Jax and I live in Texas which you might have heard is in a drought. We’ve written about the consequences of drought for our state before. Our neighbors north of Texas are in a worse state than we are in this drought with most of Colorado and Kansas experiencing extreme drought conditions. As populations grow (as they tend to do in the US) policy makers are faced with inviting or designing initiatives that will alleviate an increased demand on local resources, including water.
…La Niña conditions, which bring hot, dry springs and summers to Texas…will continue for a second year through 2012. [H]alf of two-year La Niñas have been followed by a third year. However, Texas has not been in a drought of three years or longer since the 1960s.” — Farzad Mashhood, Austin American Statesman
Today, I’d like to talk about an initiative that can help us cope with drought conditions — the use of greywater (also spelled graywater). Greywater is generated in households and includes residual water from baths, showers, and washing machines. It gets its name from being cloudy (it usually contains soap) and because its state is somewhere between clean drinking water (called “white waterâ€) — the water piped into our homes — and sewage or waste water (called “black waterâ€) — the water piped out of our homes.
According to the Texas Water Development Board’s 2012 plan, conservation is our best and cheapest source of water for the future.†— Fritz Steiner, Austin American Statesman
Greywater is not potable (not drinkable), so it usually ends up in a sewer with waste water. But that doesn’t have to be the case. With proper treatment, greywater can supplement irrigation, laundry and toilet water. If we used greywater, we could significantly reduce our reliance on “white water†because most homes generate enough greywater to supplant a good portion of water provided by the city.
“An average household can divert at least 40 gallons per day, or 15 percent of daily usage, by using a gray water system, according to the City of Austin.†— Asher Price, Austin American Statesman
Greywater Program Map (click to enlarge). Warning: Nudity and hairy legs.
Recycling greywater is one of several water conservation strategies being explored by national organizations. [The other strategies include the harvesting of rainwater and stormwater and restricting water use.] For example, the Sustainable Site Initiative is piloting greywater use in Arizona, California, Georgia, and North Carolina. I came across this project because one of the partners is a local gem, the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center at the University of Texas at Austin. Some may think Texas is too red to be green. Let me assure you that is not the case. Our state has had policies on reclaimed water in place since the late 1990s and policies on greywater since 2005. So it made perfect sense to me when I saw one of our state treasures associated with a national conservation effort.
Even though Austin is near several bodies of water, we are facing water shortages just like many other cities. Austin considers itself a green city, so when I started researching for this post, I thought I’d learn about how water conservation strategies, like greywater, are popular features in new homes and developments. They are not. Indeed, only one person in our city has ever been granted a permit to recycle greywater for her home. One person! Part of the reason for low implementation may be the bureaucracy a homeowner has to navigate to the get a permit.
Another part of it, though, may be cost. Greywater is supposed to be treated before it is reclaimed and this cost may shut out the “little guy.†A study published earlier this year found it may be cost-prohibitive for single-family homes, with the cost of water conservation (including greywater) being more than three times that of standard practice (see pp. 68-69). In contrast, the one person in Austin who got a permit for reclaiming greywater said the upfront cost was low. I’m not sure what to think. And as far as I can tell, my city isn’t sure what to think, either.
I think greywater holds a lot of promise for my city becoming more green. The City of Austin has formed a task force to figure out how, when and where reclaiming greywater can help alleviate strains on our water resources. That makes me glad. Pagan or not, I know my friends and I want to live clean and healthy lives using sustainable practices.
What about you Realm? Does your state or city have policies in place regarding water conservation in general, or greywater in particular? Have you ever thought about trying to recycle water?
+ Featured image, a greywater pump from the Earthship Museum in Taos, NM.
5 comments
Rosemary says:
Jul 27, 2012
Thanks for this informative article! Each year the need to conserve resources and create more sustainable practices becomes more apparent, and it’s frustrating how slow the system moves to keep up. Will definitely check out that Sustainable Sites site, that’s cool they are in North Carolina! (My state).
Anyway thanks again, this has given me a lot to think about – even just ways I can better use our water at home.
GG says:
Jul 27, 2012
Hi Rosemary! Thanks for reading. I’m glad you found the post informative. There is a lot I still have to learn, but I am glad to know there are viable options for water conservation in the home.
Thorn says:
Jul 27, 2012
My family has used greywater since I was a child. My dad hooked pipes directly from the washing machine leading all the way out to a large garden where we also had irrigation channels.
As an adult, I shunned greywater until a drought over a decade ago. During an absolute watering ban, we returned to greywater to save my parents fruit trees and also much of our own garden. We attached a series of hose from the washer to water plants. To get to my parents’ fruit trees next door, we pulled large tubs of washer water in a wagon into their yard.
We have since moved and our washing machine in on an interior wall. I do collect the condensation water from my air conditioner and haul it to my pecan tree, canna lillies, and / or rose of sharons.
Be aware of the types of detergents you use if you are going to use greywater for watering plants. Laundry detergent without phosphates is generally safe. A lot of organic pest removers for your garden is this type of soap anyway.
Michele says:
Jul 29, 2012
Thank you for this! I am in Round Rock and have been collecting rain water for about 5 years now. I don’t have a grass lawn, but do have a flower bed and a garden. I use the two rain barrels to water the flower bed. I one of the only ones in my neighborhood to have rain barrels.
Chris Maxwell-Gaines says:
Aug 14, 2012
GG, thanks for putting this information out there. Many cities are coming to terms with the growth of interest in auxiliary water systems such as rainwater harvesting and graywater reuse systems. In the past, these systems had been so far off the radar for cities that people have been allowed to install systems that may not meet current code. Now cities are scrambling to make it up as they go. This is what is happening in Austin now. Serving on the citizen’s graywater advisory committee has shown me that the city officials just want to uphold current regulations, not deter people from these technologies. It is evitable that with increased requirements the cost of these systems will go up. Do these systems pose a risk of cross connection with city water supply? Sure, but the risk is very minute. In the end, it is the city though that has to provide their stamp of approval or permit for these systems. We have to play by the rules set. Hopefully we can provide the city with some alternative compliance designs to keep the red tape and costs of these systems at a minimum.