You may have heard about graywater, but are unsure what it is. Graywater is simply wastewater that can be recycled. Some may think this sounds strange, but water reuse has many benefits. Recycling water can:
save water, energy, and money,
conserve potable water for drinking, bathing, etc.,
provide a dependable, locally controlled water supply, and
reduce the diversion of water from sensitive ecosystems.
This article provides an overview of graywater use by homeowners. It does not replace laws and regulations of the state or the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, which take precedence over any information contained herein.
In addition, local permitting authorities may have more stringent requirements. See the TCEQ publication Graywater and Alternative On-site Water: A Guide for Homeowners for more information.
Graywater is wastewater that can be recycled from clothes washers, showers, bathtubs, hand-washing lavatories, and sinks that are used for disposal of household products. Graywater also includes water from sinks that are not used for food preparation or disposal.
WHAT IS NOT GRAYWATER?
Graywater does not include water that has come in contact with human waste or water from sinks used for food preparation or disposal.
HOW IS GRAYWATER USED?
Recycled water can satisfy many water demands. Graywater can be used at a residence for the following purposes:
There are also commercial, industrial, institutional, and agricultural uses for graywater.
HOW DOES GRAYWATER REUSE HELP THE ENVIRONMENT?
As the demand for water grows, more water must be extracted, treated, and transported, sometimes over great distances. Recycling water on-site or nearby reduces the energy needed to move water or pump water from an aquifer. It takes energy to treat water and reusing graywater reduces the amount of treated water we need in our homes.
Recycled water may contain higher levels of nutrients, such as nitrogen, than potable water. Using recycled water to irrigate your landscape can provide an additional source of nutrients and lessen the need to apply synthetic fertilizers.
Plants, wildlife and fish depend on a certain level of water flow to their habitats. Sometimes when water is diverted for agricultural, urban, and industrial purposes, this reduces the water flow in waterways and can compromise water quality. Recycled water can free up considerable amounts of water, increasing flow to vital ecosystems.
The design and operation of a reuse system depends on numerous factors such as the size of your system, whether your system contains only graywater or also contains other allowable types of water, and whether the graywater is generated at a private residence, a commercial, industrial, or institutional facility, or an agricultural facility.
See the TCEQ publication Graywater and Alternative On-site Water: A Guide for Homeowners for more information.
Recommendations and Best Management Practices
*Graphics and source: Texas Commission on Environmental Quality/TakeCareofTexas.org.
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We have a greywater system from our washing machine that has virtually saved our yard on the right side of our house. Wish we could do one from our dishwasher to the left side of our house, but it is associated with the kitchen sink and garbage disposal. So that is not possible. Thank you for this article to bring this source of water to people's attention.