Greywater is defined as domestic wastewater from showers, lavatory sinks and laundry, produced apart from sewage. The significant difference between sewage and greywater is its organic loading. Sewage includes human waste from toilets and food waste from kitchens. Harvesting greywater can produce a steady source of water for reuse, thereby providing a sustainable option for commercial property owners!
When
greywater is treated properly, it can be reused in many non-potable
applications. Treated greywater can be used for toilet flushing, irrigation of
plants and cooling tower make-up.
A well-designed
greywater harvesting system comes with many advantages. Harvesting greywater for
the uses mentioned above can reduce the reliance on freshwater. Saving freshwater
not only conserves it for future generations but also reduces the monthly water
bill. Reducing wastewater entering
sewers or municipal treatment systems is also a benefit to the community.
How does a greywater harvesting system work?
There are
different ways to treat greywater for reuse.
If the application is for subsurface irrigation, the treatment system
can be fairly simple. It will need to
have filtration that can handle hair and soaps from showers, and lint from
laundry. However, sanitation will be
dependent on local codes. If using the
water above grade for toilet flushing, spray irrigation or cooling tower
make-up, a much more robust treatment train is required. The greywater must be properly treated to
prevent any public health risks.
The
popularity of greywater harvesting
systems is increasing for several reasons. Greywater can provide a
steady supply source that is not seen in rainwater harvesting. Depending on the end use, greywater harvesting
can also save millions of gallons per year in a commercial building, making it
a very cost-effective option. Reducing
the load on the municipal sewer system is also a benefit for everyone.
You can learn
more about the concept of greywater harvesting and greywater harvesting system
by connecting with an expert. A professional greywater harvesting service can
answer all your questions and help to design a system for your next commercial
project!
