Filtering grey water

[arnieh]

I am looking into the use of grey water to flush toilets has any one had any experience in this area particularly in the removal of fats from the washing up of kitchen equipment etc any help would be useful.

[metatron]

The issue is not really cleaning it, as you can make charcoal filters and plant beds to remove waste and clean it, the issue is you have to pump it into an storage tank up in the attic afterwards, then you need to have an additional pipe to the toilet. I think if you are building a house it makes complete sense, but if not, its better to just clean all the grey water and store it for use in gardening or a fish pond.

[Arzosah]

Even if you store it in the way metatron suggests, you can just get a bleeping great jug, pour some of your outside store into it and flush the toilet with that sometimes

[nickdutch]

If that is what you are planning, it might be worth while just having a large bucket in the kitchen and the plumbing pouring the water from the washing up into that. Same in the bathroom with washing water from the sink. It depends upon how much you are making and how much you are using. Maybe a bucket with a lid like a wine fermentation bucket with a hole strategically cut, and then carry that manually to the toilet when you want to use it.

Possibly having two plug holes in the sink to release the water to either the main drain or the grey water bucket depending on your water quality.

I think it depends on the quantity of money you want to spend and how complex a system you want to have.

An issue may be maintaining hygiene.

[Maddie_cat]

I understand from those that have tried a GW system that it is more trouble than it is worth as any filters used get clogged up very quickly and easily and they are constantly having to be changed. Probably not worth the effort

[Moony]

I understand from those that have tried a GW system that it is more trouble than it is worth as any filters used get clogged up very quickly and easily and they are constantly having to be changed. Probably not worth the effort

Agreed, I think this is another case where an idea looks great in theory but when it is tried for any period in practice it turns out there is so much work needed to keep everything maintained it simply isn't worth it.

[daylen]

I agree with the other comments about grey water systems being very difficult to implement and maintain in practice.

If you're willing to install a complex system with piping and storage tanks and such like, you may be better off simply collecting rain water instead. It's easy to filter, so maintenance costs are lower and you're not limited to simply using it to flush toilets. It's very easy to clean it to drinking quality.

[arnieh]

Thanks once again for the ideas and comments it seems that I would be running around a lot more than I would like, I have enough to cope with as it is.

[tigs]

they covered this on bbc2's "its not easy being green" i think its on you tube

[Mad Scientist]

When we were nearly flooded with all the rain a few years ago and the water supply was off, we used rainwater, river water and old bathwater to flush the loo with. If you need to remove fat, use an eco friendly washing up liquid or horse chestnut leaves foamed up - nature's washing up scrubbing brush.