Greywater Diversion and Treatment

Many systems exist to collect and divert greywater on the garden. Few systems can treat greywater to safe levels. For many old homes and slab homes are difficult to reach piping to access greywater.

Black water comes from the toilet and the kitchen sink. It needs proper treatment and while the technology exists to do this on our property it is much safer to use the sewerage system.

Grey water comes from the shower, laundry and sinks. It can be safely diverted onto the garden in pipes laid under the soil, or it can be treated and used on the surface.

There are a few things to understand about greywater.

1. Detergent - high levels of nitrogen, phosphorus and salt in the soil are not good. Lanfax laboratories have conducted testing of Australian laundry detergents for years. Their down loadable brochure shows which are the best for greywater reuse.
2. Pathogens - greywater can not be stored for longer than 24 hours or it could become a health hazard.
3. Edibles - stay away from the vegie patch with the greywater