Science gray water recycling ideas

[destinos]

I moved into a new house recently and I've been trying to implement ways to recycle my gray water using methods that aren't hi-tech and/or expensive to install. I've got one sink drain rigged up to a filter and draining into one of those 5 gallon arrowhead bottles, which I then load onto a fixture that I've modeled into the toilet tank. The toilet flushes normally but you refill it by opening a valve on the arrowhead bottle, then when the tank fills you shut the valve.


I think if i remembered more of my basic physics I'd have a better idea how to accomplish this other thing, so I thought I'd ask you people. Some of you are definitely a little more up on the physics. I want to collect shower/bath water in a larger tank that I could then wheel out to a sprinkler system. The first question is how to get the water from the shower drain into the tank. I admit I have no idea. Once out in the yard I would set the tank, like a barrel, under what would essentially be a giant piston head. it would be weighted enough to slowly force the water through a hose system onto the front yard. ideally the piston head could be hand-cranked back into starting position once the barrel was done, and if necessary I guess hand cranked down into the barrel if more water pressure was necessary. Any ideas on either thing?

 

[TSPenguin]

I really don't think that putting shower water on your plants is a good idea. Unless you don't use any soap...

 

[tl8]

Most plants will stand it. Make use you have a grease trap for the washing machine and kitchen sink.

And the name of the system you want: Septic System. 2 concrete tanks in your backyard. One for gray water and the other for Black water. Number 1 rule is check with your local council

 

[ar81]

Here a useful link:
Ecological sanitation

The problem of using waste water for plants is:
1.Undesired biohazards: It may turn your greenhouse or garden into an incubator of biohazards if waste water is not properly treated.
2.Presence of substances in plants used as food: If plants are not used to feed people, there is not such a big problem, but if they are, proper care needs to be taken, because plants will absorb substances that could make food harmful for human health.

 

[destinos]

I've heard elsewhere that if you filter the gray water through...like some gravel, sand, and charcoal you can purify it to a point where the plants will tolerate it.

 

[ar81]

You also can do distillation. For wet waste it seems fine, and what you may get is urea salts.