinks and washing machine leave your house, it’s combined. When it hits the septic tank, however, it begins to separate.

Can washing machine waste go into septic tank?

Washing machines are perfectly safe for use with a septic system. However, it’s advisable to air some caution. Too much greywater pumping out of your waste drainage and into your soakaway can cause all kinds of headaches.

How do you fix a septic tank that backs up when it rains?

After a major rain event, the only way to relieve pressure on the system is by using it less. If possible, reduce or eliminate water going down the drains until the drainfield dries out. An emergency septic service cleaning can provide temporary relief, but this is often a futile exercise in battling mother nature.

Can I take a shower if my septic tank is full?

Only the water would get out into the leach field in a proper system unless you run too much water too fast. The thing to do is to run your shower water outside into it’s own drain area, but it may not be allowed where you are. Used to be called gray water system.

How often should you wash clothes with a septic tank?

Do laundry intermittently rather than all in one day. Your septic system needs time to separate waste solids from liquids and treat the waste. Running several loads of laundry in a row can result in solids going into your drain field.

How many loads of clothes can you wash with a septic tank?

Spread Out Laundry Loads These use less water which puts less stress on your septic system. Regardless of the type of appliance you have, you should still spread out your loads. Instead of doing several loads in one day, consider doing 1 load per day or space out 2 loads if you must do more in a single day.

What should you avoid with a septic tank?

You should not put these items into your commode:

Cat litter.

Coffee grounds.
Cigarette butts.
Dental floss.

Disposable diapers.
Earplugs.
Sanitary napkins or tampons.

How do you dissolve sludge in a septic tank?

How to Reduce Sludge in a Septic Tank Without Pumping

Install an aeration system with diffused air in your septic tank.
Break up any compacted sludge.

Add a bio-activator or microbe blend.
Maintain the aeration system.
Add additional Microbes as required.

What are the signs that your septic tank is full?

Here are some of the most common warning signs that you have a full septic tank:

Your Drains Are Taking Forever.
Standing Water Over Your Septic Tank.

Bad Smells Coming From Your Yard.
You Hear Gurgling Water.
You Have A Sewage Backup.

How often should you empty your septic tank?

How do you dissolve grease in a septic tank?

You can try boiling some water on the stove and pouring that in your drain to see if it dissolves the clog, but the best way to get rid of grease buildup on drains is to hire a plumber to blast it off with a powerful jet of water that scrubs the sides of the drain clean.

What washing machine cleaner can I use with a septic tank?

The safest liquid laundry detergents to choose are eco-friendly brands like Ecover, Bio D, Ecozone, and those marked as septic-safe. Can I use bleach with a septic tank? Bleach is used to kill bacteria, so it’s important to take care when using bleach in your septic tank.

Can you use bleach in laundry with a septic tank?

Moderate use of bleach will not throw your septic system out of balance. Moderate use is the amount used in one normal size load of laundry (3/4 cup) or the amount used in an application of toilet bowl cleaner.

Separating Gray Water from the Septic

It is not the most efficient use of this increasingly scarce resource to flush soapy water from the washing machine, sink, or shower down the toilet. This is especially true in drought-prone regions such as California, Arizona, and Texas. If your home is equipped with a septic system, you have two more compelling reasons to recycle gray water. To increase the lifespan of the system and limit how often you have to pump the tank, you should consider the following options. To determine whether or not you should separate your grey water from that of your septic system, you should first research gray water legislation in your state.

A permit is required for any system that contains more than one washing machine, for example, according to new California legislation that were implemented in 2010.

To be clear, this does not imply that governments do not want consumers to construct grey water treatment systems.

The city of Tucson gives a refund on the expenses of building a grey water system, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in conjunction with state governments, provides financing for water management initiatives.

What Is Grey Water?

The water that comes into your home is referred to as potable water, which implies that you may safely use it to boil potatoes or brew tea in a saucepan. It’s a safe source of drinking water. There are two sorts of water that exit the building. The first is blackwater, which is, as the name implies, the noxious waste that comes out of the toilets and sinks. The remainder is technically gray water, and it has the potential to be recycled if it fits specific requirements:

It cannot contain any potentially harmful compounds. The fact that it originates from the washing machine eliminates the possibility of diaper water being present. It has not been in touch with any blackwater
Nonetheless,

Grey water can include soap residue, hair, and even microscopic particles of dirt and other contaminants. All of them are organic compounds that will not harm plants and may even be beneficial to them. Illinois, Kansas, North Dakota, Ohio, South Carolina, and Tennessee are among the states that do not distinguish between grey water and blackwater. Gray water disposal regulations in Tennessee, for example, are nearly identical to those governing blackwater disposal. If you follow common-sense standards, you can benefit from the absence of regulation in these states because there are often fewer restrictions prohibiting grey-water recycling.

Gray Water Disposal Systems That Don’t Require a Permit

In contrast to the majority of other states, California strictly restricts grey water, allowing only unpermitted recycling from a single washing machine to be used. The water must remain on the site and be directed specifically to landscaping plants to be effective. In order for the water to be sent to the septic system, a three-way valve must be installed in the outflow tube, and the only pump that may be used is that of the washing machine. The tube must empty below a 2-inch minimum layer of gravel or mulch, and it must not be permitted to pool or flow off onto the surrounding area.

All of these needs are a reiteration of fundamental common-sense rules that experts propose for systems in jurisdictions with laxer regulatory restrictions. As a general rule, anyone who installs and uses an unpermitted grey water/septic system should do the following:

Avoid keeping water for more than 24 hours to avoid smells and microbiological contamination
Instead, store water for no more than 48 hours. Avoid coming into contact with grey water. In order to prevent grey water from pooling or running off, make sure it gets directly into the ground. Avoid difficulties such as pumps, filters, and other devices. Install a three-way valve in the system.

What’s Possible if You’re Willing to Get a Permit?

A more thorough grey water recycling system almost often necessitates plumbing upgrades, which necessitates the acquisition of a permit in most, if not all, jurisdictions. The sink drains, as well as those from the shower and bathtub, could all be connected to a centralized waste line that would route the water to your garden if you were prepared to go through the permitting procedure. It should be noted that California law does not permit the recycling of water from the kitchen sink or dishwasher, and it is possible that this is also the case in other states.

The diverting of existing pipes into a main grey water line, as long as the main grey water line is connected to the septic waste line by a three-way valve, may be permitted under local rules and regulations.

This is a safety device that keeps the toilet from overflowing during instances of high usage.

Drip irrigation systems for trees and flowers are available, and you may guide the water into channels under the lawn.

Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

One of the most costly mistakes you can make is to design and construct a grey water system that is far more sophisticated than you really require. The simplest greywater systems are the most effective. Complicated systems are typically more expensive and harder to maintain, and they perform badly as a result of their complexity. Aside from keeping your grey water system simple, there are a few other things you can do to avoid making common mistakes and ensure that the system you do install provides years of safe and efficient water management:

Making a grey water system that is overly intricate is one of the worst mistakes you can make when designing and building a system. The most effective grey water systems are also the most straightforward to install. System complexity increases the cost of ownership, increases the difficulty of maintenance, and decreases the effectiveness of the system. Apart from making your grey water system as basic as possible, there are several more strategies to prevent frequent mistakes and ensure that the system you do build provides years of safe and effective water management:

Inappropriately directing grey water–Allowing grey water to run too close to the home’s foundation might lead to a drainage problem that can cause the foundation to sag and become unstable. Allowing grey water to run over poorly draining soil or onto bedrock, on the other hand, can result in pools of water. Consider seasonal drainage patterns and avoid places that flood during the rainy season to keep your home safe. A stream, river, or other natural waterway should never be directly adjacent to a grey water drain.

Irregularly channeling grey water–Allowing grey water to run too close to the foundation of a home might lead to a drainage problem that can cause the foundation to become unstable. Allowing grey water to run over poorly draining soil or onto bedrock, on the other hand, can result in pools of water forming. Consider seasonal drainage patterns and avoid regions that flood during the rainy season to keep your family safe. A stream, river, or other natural waterway should never have its grey water draining into it.

Installing filters is not recommended since they clog fast and require frequent cleaning, and they offer few benefits. Plants are generally fine with little bits of organic stuff in their environment.

Grey water outflow pipes should be sloped at a rate of at least 1/4 inch per foot over their whole length. In terms of slope, this amounts to around a 2 percent slope. The failure to do so when diverting water away from the washing machine might result in a backup of water that could damage the washing machine’s electric motor. When using rigid pipe, make sure to provide adequate support. Typically, grey water pipes are painted purple in order to distinguish them from traditional waste pipes.

4 Ways to Protect Your Septic Tank While Doing Your Laundry

If you live in a property that is serviced by a septic tank system, you may have heard horror stories of catastrophic floods brought on by washing machines. Fortunately, most contemporary septic systems are well capable of managing wastewater from your washing machine. However, reckless usage of your washing machine can still cause major problems in your septic tank and lines. Washing machines may cause major damage to septic systems, thus it is best to err on the side of caution to avoid this.

It is dependent on colonies of helpful bacteria to keep septic tanks running smoothly.
Phosphates and surfactants are common ingredients in laundry detergents.
Detergents are diluted in laundry water so that they do not kill bacteria under normal conditions, but using too much detergent can expose bacteria to toxic amounts of these chemicals, which can be harmful to them.

When you use too much washing powder, the undissolved powder will clump together inside your septic system, causing it to back up.
As long as you use the proper amount of detergent with each load of laundry, you should not have any of these issues to contend with.
Regularly clean the lint filters.

clumps of lint can escape from the filter and block the septic system if they get stuck in the septic pipes.

If this happens, the septic system can become severely clogged.

Organic fibers in the lint, such as threads from polyester or nylon clothes, will be digested by the bacteria in the tank, while non-organic fibers will be left to settle at the bottom of the tank.

Washing machines consume a lot of water, and washing several loads of laundry in a short period of time might cause your septic tank system to overflow.

Consequently, drainfield obstruction and pollution can occur, resulting in major issues that are typically expensive to treat.

With a tank that is large enough to accommodate many average-sized loads in a day, you should have no trouble washing numerous loads each day.

Another option is to purchase a newer washing machine, which will prevent your tank from becoming overloaded with laundry water.

Although they are more expensive, a recent washing machine will allow you to do laundry more frequently without having to worry about septic system difficulties.

Please call the septic system professionals atPete’s Outflow Technicians for professional guidance and recommendations if you have any more concerns about how to safeguard your septic system.

Wastewater reuse

On-site wastewater reuse can help families in both urban and rural areas reduce their water consumption. Nowadays, potable water (drinking water) is used for nearly everything in the house and yard, even flushing the toilet. Note The opportunities for wastewater reuse, as well as the regulations governing its treatment, differ depending on where you reside. Residential sewage systems in urban areas are often connected to a centralised system, whereas wastewater management in rural areas is typically done on-site.

There are two types of wastewater that your house is likely to produce:

Greywater is wastewater from plumbing devices other than toilets, such as showers, basins, and faucets, whereas blackwater is water that has been combined with waste from the toilet (for example, toilet flushing). In order to avoid the possibility of contamination by food waste, bacteria, and grease, water from kitchens and dishwashers should be removed from greywater and treated as blackwater instead.

Each form of wastewater must be handled differently and can be put to use in a variety of ways. If you take the necessary measures, such as using low- or no-sodium and phosphorus products and putting the water below the surface of the ground, greywater is an excellent source of garden water. Greywater that has been properly treated may be reused inside for toilet flushing and clothes washing, both of which take a large amount of water. Before it can be reused, blackwater must be treated with biological or chemical agents and disinfected.

Inquire with your local government or state health agency for information on local regulations.

Increase the efficiency of your water use, reduce your water bills, conserve water resources, irrigate your garden during droughts or water restrictions, reduce the amount of pollution entering waterways, help save money on new infrastructure for water supplies and wastewater treatment, decrease demand on infrastructure for sewage transport, treatment, and disposal, allowing it to operate more efficiently and last longer

Additionally, the drawbacks of reusing wastewater must be taken into consideration. Most families now have a financial disadvantage as a result of the expense of installing and maintaining an energy-recovery system. The investment’s desirability would be determined by the following factors:

What is the extent of the availability of centralised wastewater treatment services
The cost of water in your neighborhood (urban) or the shortage of water in your neighborhood (rural)
Whether you are upgrading an old system or building a new one from the ground up

The amount of time you expect to spend in your current residence
Yearly operation and maintenance expenses vary depending on the kind of system
The type of system It doesn’t matter if you consider a restriction-free, dependable water supply important – wastewater reuse is typically a lot more dependable secondary source of water than conventional rainwater tank installations

If your home is routinely empty for a week or more at a time, such as a vacation property, you might consider installing a reuse system that can handle intermittent usage. The majority of systems that contain biological therapy do not perform correctly if they are only utilized occasionally. A technique for reusing wastewater

Wastewater volume and quality

If you intend to reuse wastewater in your home, you should be aware of both the amount and the quality of the water that you create before proceeding. The following table shows the estimated quantity of wastewater generated by one person each day in an average house equipped with fixtures that are 3-star certified under the Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (WELS) system, according to the WELS scheme. For further information, see the section on Water Conservation. Situations in which filters might be advantageous

Wastewater type	Wastewater source	L/person/day
Greywater	ShowerHand basinWashing machineLaundry tap	636132
Total greywater		84
Blackwater	ToiletKitchen tapDishwasher	20125
Total blackwater		37
Total wastewater		121

The quality of reused water is determined by the treatment system, the past usage of the water, and the chemicals that are utilized in the household.

You can take steps to enhance the quality of wastewater and reduce the number of treatment needs. In the case of greywater:

Reduce the amount of cleaning chemicals you use. Natural or biodegradable cleaning agents should be used wherever feasible. Use laundry detergents, soaps, and shampoos that have little or no sodium. Washing machines should have a lint filter installed. Make sure everything is clean and in good working order so that water may flow through it freely. Do not flush home chemicals down the toilet or down the sink. Inform yourself about the availability of chemical collection services by contacting your local municipality or water authority

In the case of blackwater:

Reduce the amount of cleaning chemicals you use. Natural or biodegradable cleaning agents should be used wherever feasible. Do not flush home chemicals down the toilet

Instead, use the sink. When cooking in the kitchen, use a sink strainer to help prevent food scraps and other solid particles from entering the wastewater.

The method through which you can reuse both greywater and blackwater is dependent on where you are located. Wastewater reuse in urban regions varies from wastewater reuse in rural areas in a number of ways. It will also be necessary to handle greywater and blackwater differently depending on whether you are recycling them outside or inside your home.

Wastewater reuse in urban areas

If you live in an urban, sewered region and you want to reuse wastewater, consider the following:

You want to cut your water consumption even further because water resources in your area are frequently constrained by frequent restrictions or droughts. You have a huge garden that requires frequent watering or that would not be able to withstand prolonged water restrictions.

Before reusing wastewater, be sure to check with your local government or water authority to see what regulations and authorization requirements are in place, since they might vary.

Wastewater reuse in rural areas

Rural homes often have better potential for wastewater reuse for a variety of reasons, including:

Rural families, on the other hand, have more potential for wastewater reuse for a variety of reasons.

It is important to note that the septic tank system, which is the most common on-site wastewater treatment system in rural Australia, does not actively treat wastewater in order to eliminate disease-causing organisms from the water. Septic tank effluent should be disposed of underground at a depth more than 300mm, unless otherwise specified.

Reusing wastewater outdoors

It is possible to lower a household’s potable water use by 30–50 percent by reusing wastewater outdoors. However, a number of measures must be followed in order to guarantee that it is both safe and ecologically friendly. If you plan to eat your vegetables raw, avoid watering them with recycled or treated wastewater. There is a possibility that some pathogenic organisms will remain present even after treatment has been completed. In order to preserve the health of your garden, the quantity of wastewater that is recycled must be matched with the amount of water, sediments, and nutrients that the plants and soil in the garden are capable of absorbing.

Exceedingly fertile soils and plants may become waterlogged, inhibiting plant growth
Soils may become physically clogged with organic and suspended material or damaged by salts in the wastewater
Salinity may increase in problem areas when greywater contributes to rising water tables

And soils and plants may become physically clogged with organic and suspended material or damaged by salts in the wastewater.

Avoid these issues by doing the following:

Prevent these issues from occurring by doing the following things:

The quantity of wastewater produced should be adjusted to the circumstances in the garden. If the soil is already saturated, it is not necessary to water it.

Greywater treatment for outdoor use

When utilized in gardening, greywater may be reused with little or no treatment. Subsurface irrigation systems, such as slotted drainage pipe or customized driplines, distribute water uniformly throughout the garden and are safer for use with untreated greywater than surface watering systems. Greywater subsurface reuse is a straightforward process. oasisdesign.net/greywater/createanoasis is the source of this image. Drainage pipes with slots and greywater driplines disperse greywater uniformly across the yard and garden.

Blackwater treatment systems for outdoor reuse

The only area where cleansed and disinfected blackwater may be safely re-used is in an open environment. For outdoor application, there are a variety of various types of blackwater treatment systems to choose from. Inquire with your local government to obtain a list of certified treatment systems in your community. The aerated wastewater treatment system is now the most prevalent wastewater treatment and reuse system in Australia, and several commercial variants are available in all states. After the particles in the wastewater have settled, the effluent is aerated to aid in the breakdown of organic matter by bacteria.

Microfiltration-based on-site wastewater treatment systems are now commercially accessible for residential usage.

Some wastewater treatment systems, which employ worms and bacteria to clean all residential wastewater while using minimal energy and no chemicals, are available.

They create wastewater that is suited for subsurface irrigation as well as compost as a by-product of their operations. An aerated wastewater treatment system is illustrated in Figure 1.

Wet weather storage

It is necessary to dispose of or store wastewater that has been reused in the garden when it is not needed, such as during seasons of heavy rainfall. Wastewater storage increases the usefulness of wastewater, but it must first be cleansed and disinfected before it can be used. Alternatively, if there is insufficient space for storage, surplus wastewater might be discharged into a sewage system in an urban area. Subsurface disposal to a trench in the garden is advised in rural locations where there is sufficient land available.

Climate, household need for reuse water, the availability and size of a wastewater disposal area, and the maximum daily wastewater output are all factors to consider.

Reusing greywater indoors

In households with access to a stable rainwater supply, it is often more cost-effective to utilize greywater outside and rainfall indoors instead of combining the two. If, on the other hand, you are unable to collect enough rainfall, treated greywater can help you minimize your indoor water consumption. Greywater that has been properly cleaned may be reused for toilet flushing and clothes washing, which are two of the most significant uses of water in a typical household’s plumbing. It is estimated that reusing treated greywater for toilet flushing may save an ordinary home roughly 50L of potable water per day, on average.

It is possible, however, that dissolved organic material in greywater that is recycled for washing clothes can discolor the fabric.
Greywater used for interior re-use is often limited to showers, hand basins, and laundries, among other sources.
It is necessary to use coarse filtration.

Note: Wastewater from the kitchen sink and dishwasher can be classified as greywater, but it must be treated more thoroughly before it can be recycled.

Greywater treatment for indoors

Greywater must be cleansed and disinfected before it can be stored or used in general since it contains the following contaminants:

Contains significant numbers of pathogens that can cause disease

Becomes septic and foul-smelling if left untreated for more than 24 hours
Contains pathogens that can cause disease.

Greywater treatment systems for on-site use are available for purchase in Australia, including a variety of proprietary systems. Your local council or state health department can provide you with information on which products are approved for use in your region. The treatment procedures might be carried out through biological, chemical, or mechanical techniques, amongst others. It is possible that the quality of treated water they generate, as well as their starting cost and energy usage, will differ significantly.

It is feasible to design your own biological treatment system for greywater treatment with the agreement of your local government; for more information, see the references and supplementary reading listed below. In most cases, biological greywater treatment consists of numerous processes, including:

Coarse filtration is used to remove big particles, such as hair, and to keep the system from clogging. It can be as basic as a watertight box with a filter bag or stocking connected with elastic bands or as complex as a filtration system. Check the stocking or bag on a regular basis and replace it as it becomes full. Using a sand filter and reed bed combination, fine filtration and biological treatment are accomplished. Natural organic matter is broken down in the water by microbes in the sand, and the reeds absorb the nutrients. Basic construction consists of a watertight box filled with coarse sand that is placed on top of a gravel bed. Greywater percolates through the material in either a vertical or horizontal fashion, depending on how it is constructed. Disinfection. Maintenance is required on a regular basis for all disinfection systems. Despite the fact that chlorine is the most widely used disinfectant, it has been discovered to have negative environmental effects. It is preferable to employ alternatives such as ultraviolet (UV) or ozone disinfection when it is feasible, although they require electricity to function. UV sterilisers clean water as it goes through them, and they consume between 20 and 40 watts of electricity, depending on the flow rate of the water. Ozone systems need around 50W of power and may operate for approximately 30 minutes. Depending on how much water is used, 6 to 8 times a day

UV sterilisers disinfect water as it travels through them, making systems for treating greywater relatively straightforward to design and construct. Photograph courtesy of David Johns Photography

Water recycling

Australian Water Association
Booker, N. Water conservation and recycling (2001). Greywater and blackwater treatment strategies, Environment design guide, TEC 11, Australian Institute of Architects, Melbourne, 1–14
Master Plumbers and Mechanical Services Association of Australia, Greywater and blackwater treatment strategies, Environment design guide, TEC 11, Australian Institute of Architects, Melbourne, 1–14. (2008). Waterlines Report Series No 10, National Water Commission, Canberra

Master Plumbers and Mechanical Services Association of Australia, Requirements for installation of rainwater and greywater systems in Australia, Waterlines Report Series No 10, National Water Commission, Canberra (2008). Handbook for the design and construction of urban greywater systems
McQuire S (2007). A guide to utilizing rainwater and greywater at home, from the Alternative Technology Association of Melbourne
“Water not down the drain: a guide to using rainfall and greywater at home.” Greywater system buying guide published by ReNewmagazine and Standards Australia (2008). SB 326–2008:Urban greywater installation guide geared for single-family residences

Water Quality Australia, Australian recommendations for water recycling
Windblad U. and Simpson-Hebert M. (eds.) Water Quality Australia, Australian guidelines for water recycling (2004). Stockholm Environment Institute, Sweden, published Ecological Sanitation, 2nd edition.

Learn more

To learn how you can save water in your home, read Reducing water use. Look at Outdoor Water Use to learn ways to conserve water in your landscape

And Look into Rainwater to learn how to catch and use this valuable resource in your own house.

Authors

Simon Fane is the author of the original work. Chris Reardon has contributed to this article. Geoff Milne has provided an update. 2013

How does a greywater system work?

A greywater system diverts waste water to either an irrigation system or a treatment and recycling system, depending on the situation. On this page you will find:

The operation of a greywater system
The treatment of greywater

The design of a greywater system
And the use of proprietary greywater systems

The primary issue is the health and safety of those who will be using the property. Greywater irrigation systems are generally comprised of a surge tank and a way of discharging the greywater into an irrigation system. Greywater systems, such as those used for toilet flushing, should be equipped with a treatment system. Greywater systems must meet the criteria of the International Building Code.

How a greywater system works

Greywater is water that has been collected from sinks, baths, and showers and is routed to a surge tank. Before being transferred to an irrigation or treatment system, the greywater is stored in the tank for a short period of time. Depending on the situation, gravity or a pump can be used to redirect the greywater. It is permissible to use any sort of container for the surge tank as long as it is capable of retaining (but not storing) the initial surge of water. The surge tank must be completely emptied each time greywater is dispersed to the irrigation or treatment system.

It is only when there is sufficient fall from the laundry/bathroom drain to the surge tank that a gravity system can be used.

Have a vented overflow

Have a trapped overflow flow directly into the sewer or to an on-site disposal facility
Be completely enclosed
Be able to withstand vermin

Water is diverted from a washing machine or bathtub for use in gravity-fed irrigation. Three-way valves, which are operated manually, redirect water from the conventional drainage system to the surge tank. A maximum of 300 mm above the top of the machine must be maintained in order to avoid overloading the pump, and the discharge pipe must discharge into a 40 mm open pipe in order to prevent the risk of water being siphoned from the machine during operation. Greywater from washing and bathrooms is sent to a pumped irrigation system.

It consists of installing a valve on the proper waste pipes in order to reroute the wastewater to the surge tank.

Following that, water is pumped to the irrigated area.

Depending on how much space is required, the surge tank may be partially or completely below ground level.

Treatment of greywater

Greywater treatment may comprise the following steps:

Filtering, solids settling, flotation and separation of lighter materials, anaerobic or aerobic digestion, chemical or ultraviolet disinfection are all options.

Greywater that is used for irrigation should be filtered since it still includes significant amounts of particulates and is thus prone to clog the irrigation system if it is not filtered before use. Greywater filters are a straightforward design. Greywater must be filtered in order to prevent blockage of the drainage system. With this type of basic filtering equipment, greywater is discharged into a tank that contains the filter material, which is composed of a layer of bark over a filter-cloth layer followed by a layer of fine sand.

Filters for greywater will need to be updated on a frequent basis, and the solids that collect on top of the greywater will need to be removed on a regular basis.

Designing a greywater system

Take into consideration the following:

Personal habits of the users, such as what they put into the system, the quantity of wastewater output, the size of the site, the soil characteristics of the site, the type of recycling usage required, such as whether it is for irrigation solely or for re-use in the home

Greywater is frequently recycled in order to lessen the strain on an on-site treatment system. Because of the way that proper system design will still allow greywater to be transferred to the treatment system when a tank is full or a garden is soggy, it does not allow for any loss in on-site treatment capacity. G13/AS1 compliant installations are those that are developed in line with the NZBC. Sanitary plumbing systems are well-suited for usage with greywater systems for the following reasons:

When they reach the outside of the building, greywater and blackwater systems are kept separate until they reach the outside of the building
Greywater intended for recycling can be directed to a single gully trap, where it can be easily diverted for re-use
Other wastewater, such as kitchen wastewater, can be directed to a separate gully.

The design of installations in compliance with AS/NZS 3500.2 is a good example. Because of the following reasons, plumbing and drainage may not be suitable for a greywater installation:

Greywater and blackwater are not necessarily separated, i.e., they may both be connected to the same drain
All wastewater may be connected directly to the outfall drainage, i.e., there may be no gully trap
And all wastewater may be connected directly to the inlet drainage, i.e., there may be no gully trap.

According to AS/NZS 3500, a plumbing installation that has been specifically built for a greywater recycling system must be specified.

Proprietary greywater systems

Greywater treatment systems that are commercially built and meet the necessary standards for toilet flushing and/or irrigation are available in New Zealand. Irrigation units that are commercially built generally include the following components:

In addition to the gully, the system includes a submersible pump that automatically pumps greywater to the irrigation system, a manual or remote electrically operated over-ride switch that can divert all greywater to the sewer if necessary, and a partially self-cleaning filter that can be cleaned by the homeowner.

Greywater is treated in a patented technique before being used in toilet cisterns and irrigation systems. Greywater that is used for toilet flushing should be treated to limit the amount of hazardous bacteria in the water. This can be accomplished through the use of commercially manufactured systems. The most recent update was made on November 5, 2018.

Greywater Reuse

Greywater is wastewater from sources other than toilets and urinals, such as bathtubs, showers, bathroom sinks, washing machines, dishwashers, and kitchen sinks, among other things. The regulations for utilizing greywater for subsurface irrigation are outlined in Chapter 246-274 WAC. The regulation becomes effective on July 31, 2011. Municipalities and local health jurisdictions (LHJs) have three years to put it into effect. (LHJs may impose criteria that are more strict than those specified in the state rule.) The requirements of chapter 246-272A WAC shall, however, continue to apply to greywater reuse for subsurface irrigation if they are unable to make the necessary adjustments in order to implement and enforce this chapter.

Check with your local health department to see if greywater reuse is permitted under chapter 246-274 WAC, or to find out how to assist in the endeavor if it is not currently permitted.

Did You Know.?

Greywater accounts for the vast majority of the wastewater generated by your home. up to 40 gallons of water per person each day The installation of greywater systems during the building of a new home is typically less expensive and less complicated. Re-plumbing an old structure can be both expensive and impracticable, depending on the circumstances. Subsurface irrigation with greywater is a water-saving technique that can be used to conserve water. Greywater, on the other hand, may not be sufficient to meet all of your landscape irrigation needs all year. In order to avoid health hazards, greywater systems must irrigate below the ground surface through the use of a drainfield or an appropriate drip irrigation system
And Some of the compounds found in greywater can be toxic to plants. For example, liquid detergents typically contain less sodium than powdered detergents and are therefore preferred when using greywater for irrigation purposes. Irrigating Plants using Greywater.

What’s Harmful About Greywater?

If greywater is not properly treated and treated properly, it can include chemicals, germs, viruses, and other pollutants that can constitute a threat to human health and the environment if not treated properly. According on what flows down the drain, the quantity of pollutants carried by greywater fluctuates. When individuals take responsibility for what goes down the drain, the quantity of chemicals and pathogens that enter the environment may be considerably decreased. Greywater reuse is one approach for reusing wastewater that has been explored.

Visit ourWater Conservation and Water Recyclingwebpage to find out more about the solutions available in the state of Washington.
The quantity of greywater that may be applied must not be greater than the amount of greywater that can be absorbed by plants and evaporated by the atmosphere.
Bathroom and lavatory sinks, shower and tub draining systems, and clothes washing machines produce greywater with minimal amounts of pathogens, chemicals, and lipids, oils and grease compared to other sources of wastewater.
In most cases, greywater from non-laundry utility sinks and the kitchen, which includes sinks and dishwashers, has higher levels of germs, chemicals, and fats, oil, and grease than clean water.
In the following table, you’ll find some of the features of several greywater sources:

ClothesWasher:	Bacteria, bleach, foam, high pH, hot water, nitrates, oil and grease, salts, soaps, suspended solids.
Bathroom:	Bacteria, hair, hot water, odor, oil and grease, soaps, suspended solids.
Kitchen:	Bacteria, food particles, hot water, odor, oil and grease, soaps, high pH and sodium (from dishwasher), suspended solids.
Adapted from Small Flows quarterly newsletter, Winter 2001

Design and Management

Greywater source and volume are the most important factors to consider when designing and managing a greywater system. Local regulations may be more stringent than state regulations. You should consult with your local health authority before installing a greywater reuse system. In order to protect public health and the environment, the state rule for greywater reuse takes a risk-based approach to the process. The three “tiers” that determine the sort of system that is required are defined in the following table:

Project Type	Source of Greywater	Storage	Quantity	Treatment and Distribution
Tier One	LIGHT GREYWATER

Basins (sinks) for the lavatory or bathroom
Showers
Bath tubs
Clothes washing machines

None	Less than 60 gallons per day per irrigation system – limit 2 per building	No treatment – gravity(Exception: Treatment is required when used in a public location such as a playground, school, church, or park)
Tier Two *	Less than 24 hours per day	Less than 3,500 gallons per day	No treatment – even distribution (typically by pressure)
Tier Three *	DARK GREYWATER

The following are examples of greywater sources: non-laundry utility sinks, kitchen sinks, and dishwashers
All greywater combined that has not come into touch with wastewater from a toilet or urinal

No limit

Less than 3,500 gallons per day

Treatment Required – even distribution (typically by pressure)

*To gain a better understanding of tier two and tier three systems readGuidance for the Performance, Application, Design, and OperationMaintenance of Tier Two and Three Greywater Subsurface Irrigation Systems (Tier Two and Three Greywater Subsurface Irrigation Systems) (PDF).

Tier One

Tier one systems are straightforward systems that rely on gravity to distribute light greywater; a surge tank or storage tank may not be required in this configuration. However, gravity distribution systems are not capable of distributing greywater as uniformly or accurately as pressure distribution systems, despite the fact that the cost of installing one is less expensive than that of a tier two or three system. A tier two system is recommended in order to maximize water recycling. More information on the use of tier one greywater systems may be found in theTier One Greywater System Checklist and Irrigation Area Estimation Tool (PDF).

To find out if tier one greywater systems are permitted in your county, contact the local health agency. It is possible that your county has developed a Greywater System Checklist that you may utilize. For additional information about greywater reuse, please visit ourUseful Greywater Linkswebpage.

Tier Two

It is possible to install a greywater irrigation system in tier two using a surge tank, storage tanks, or pump(s) that can hold light greywater for less than 24 hours.

Tier Three

The treatment of dark greywater, light greywater stored longer than 24 hours, light greywater to be used to irrigate a green roof, and any greywater used in a public location such as a playground, school, church, or sports field is required by tier three systems. A tier three system must include an approved treatment component. The use of a greywater irrigation system is not intended to be a substitute for the installation of an approved on-site sewage system or the connection to an approved public sewer system.

In order to use greywater irrigation systems, all of them must be equipped with diversion valves that divert the water to the permanent sewage treatment system.

Where Can I Get More Information?

Visit ourUseful Greywater Linkswebpage or send an email to [email protected] if you want to learn more about greywater reuse.

Laundry-to-Garden: How to Irrigate with Graywater

What precisely is graywater, and why is it important? ‘Gray’ water is wastewater from household appliances such as washing machines, bathroom sinks, showers, and bathtubs that has been only minimally dirty and provides a low health risk to those who use it. As long as you’re only flushing biodegradable things down the toilet, graywater is totally acceptable to use for irrigation purposes on your garden. Kitchen sink water is technically considered graywater as well, but because of the high concentration of grease in the water, it must typically be treated before it can be utilized as irrigation.

When it comes to recycling graywater, there are several dead easy methods to do it (we’ve listed a few of them here), but they all need some type of physical effort every time you wish to irrigate your garden or garden beds.

The washing machine approach falls somewhere in the middle; it can be completed in a weekend by anyone with basic home tools and strong mechanical talents.

The Basics

In order to drive wastewater out of the machine and into a sewage line, laundry machines are supplied with pumps. A key feature of this system, which was originally developed by Art Ludwig of Oasis Design in Southern California, is that it makes use of the built-in pump of a washing machine to distribute wastewater through a system of subsurface pipes, allowing it to irrigate individual plants throughout the yard. The water drains out into mulch-filled basins surrounding each plant, so the roots can get to the moisture they need to survive.

This design is particularly efficient for watering big permanent plants such as fruit trees, berry bushes, edible vines, and other edible vines. It is not beneficial to irrigate a large number of small plants, such as flower beds, lawns, and annual vegetables. Here are a few more caveats:

The washing machine’s pump isn’t powerful enough to irrigate regions uphill from it, and it won’t irrigate plants on a slope (though you may direct the water downhill from the machine to irrigate a flat area below)
You also won’t be able to irrigate plants on a slope. If you’re washing filthy diapers in the washing machine, you shouldn’t use this procedure since it will turn the water black. Don’t use greywater to water plants near streams or on marshy areas (to prevent contaminating the water)
You are only permitted to use biodegradable items in your washing machine (no bleach, borax, or sodium are permitted)

Is It Legal?

Graywater systems are becoming increasingly popular among government agencies around the country, particularly in areas where water is limited. Unlike most greywater systems that require a permit (and often the services of a licensed plumber), the washing machine system is explicitly legal for homeowners to install without a permit in five states: California, Arizona, Texas, New Mexico, and Wyoming. With a little wrangling with your local building department, the washing machine system is likely to pass muster in most communities (though a permit maybe required).

Nonetheless, you should consult with local authorities before continuing.

Step One: Calculate System Size

Before you get your tools out, sit down with a pencil and piece of paper and figure out how many plants you will be able to water. Engineers have developed sophisticated ways for doing such computations, but they are not required for our needs. You should plan to irrigate 1 to 2 fruit trees, 3 to 4 fruit-bearing bushes, 3 to 4 edible vines, and 6 to 8 smaller perennial plants (such as roses, lavender, or artichokes) for each load of laundry that you do each week. The following recommendations are based on a load size of 20 gallons of water, which is typical for most washing machines.

Take into account the soil conditions as well.
If drainage is extremely poor, it is recommended that the wastewater be spread over twice as many plants as previously recommended.
Finally, while determining the watering requirements of specific plants, apply your common sense.
Furthermore, drought-tolerant plants such as olives and figs require far less water than moisture-loving species such as blueberries and asparagus.
The mulch pits act as a sponge, allowing roots to absorb as much water as they require while reducing the likelihood of plants becoming drowned.

The irrigation tubing shown in this diagram should be routed to the plant(s) that will be watered. Clean Water Components’ Andrew Chahrour is given credit for this image.

Step Two: Dig the Trenches

Given that washing machine pumps are not particularly strong, it is recommended that plants be located within 50 feet of the machine, assuming that the land is more or less level. Water will be delivered to each plant through a network of flexible tubing placed in trenches beneath the earth. Excavations should follow the contour of the terrain, up and down minor humps and dips, but they should not be built straight upwards. (The 50 feet does not include the distance traveled by the pipe as it descends an incline to reach the planting location; gravity will take care of that portion of the journey.) Begin by digging a shallow (2 to 3 inch) trench from the outer wall of your home closest to the washing machine to the nearest plant that you intend to irrigate, working your way outward.

Dig a trench around the drip line of each plant, approximately 10 inches deep and 8 inches wide, in a circle around the drip line of each plant.

Mulch will be used to fill the ditches in order to absorb the graywater.

Step Three: Lay the Pipe and Spread the Mulch

Placing 1″ HDPE flexible tubing (also known as poly pipe) in shallow trenches, cutting and inserting barbed “Ts,” “elbows,” and other fittings as needed to complete the job. To each of the deeper holes, run a 12″ tubing branch off the main 1″ line, leaving a few inches of tubing protruding into each trench at the end. Hose clamps should be used to secure the fittings. Washing machine pumps are only capable of pumping water through 10 to 12 irrigation points at a time, depending on their size.

The valve should be accessible in a valve box so that it may be operated manually if necessary.
First, remove the bottom of the pot and set it aside.
4 inches of wood chips should be used to fill the bottom of the trench surrounding each plant (compacted with your feet).
Then, using wood chips, fill up the rest of the trenches surrounding each individual plant.

As a cover for each pot, place a concrete stepping stone on top of it. Fill up the shallow trenches with earth, leaving a few feet uncovered at the end near the home so that it may be linked to the washing machine.

Step Four: Connect the Washing Machine*

The flexible drain tube behind the washing machine should be located and disconnected from the stiff standpipe, which is responsible for draining the wastewater into a sewage or septic system. The flexible drain tube should be connected to a1″ three-way valve with the help of a1″ barbed male adapter and ahose clamp. Connection to the sewer standpipe is made with a 1-inch diameter PVC pipe and fittings, which should be configured as needed so that the valve is flush against the wall in an easily accessible location near the standpipe and at least a couple inches above the height of the washing machine.

Check behind the wall for studs, wiring, and pipes by drilling a test hole with a 14-inch bit to check that there are no obstructions.
In addition to running the pipe through the floor and outside, through the external wall of a crawlspace or basement, there is another alternative.
Pipe straps of 1″ in diameter should be used on either side of the valve to support horizontal pipe and fasten it to the wall, as shown.
Connect the bottom of the T fitting to the poly tubing on the ground using 1-inch diameter PVC pipe and fittings, if necessary, to complete the installation.
A piece of 1-inch-diameter PVC pipe with a length sufficient to reach beyond the height of the three-way valve indoors should be connected to the top end of the T fitting at the T fitting’s center.
Exterior grade caulk should be used to seal the hole where the pipe passes through the wall on both the inside and outside of the wall.
PVC cement should be used to join unthreaded fittings together.

Operation and Maintenance

In most cases, unless you are employing numerous irrigation zones, the system will work on its own. Consequently, you’ll be responsible for turning on and off the three-way valve on the valve box outside once a week. Simply split the total number of loads you run each week into two equal groups and you’ll be done in minutes. After the first round of irrigation is done, turn the valve to irrigate the other zone throughout the remainder of the day and the next week. Decomposition and settlement of the mulch in the trenches will take place over time.

In addition, as the plants develop, it is possible that you will need to occasionally increase the diameter of the mulch trenches (especially for trees).

This is also beneficial if you want to wash your clothes with bleach every now and again.

In addition to the San Francisco Graywater Design Manual and Oasis Design, you may get information about greywater system supplies, troubleshooting tips, and instructions on how to use this technology in a variety of situations by visiting Greywater Action.