Background
For a couple of years now we’ve had a 2200L rain water tank for watering our small vegie patch and the plants in our back and front yards. But because the rainfall is so erratic and after a couple of waterings the tank rapidly empties, we sought another solution - a water recycling system which treats grey water from our shower, hand basin and washing machine to almost category A standard. In researching this l found there are basically two systems available: one which uses a biological process and another which uses a filtration process. Because of site restrictions [no space to dig a pit] we installed a Nubian system. Grey water which can be recycled, is water discharged from your shower, bath, basin, laundry trough and washing machine. Choose a system which recycles grey water to category A.
Whatever system you choose you may want to change your laundry detergents and where you dispose of household cleaning agents. In our case these are discharged via the back gully trap thus bi-passing the recycle system.
We aim to save 52,000L a year.
Process
- calculate weekly grey water discharge from showers, baths, hand & laundry basins and washing machine - this is the amount you are aiming to recycling; any amount under 1000L a week and it’s not worth installing a system
- decide where you want to use the recycled water e.g. 1000L would water, via low throw sprinkles, a medium sized garden for about one hour per week [depending on local regulations category A grey water may be used for flushing toilets, watering gardens, washing machines and washing cars]
- if you create 1000L+ grey water and when you have decided where you want to use the recycled water, choose the system type you wish to install: biological or filtration
- get a feasibility report and detailed quote after an on site visit by the system’s supplier - this should be done by a licensed plumber: in our case the choice of system [see picture above of Oasis by Nubian-we’ve replaced the 350L Product Tank with a 1000L tank ] was largely determined by available space and proximity of sewer line - do not pay any deposit until you have been given council approval]
- from your local council get an application form for installing a grey water treatment system - this will usually ask for, amongst other details, a scale plan showing where and how the system will be installed
- lodge the application form and any required paperwork: the council will want to visit the site before granting approval to install
- once approval to install is granted you can now pay any deposits required by your supplier
- when installation has been completed your council will want to inspect before issuing approval to operate the system
Costs
- planning permit from council
- system and installation
- maintenance - at least two mandatory inspections, by licensed plumber, of system every year
- annual lab test of treated water
- annual report to your local council