Greywater Recycling in 2011
Grey water recycling is now available and affordable...
NovaGrey Greywater Recycling System
Most states (please scroll down for information about regulations in your state) now recognise the need to really recycle waste water re-use inside and out. NovaGrey has been developed over 2 years based on the NovaClear AWTS and is approved in most states for internal reuse to toilets, the laundry, outside hosing and for garden irrigation...
You can now play your part in reducing your environmental footprint with your family saving on average 300,00 litres off drinking water per year...
Why Recycle Greywater?
Climate change and population growth have resulted in increasing pressure on drinking water supplies and grey water is a resource that can be recycled for indoor and/or outdoor purposes. Replacing the use of potable water for toilet flushing, washing machine supply and/or garden irrigation with greywater will reduce both the demand on drinking water supplies and the amount of sewage effluent discharged to the environment. By using treated greywater instead of drinking quality water for these purposes, more water is available in potable supply dams providing greater water security for cities and towns.
Kitchen Greywater
It is a common misconception that greywater does not contain pathogens and that it is only sewage and blackwater that require treatment prior to disposal or recycling. However, greywater can contain pathogens, and if poorly managed, can present a risk to human health and the environment. Raw greywater contains salts, especially sodium from powdered detergents, which can have a detrimental effect on soil structure and health. Raw kitchen wastewater which contains fats, oils and grease should not be diverted to gardens because they can reduce the availability of air to plants and harm micro-organisms. However, when greywater is treated using an advanced approved wastewater treatment system the resultant effluent can be safely applied to land by following the guidelines the Australian Standard AS/NZS 1547 (Onsite Domestic Wastewater Management) and relevant State wastewater code.
Due to the difficulty of treating fats, oils, grease and the high load of organic matter in kitchen wastewater most greywater treatment systems exclude kitchen water from the waste stream. The kitchen wastewater must, therefore, be diverted to sewer (or to a septic tank in non-sewered areas).
Case Studies - Optimising Greywater re-use
Recent Case studies conducted by Murdoch University showed real water savings of between 9 and 36% of potable water with a greywater treatment system. The studies didn't include re-use of treated water through the laundry. With proper consultation on the set up and take up of the full range of re-use options actual water savings could realistically be expected to be around 30 to 50% of potable water. As water once again becomes scare and water prices increase greywater recycling and re-use will be common place in the years ahead.
State Regulations, Guidelines and Links
The grading, regulations and re-use options of treated Grey Water varies from State to State and at times even council to council. Manufacturers are required to certify their systems through a six month testing process then apply to each state for approval to install systems. The system's water re-use options are dependent on the water quality achieved during the test period in accordance with the states relevant code and re-use options permitted. Currently re-cycled water from systems that achieve the highest grading can be used back into the home in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria, while the other states generally only permit garden use of the water regardless of the quality.
Jump to: QLD|VIC|NSW|ACT|SA|WA|TAS|NT|New Zealand
State by state approach to recycled grey water:
Queensland
In 2007 as part of the Government's Climate Smart 2050 strategy, greywater re-use was recoginsed as part of the strategy needed to help secure future water supply and encourage the uptake of water efficient technolgy and behaviours. The Queensland Development Code details the specific uses of grey water through diversion, treatment and advanced treatmeat.
The recycled water from advanced treatment systems can be used for toilet flushing, cold water supply to the laundry as well as around the house hosing and sprinkler irrigation. A downloadable PDF is offered by the Department of Infrastructure titled 'water savings targets' to assist homeowners, councils, developers and builders understand what is permissable and the process. Greywater installations are regulated by the Queensland Plumbing and Wastewater Code.
Queensland Government - Greywater
Expanded Use of Greywater (Queensland Government)
Gardening with Greywater (Queensland Government - pdf)
Queensland Government Greywater Guidelines (see the PDF download, Queensland Plumbing & Wastewater Code)
Rebates National Rainwater & Greywater Initiative
Victoria
Greywater regulation in Victoria is covered by the Victorian EPA's Code of Practice - Onsite waste water management publication 891.2, dated November 2008.
The Code recognises the role of recycled greywater helping to deal with the effects of Climate Change and population pressure on our drinking water supplies. As with the Queensland the code, it lists treated water into three categories from untreated diversion up to advanced treatment suitable for internal re-use. Advanced treatment systems produce safe water by achieving what is termed a 10/10/10 standard in the treatment of Suspended Solids, Biochemical Oxygen Demand and removal of E.Coli.
Table 5.1 in the Code of Practice outlines the permitted uses of the recycled water.
Greywater use (savewater.com.au)
New South Wales / Australian Capital Territory
On July 1st 2010,The NSW Office of Water published guidelines for greywater use in households. The Guidelines relate to single, detached households only. the guidelines can be found in downloads
The guidelines state that 'greywater can replace drinking water for irrigating gardens or lawns and, and if treated appropriately can be used in toilets and washing machines. The guideline also suggest using recycled greywater can save the household 100,000 of litres of drinking water each year. The benefits listed include;
Reducing Potable Water Consumption
Reducing the amount of sewage discharged to oceans or rivers
Reducing Water Bills
Maintaining a healthier garden, especially during drought periods.
The uses permitted are from bucketing, diversion and proper treatment with an approved system for in house re-use.
The website includes several fact sheets to use as a guide when considering purchasing and installing a greywater system. The fact sheets can be downloaded from the Solutions>Downloads section from our website.
Greywater (Water for Life - NSW Government)
South Australia & Western Australia
The permitted uses of grey water in other states are limited to garden irrigation at present however in the future it is hope all states recognise the technology now available and subsequent safe water produced to allow a full range of re-use options.
SA: Greywater and Recycled Water (SA Water)
WA: Code of Practice for the Reuse of Greywater in WA 2010 (PDF - Public Health website)
Other (Tasmania / Northern Territory / New Zealand)
Please visit the following websites for more information on everything greywater:
TAS: Greywater Treatment Systems (PDF - Sustainable Living Tasmania)
NT: Technical Fact Sheet - Greywater Reuse (PDF - Northern Territory Government)
New Zealand: Greywater Recycling (level - The Authority on Sustainable Building)