Greywater Recycling Strategies for Bathrooms

Temporary Techniques

• The easiest way to reuse greywater is to catch it in a basin or bucket while it is being used. This can be done in the bathroom sink by plugging the sink when in use then scooping the used water out of the sink. In the shower, you can set a large basin on the floor of the tub or shower stall and catch a large portion of the water you use. The water from a bath can be reused by scooping it out with a bucket following the bath.

Plumbing Modification

• More permanent greywater recycling is accomplished by modifying a bathroom's plumbing so the water doesn't automatically go down the drain. You can install a branched drain in the bathroom sink and the bathtub so the used water is sent either into the sewer system, into a tank to be used for toilet flushing or outside to be used for irrigation. Take care when installing a system like this to be sure you are in compliance with municipal zoning regulations.

Toilet Flushing

• Most toilets are flushed with water clean enough for drinking, a wasteful practice that increases the strain on water systems. Water used in a shower, sink or washing machine is just as good for flushing a toilet as clean water. You can flush your toilet with greywater either by saving it in a bucket and simply pouring it into the toilet bowl, by pouring it into the rear storage tank immediately after flushing or by installing a bathroom system that can re-route greywater to flush the toilet automatically. The last option is the most convenient but also the most expensive, as it requires specialized plumbing.

Irrigation

• Greywater can be used to water lawns, gardens and trees. In very dry areas where water is scarce, this is the best way to keep grass, gardens and trees alive during droughts. You can simply catch the water you use and carry it outside in buckets or you can run a specialized irrigation line out of your house and into your lawn and garden to disperse used water from the household. Most North American households go through hundreds of gallons of water a day; use these strategies to get as much use out of this water as possible.