Water is a fast depleting resource, and this awareness has led organizations and governments across the world to take measures to conserve water through recycling and reuse. It is alarming to note that a major contribution to the depletion of this precious natural resource is wastage through domestic usage. This has resulted in the popularity of greywater systems across the world. Studies have shown that greywater systems can reduce water use by as much as 40 percent. To further promote the adoption of greywater recycling systems, the Enhanced Capital Allowance has been introduced as an incentive to organizations.
What is Grey Water?
Greywater is a term used to refer to the wastewater that runs off showers, sinks, and baths. Greywater is ideal for recycling and reusing as they are relatively cleaner as compared to sewer water. Greywater can easily be treated using a greywater system and the treated water can be used for flushing toilets and irrigating plants.
You would have heard of rainwater harvesting systems that allow people to store rainwater and use it for domestic purposes. Rainwater harvesting systems also reduce the dependency on groundwater. Greywater systems offer a greater advantage as the turnaround time is shorter and they are not dependent on rains, which means you can save water throughout the year.
How Does the System Work?
Greywater systems treat water with the primary objective of ensuring the health and safety of property users. These systems must comply with the Building Code requirements. The water treated by greywater systems are usually used for irrigation or flushing toilets.
For greywater systems that process water for irrigation usually comprise a surge tank and a channel to discharge into an irrigation system. In greywater systems that process water for toilet flushing, a water treatment system is required.
Before the processing begins, the water is stored in the surge tank of the greywater recycling system. This tank is usually a container that is capable of holding the initial surge of water. There are certain specifications for the surge tank. It must be vented, should have a trapped overflow, should be sealed and vermin proof. The water from the surge tank is usually diverted using gravity or a pump.
Treatment of Greywater
In the greywater system, the water is filtered. The process involves the settlement of solids, separation of lighter solids, anaerobic and aerobic digestion, and disinfection using chemicals or UV.
Things to Remember
The greywater system can function efficiently when it is maintained well. The surge tank must be emptied completely each time the greywater is dispersed into the irrigation or treatment system.
Greywater filters must be replaced periodically. Also, the solids that settle into the tank must be removed regularly.
If the water has been treated to remove harmful bacteria, then the water is to be used only for flushing toilets.
To know more, please check Cleantech water.
