DIY Grey Water System

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I set up a DIY “laundry to landscape” grey water system here in the desert of Tucson, AZ where there are excellent classes and city rebates for these projects. Our clothes washer’s water now goes into a rainwater basin and helps fruit trees and native grasses thrive. It took some elbow grease, but getting a proper education before embarking on this DIY project really helped.

So What is Grey Water?

Typically, water flowing from showers, bathroom sinks, and washing machines may be used for a grey water system. Also known as greywater or gray water and various other permutations.

My geeky mind loves efficiency. So ‘stacking functions’ by a) using the water to clean your clothes, then b) water your plants in your yard — instead of having that water go down the sewer — is super cool and intuitive.

Greywater harvesting is the practice of directing greywater to the primary root/life zone (top 1 to 2 feet, or 0.3 to 0.6m, of the soil) to freely irrigate and help grow beautiful and productive landscapes while achieving “waste” water treatment without using chemicals or energy. Plants and microorganisms in the soil consume and filter the organic nutrients and bacteria found in greywater…