Ben's DIY Graywater System - Page 6

wyatt · 12-08-09, 03:29 PM

I see, you were worried if you went reverse order the cloth/sand at the bottom might clog the holes. An advantage of your type of setup is there is only one place to collect gunk... not at every layer.

bennelson · 02-15-10, 10:57 AM

I had the holding tank emptied today.

I left the tank alarm on "Silent" from last time it was emptied. The other day, I was thinking it's been a while since the last time. I looked on the holding tank alarm (which is hidden in the back of our tiny utility room!) and saw the light was on, indicating the tank is full - or in this case, really really full.

Anyways, it's been ten weeks, less a day - 69 days since last time the tank was emptied. A new record, but I attribute that more to the tank being maximum full than to water conservation.

That averages out to 29 gallons of waste-water per day. Or 14.5 gallons per person in my two-person home.

According to the American Water Works, daily indoor per capita water use in the typical single family (American) home is 69.3 gallons.

That means my wife and I are using one-quarter as much water as the typical American does.

The AWA also lists the toilet as the biggest water user, followed by the laundry washing machine, and then the shower.

Making the toilet re-use water from the laundry seems to save a considerable amount of household water.

Next up may just have to be working on conserving water in the shower.

bennelson · 02-15-10, 10:11 PM

Gal-dern-it.

I really have myself worked up over this whole water thing.

I had to go out to the home-improvement store today anyways, so I looked through shower heads while I was there.

They had dozens of fancy expensive showerheads, but only ONE water-saving one!

The water-saving head uses 1.5 gallons-per-minute. All the other heads are 2.5gpm, which I believe may be the maximum rate by law.

Well, my existing showerhead was just a cheap one, but still 2.5gpm. I picked up the "Eco" shower head and installed it this evening.

I will now enjoy using only 6/10ths the rate of water I was using before in my shower.

Daox · 02-16-10, 05:05 AM

I too have found what you have. The local stores don't have any selection in low flow heads. Ordering online may be the only other option.

12-08-09, 03:29 PM	#51 (permalink)
wyatt Helper EcoRenovator Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 49	I see, you were worried if you went reverse order the cloth/sand at the bottom might clog the holes. An advantage of your type of setup is there is only one place to collect gunk... not at every layer. (Support EcoRenovator.org & get rid of these annoying ads!)

02-15-10, 10:57 AM	#52 (permalink)
bennelson Home-Wrecker Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: SE Wisconsin Posts: 161	I had the holding tank emptied today. I left the tank alarm on "Silent" from last time it was emptied. The other day, I was thinking it's been a while since the last time. I looked on the holding tank alarm (which is hidden in the back of our tiny utility room!) and saw the light was on, indicating the tank is full - or in this case, really really full. Anyways, it's been ten weeks, less a day - 69 days since last time the tank was emptied. A new record, but I attribute that more to the tank being maximum full than to water conservation. That averages out to 29 gallons of waste-water per day. Or 14.5 gallons per person in my two-person home. According to the American Water Works, daily indoor per capita water use in the typical single family (American) home is 69.3 gallons. That means my wife and I are using one-quarter as much water as the typical American does. The AWA also lists the toilet as the biggest water user, followed by the laundry washing machine, and then the shower. Making the toilet re-use water from the laundry seems to save a considerable amount of household water. Next up may just have to be working on conserving water in the shower. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

02-15-10, 10:11 PM	#53 (permalink)
bennelson Home-Wrecker Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: SE Wisconsin Posts: 161	Gal-dern-it. I really have myself worked up over this whole water thing. I had to go out to the home-improvement store today anyways, so I looked through shower heads while I was there. They had dozens of fancy expensive showerheads, but only ONE water-saving one! The water-saving head uses 1.5 gallons-per-minute. All the other heads are 2.5gpm, which I believe may be the maximum rate by law. Well, my existing showerhead was just a cheap one, but still 2.5gpm. I picked up the "Eco" shower head and installed it this evening. I will now enjoy using only 6/10ths the rate of water I was using before in my shower. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

02-16-10, 05:05 AM	#54 (permalink)
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 1,228	I too have found what you have. The local stores don't have any selection in low flow heads. Ordering online may be the only other option. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode