How to reuse your home's wastewater

Every bit of water saved counts. As long as we have enough water supply for our daily usage, we do not think much about our water usage. And it leads to perfectly clean drinking water going down the drain. Even though we don’t have restrictions for water usage, it is prudent to use water conservatively.

Wastewater generated from households goes to either septic systems, household wastewater treatment systems or municipal sewage systems wherein it is treated to remove contaminants. Reusing wastewater generated in households can be used to flush toilets or wash clothes which are two of the major areas where water is used. Reusing treated greywater for toilet flushing can save 50L of water and using it for clothes washing can save 90L of water in an average household every day.

Recycling and reusing water are the best ways to minimise your household’s water usage. Keep reading to see some valuable tips to conserve water in your household.

#1 - Collect shower water

When you go for a shower, put a bucket under the showerhead. While you are waiting for the water to warm up, the water can get collected in the bucket. This water can be used directly in the household as it is clean or can be used for gardening.

#2 - Aerated Wastewater Treatment Systems

The Aerated Wastewater Treatment System (AWTS) is designed to treat household wastewater. They are mostly used in rural areas where the house is not connected to the municipal sewage system.

The water gets treated by biological methods and recycled for use in the garden.

#3 - Greywater collection system

Greywater can be used to clean driveways, wash the car or water the garden. It can also be used in the toilet.

Greywater is the wastewater obtained from the bathroom, kitchen and laundry. You can install a greywater diversion or a treatment system. The method involves diverting wastewater from the sinks, shower and washing machine which can be used for domestic use.

There are different types of greywater collection systems:

Diversion
Diversion and filtration systems - the water is filtered from hair, lint and other contaminants before it is used
Diversion and treatment systems - The water is treated by biological and chemical methods or a combination of both. The resulting water is clean and safe to use for household purposes

#4 - Store rainwater

Use rain barrels or install a rainwater tank to store the rainwater.

A rain garden can also be used to collect rainwater from roofs, and pipes and uses a filtering mechanism to remove pollutants and nutrients. It is a depressed area in the garden about 4-8 inches designed to hold rainwater so it can be absorbed by the soil. It prevents stormwater runoff and pollution.

#5 - Install toilet tank sink

It is a circular system wherein the sink is integrated with the toilet. It is designed to recycle and conserve water. The toilet sink combo allows you to reduce your water consumption and save on water bills.

The sink uses fresh water so you can wash your hands. And the greywater gets stored in the toilet tank. So when the toilet gets flushed, greywater is used.

#6 - Reusing water used for cleaning vegetables

Water used to clean vegetables and fruit goes down the drain. It wastes a lot of water which can be otherwise reused in the garden, toilet or mopping the house.

#7 - Reuse drinking water

We often waste drinking water by flushing half-filled water bottles and glasses. This actually wastes several litres of perfectly clean water. This water can be used instead to wash vegetables or utensils or in the garden. Make it a habit to save every bit of water that you can.

Benefits of recycling water

We waste a lot of perfectly clean drinking water which can be used for other purposes. By implementing the above tips you can:

Conserve water
Save dollars on your water bills
Use clean water for other purposes rather than wasting it
Reduce the demand on infrastructure for wastewater treatment

How to improve the quality of wastewater?

Wastewater is generated from various indoor locations. The quality of wastewater depends on the chemicals you use in the household. Some tips to improve the quality of wastewater are as follows:

Use natural cleaning and non-toxic cleaning products instead of harsh chemical products
Use a sink strainer to prevent food waste from entering the wastewater
Do not flush grease or oils down the drains
Use a lint filter in the washing machine to catch dirt, hair or paper
Switch to water-saving devices like low-flow faucet aerators, low-flow showerheads, shower times, dual flush toilets, bathwater diverters, soaker hoses, etc
Use full loads in the washing machine and dishwasher
Only flush the 3 P’s - pee, paper and poop
If you have a septic system, get it pumped regularly

References

https://www.yourhome.gov.au/water/wastewater-reuse