How to Store Grey Water

Grey water is the leftover water from common household activities such as laundry, dishwashing and bathing. It has many uses if you recycle it properly, such as providing water for gardening or for toilets. Grey water differs from black water, which is the term for water containing human waste. Grey water can only be stored safely for a limited period of time, usually around 24 hours, so it is important not to store too much of it and to know what to use it for. One of the easiest ways to store and use grey water is to use your laundry machines waste water for gardening.

50- to 150-liter garbage can with a clip-on lid
Two hoses
Hose or rubber tubing
Sharp knife
Water resistant tape

Instructions

- 1
  Locate your washing machine's outlet hose. This is in the back of the machine. Use your manual for your washer if you are not certain exactly where it is. To store the gray water from your washing machine, you need to direct the water from this outlet hose into a gray water storage can.
- 2
  Set up your 50- to 150-liter garbage can with lid somewhere close to your washer on the outside of your home where you can stretch the washing machine's outlet hose. The size of your garbage can depends on what size washer you have.
- 3
  Lead your washing machine's outlet hose to the garbage can through a window or by drilling a small hole in a wall. If your washing machine's outlet hose cannot be disconnected from the holding tank it currently goes into or is not long enough, you can make a small hole in the outlet hose and run your hose or rubber tubing to the hole, securing it with water resistant tape.
- 4
  Connect the outlet hose of your house from the washing machine to the garbage can. Cut a small hole, just big enough for the hose to go through, on the top of the lid and secure with tape. When you use the washing machine, the grey water will flow through the outlet hose and into your garbage can where you can store it and use it to water plants or your lawn.

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