Does anyone know about grey water systems?

[rabbit]

Wasn't sure where to post this. Has anyone got experience with this. We're getting a new kitchen fitted this year, I wonder if it's a goof time to try and do some thing green with greywater, collecting and using the water from the sink for the garden?

Would love some advice. Our budget is very tight so if it's costly we might have to fit it retrospectively.

[veggiechicken]

If you just want to save water from your kitchen sink its not worth trying to be too clever IMO. Put a watering can under the hot tap to catch the cold water as its warms up. You can use that anywhere - even flushing the loo. Use a washing up bowl in the sink and throw the water outside instead of down the sink - but if you're anything like me it will be full of bits of veg and gunk and they'll land on your plants and look yuk! I don't do this!! Veg peeling water goes on the garden though.

[Alison]

If you want to have a proper grey water system then you need to link up the rain water drainage on the roof into (usually) a tank. This water can then be used for any non-potable water requirements eg toilet flushing etc. As VC said, if you're just talking about linking it to the kitchen sink then it's not going to be a great volume and can be easily collected manually - other people may disagree though so see what the consensus is.

[veggiechicken]

Rabbit, I collect rainwater from the roof for flushing toilets. Its not cheap to install as you need a storage tank (mine's underground) and a pump to bring the water back into the house. Its really only worth doing for a new build or major rebuild as I had. If you want to save water tackle the small things first - have meter, don't brush your teeth with running water, and catch all the water you can in water butts for the garden.

[Bigmallly]

I don't know if I am missing the point of the OP but I believe grey water is usually collected from bath water using something like --- Bath Water Diverter | Nigel's Eco Store ------ as opposed to kitchen water due to the kitchen water containing food waste , grease etc.

[Aberdeenplotter]

just out of interest, Prince Charles' bath water at his house up in Deeside is diverted to the garden. Hope he doesn't pee in the bath. That would mean the royal wee being included .

[veggiechicken]

Does he water his peas with it?

[Aberdeenplotter]

is that a serious q?

[Aberdeenplotter]

everyone will now be watching our p's and q's

[veggiechicken]

Just being polite - and minding them.......

[Bigmallly]

And another thread gets tangentised..............

[Aberdeenplotter]

wisnae me, my comment was surely legitimate. My little wee joke just added some humour.

[veggiechicken]

We likes a larf, doan wee, we's not taking the p*ss, 'onest.
For the record, BigM, I have already given 2 sensible answers - and that is about my limit before my mind starts to stray

[mothhawk]

just out of interest, Prince Charles' bath water at his house up in Deeside is diverted to the garden. Hope he doesn't pee in the bath. That would mean the royal wee being included .

Don't know about Birkhall, but at Highgrove there is a reed bed sewage system, so all waste water is reclaimed. But reed bed systems are expensive to maintain, need to be redone every 7 years or so, and you need to keep vaccinations up to date. Oh, and you do need a LOT of land.

[Aberdeenplotter]

Nowt so fancy at Birkhall.