I set up a DIY “laundry to landscape” grey water system here in Tucson, AZ where there are excellent classes and city rebates for these projects. It took some elbow grease, but getting a proper education before embarking on the project really helped.
So What is Grey Water?
Typically, water flowing from showers, bathroom sinks, and washing machines may be
used for a grey water system.
My geeky mind loves efficiency. So ‘stacking functions’ by a) using the water to clean your clothes, then b) water your plants in your yard – instead of having that water go down the sewer – is super cool and intuitive.
From Brad Lancaster’s site
Greywater harvesting is the practice of directing greywater to the primary root/life zone (top 1 to 2 feet, or 0.3 to 0.6m, of the soil) to freely irrigate and help grow beautiful and productive landscapes while achieving “waste” water treatment without using chemicals or energy. Plants and microorganisms in the soil consume and filter the organic nutrients and bacteria found in greywater, treating it naturally and returning clean water to the water cycle. The number and diversity of these beneficial microorganisms and plant roots increase the closer you get to the surface of the soil, so typically—the higher you distribute the greywater in, or atop, the uppermost layers of the soil—the better.
Tucson’s residential grey water guide document shows that clothes washers make up about 13 percent of a typical home’s usage, and about 45 percent is for yards/landscaping. That is a lot. By installing a grey water system you can drastically cut down on that 45 percent figure. It is fun to conserve the amount of water that the City of Tucson will need to pump from the ground or the Colorado River.
Another exiting tidbit from their guide is that ‘Starting June 1, 2010, all new single family homes and duplexes must include, on the plans, plumbing for future gray water distribution’ – go Tucson!
Podcast
My Project
I was initially a little intimidated by the ‘plumbing’ aspect of a grey water project (worried about leaks), but the system is very simple and it efficiently and reliably takes our clothes washer’s water and routes it to our backyard’s rainwater basins, to grow fruit trees and native plants. An added bonus is that the parts aren’t very expensive.
I already had some rainwater basins in the back yard and knew where some added grey water would really help our plants thrive. So I took a local class and did some online research, then customized an approach for my home/yard.
The key is to have a good ‘difference’ in height between the water coming out of the clothes washer and the point(s) in the yard where the water will be used. The clothes washer’s pump will get the water up to the highest point (just above your washer), then use a slight downhill gradient for the PVC pipe that runs out through your wall. Then also try to use a slight downhill gradient for the HDPE pipe in the yard, so the water freely flows downhill.
Note: If you are interested in installing a system like this at your home please check your city/state’s regulations and search for local experts who can help you. Set up your system so that you can always still send the water to the sewer system if needed.
Parts
Luckily the system isn’t very complex.
Water Wise Supply‘s customizable Laundry to Landscape Greywater Kit is what I used for the common components like the main valve, emitters, non-toxic PVC glue, etc. They also have great customer service.
From Lowe’s I purchased a long roll of 1″ HDPE pipe that extends from our house out into the yard. Lowe’s shows it is ‘Potable water service tubing for residential and commercial use’. As I understand from my research, black HDPE is stabilized for UV exposure, which we certainly have a lot of here in Tucson. Of course I try to keep the line underground, but it still gets quite hot (and cold). I also got some odds and ends like some PVC pipe, screws, fittings, etc, at the Lowe’s store down the road.
One special thing I used was an elastnomeric roof coating product which is common here in Tucson, to keep the system from leaking. I used some of it to further seal the clothes washer’s plastic tube to the special valve above it. That part was a bit tricky, and I forgot to warm the plastic tube first to make it easier to mount. I also put several clamps in place there and really cranked them down, and then made sure the main valve above it was very secure and wouldn’t move when twisting it.
Tools
Each project will differ, depending on the location of your clothes washer, the makeup of your walls, and distance to your yard – and various other factors. So you may need certain specialized tools.
For me the main tools were an electric drill, a screwdriver, a large masonry bit to get through the concrete wall, a level, a saw, and a few other common tools.
Maintenance
I periodically check on the main line in the yard, and can ‘flush’ it if needed. But the system is largely maintenance free. I also check the junction of the clothes washer’s plastic pipe and the valve to make sure there are no leaks. And we have a battery powered leak detector on the floor below the valve.
Installation Photos
Helpful Links
Watershed Management Group
Tucson, AZ nonprofit with grey water and rainwater harvesting Tucson rebate classes, an excellent grey water resources list, videos and much more. Great group!
Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands and Beyond
Brad Lancaster’s excellent books and website for rainwater harvesting, grey water, etc. Dig into these great resources. I love Brad’s books and have read them cover to cover!
Tucson Water Harvesters Facebook Group
Super helpful community! Do you have questions about rainwater harvesting and greywater projects?
City of Tucson
Rebates for grey water and rainwater harvesting projects. They also have rebates for high-efficiency clothes washers and toilets. See their grey water brochure and a gallery of rainwater harvesting projects.
Oasis Design
Lots of information about grey water systems.
Greywater Action
Resources and classes.
Oasis Laundry Detergent and Ecos Free and Clear Laundry Detergent
Compatible with grey water systems. Use a detergent that is biodegradable and low in sodium, phosphate, conductivity and alkalinity. Avoid detergents that contain boron or are high in salts, such as sodium, or phosphates or softening powder. Boron and salt are toxic to plants. Tucson’s soil is already quite salty – and one reason native plants love rainwater so much is that it isn’t salty!
Questions?
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© April 30, 2024 Chris Graber