Left of Centre Grey Water Solution

I've got three little kids and a garden that could use more water than it is getting these days.

The kids have a bath every day and I think about trying to rig something up everytime we pull the plug out and watch all that water with just a bit of soap and the days dirt disappear.

Our 2nd storey bathroom has a toilet in it as well as the bath so all the sewerage from the bathroom heads out an easily accessbile pipe coming out the wall which feeds the main sewer line running down the side of the house.

I was thinking of the possibility of rigging up a normally open solenoid at the base of a large T joint, with the T gravity feeding a grey water pipe to the garden. I'd be able to rig up a timer setup in the bathroom so it's simply a matter of pressing a button in the bathroom to run say a 1 minute timer to close the solenoid, pull the plug on the bath, and keep everybody off the toilet :D. I've seen Bunnings have a "manual" version of this setup with a T piece.
Main challenge would be finding a suitable solenoid with a wide enough diam. to handle the sewerage from the toilet. Any ideas????

1. Open window.

2. Use garden hose to siphon the bathwater onto the garden.

I think you will run into big problems unless the greywater is completely separated from the sewage. Not only would the health inspectors jump on you with big boots, you could have a verry smelly garden, or worse, a sick family.

Can you separate the loo and the rest at the pipes? Maybe you run separate pipes - 1 for garden, 1 for sewage... The greywater pipe doesn't need to be as big as the sewage system, probably a 50 or 75mm pipe would do it.

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Originally Posted by woodbe

1. Open window.

2. Use garden hose to siphon the bathwater onto the garden.

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Ahem, yes trying to come up with something slightly more automated than that!!!!

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Originally Posted by woodbe

I think you will run into big problems unless the greywater is completely separated from the sewage. Not only would the health inspectors jump on you with big boots, you could have a verry smelly garden, or worse, a sick family.

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You're probably right but how much of an issue would it be??? 95% of the flush through this plumbing is bath/shower water. Most manual grey water systems source garden water through shared plumbing systems do they not????

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Originally Posted by woodbe

Can you separate the loo and the rest at the pipes? Maybe you run separate pipes - 1 for garden, 1 for sewage... The greywater pipe doesn't need to be as big as the sewage system, probably a 50 or 75mm pipe would do it.

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Existing plumbing runs underfloor, would be painful to try and seperate now.

Sir Don Burke said "the only place for grey water is down the sewer".

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Originally Posted by floppinab

Most manual grey water systems source garden water through shared plumbing systems do they not????

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Not. There would never be approval for it. The pipes have to be separate, otherwise the sh it literally hits the fan. As soon as the toilet water hits the pipe, it must be processed - either by passing it to the sewer, or by processing it locally in a septic or other treatment plant.

If you have a switchover setup like you suggest, you are running the risk of putting raw sewage onto your garden. I have only seen a couple, and there has been considerable pains to separate grey from brown :)

We have a treatment plant, it spits out clear but slightly smelly water, some systems are better than others I hear.

Hi
You prolly need to seperate the pipes before the black water, other wise you run the risk of introducing pathogens from the dunny into your garden.

Plenty of info here.

Al :)

A friend of mine did this and all their plants had stunted growth, they eventually gave up on it and now they have had to remove the soil and get in fresh soil and plants.

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Originally Posted by gyro

A friend of mine did this and all their plants had stunted growth, they eventually gave up on it and now they have had to remove the soil and get in fresh soil and plants.

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Why and Why?

Al :confused:

My parents have a grey water system st their place. All of the grey water (kitchen, bathroom and laundry) goes into a holding tank where it is then pumped out onto the fruit trees (all citrus). The sewerage goes seperately to a septic tank. The fruit trees are going great (lots of fruit and nice tasting)and they have to mow the grass around them all the time.

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Originally Posted by Wood Butcher

My parents have a grey water system st their place. All of the grey water (kitchen, bathroom and laundry) goes into a holding tank where it is then pumped out onto the fruit trees (all citrus). The sewerage goes seperately to a septic tank. The fruit trees are going great (lots of fruit and nice tasting)and they have to mow the grass around them all the time.

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If they had one of these, every drop of water goes to good use.

Al :)

I think they would've Al, but that sort of system wasn't around where they are 15 years ago when they built the house.

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Originally Posted by Wood Butcher

I think they would've Al, but that sort of system wasn't around where they are 15 years ago when they built the house.

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And the $6000 price tag is prohibitive.
But, if you are doing it from scratch its the way to go.

In fact, most councils insist on such a system.

Al :p

FIL works for Beaudesert Shire Council in the Health Dept. New houses outside of sewered areas most have a bio-cycle system where all the waste water (grey and septic) is broken down. They are then allocated areas of their property for this "treated water" can be pumped, usually around 20m away from the house. It's a great system but the aeration pumps in the system must be on for the bacteria to break down the waste. FIL says that in 6 years his has broken down 4 times and always on a Sunday! :D

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Originally Posted by Wood Butcher

and always on a Sunday! :D

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Of course. :rolleyes:
The bugs need a break too. :p

Al :)

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Originally Posted by floppinab

I've got three little kids and a garden that could use more water. Any ideas????

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:eek: Dont give the kids grey water!! :eek:

Al :D :eek: :D :eek: :D :eek: :D :eek: :D :eek: :D