GreenYour.com

Graywater (or greywater) systems are a safe and practical way to capture and filter the water used by faucets, washing machines, dishwashers, and other home appliances, and reuse it for non-potable purposes. Graywater recycling is an innovative way of cutting back on your home's water consumption.

How to install a graywater system

Installing a graywater system will bring great water efficiency benefits to your home, but it's no easy task. If you're looking to do it yourself, these resources are a good place to start:

• Builder's Greywater Guide: Helps you determine the appropriate system, the tools needed, and the best standard practices.
• The New Create an Oasis With Greywater: Choosing, Building and Using Greywater Systems: Art Ludwig's book on building graywater systems.
• American Water Works Association buyer's guide: While the site doesn't presently list any graywater system installers, it can help you locate water systems contractors in your area who may be able to point you in the right direction.

Installing a graywater system helps you go green because...

• It allows you to recycle water, thereby cutting down on your household's use of fresh, potable water.
• It reduces the amount of water entering your local community's sewage system.

According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the average American household consumes 90 gallons of fresh drinking water each day.[1] This accounts for 47 percent of all water supplied by American water utilities. [2]

Graywater systems can capture and recycle up to 50 percent of the water a household uses per day without posing a threat to family health and the health of your lawn, garden, or landscape.[3]

External links

• University of ArizonaWater Resources Research Center
• ContractorMag.com - A helpful article about rain barrels and graywater systems from a Pennsylvania-based contractor.