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Water Reuse & Recycling
Greywater is used water from the:
- Shower
- Bath or internal spa bath (not external spa baths or pools)
- Wash basins and
- Laundry
It does not include wastewater from kitchens or toilets
The Department of Environment and Resource Management provides good detail on Greywater and its uses in the following factsheet:
With droughts and watering restrictions Greywater has become very popular as an alternative water source to keep your garden and lawn green, The Waterwise Gardening with Greywater booklet provides a wealth of advice and helpful tips on using greywater safely in the garden.
You will need to contact your council for approval to setup a diversion / storage system to use in your home for a more constant supply of greywater to the toilet or garden irrigation. More sophisticated systems can treat greywater to a standard that supplies your washing machine and for other uses.
Moreton Bay Regional Council greywater information
Sunshine Coast Council greywater information
NOTE:
Moreton Bay Regional Council greywater information
Sunshine Coast Council greywater information
NOTE:
- Protect your health by making sure your greywater system is setup and maintained properly.
- Get advice and help from a licensed plumber.
- Do not water lettuce, herbs and other fruit and vegetables you eat raw using greywater as a precaution to keep you and your family healthy.
Activity Centre
Take a look at all the products that you use in areas that you generate greywater, and see if you can find a eco option (unregistered activity)
In the Activity Centre you can setup a Living Smart profile and access calculators,
challenges, tools and games.
challenges, tools and games.
Useful Tips and Facts
- A standard showerhead may use up to 25 litres of water per minute whereas water-efficient showerhead might use as little as seven litres per minute, which is less than a third.
- A water-efficient washing machine may use only one-third the water of an inefficient model.
- An old-style single-flush toilet could use up to 12 litres of water per flush, while a standard dual flush toilet uses just a quarter of this on a half-flush.
- As a guide, running your hose at maximum capacity can use up to 20 litres per minute, so a full 1000-litre tank will provide around 50 minutes of hosing.
- Ask council to provide you with a species list most suitable to your local conditions.
- Check for leaks regularly as even one dripping tap can waste up to 2,000 litres per month. To do this, turn off your water for a few hours, if your meter reading changes it will be obvious that you have a leak.
- Check your pool for leaks. A leaking pool can lose up to 500 litres a day.
- Check your toilet for leaks, a leaking toilet can use up to 15 litres every day.
- Checking your water meter regularly allows you to notice if your property has any hidden leaks.
- Many native plants conserve water with small leaves often covered in a tough or hairy surface. Internal water storage and deep roots help them survive in times of drought.
- Moreton bay residents are entitled to a free cubic metre of mulch a month from the local waste facility.
- Mulch your garden regularly. This helps maintain moisture in the soil and control weeds that compete with plants for water.
- Regularly check outdoor taps, pipes and plumbing fixtures for leaks. A single dripping tap can waste up to 2,000 litres a month.
- Take note of the rainfall your garden receives. If your area has received significant rainfall (more than 50mm) it may be weeks before you need to water again.
- To rinse your razor, run a little water into a plugged sink. Rinsing your razor under a running tap wastes a lot of water.
- Water deeply and less frequently to encourage plants and lawn to grow deeper roots and be more resilient to dry times. Twice a week should be sufficient if you have a well-mulched garden, suitable soil and established plants
- Where possible reduce the amount of time you use your garbage disposal unit. This will save up to 7 litres a minute.