Go green with graywater
Next time you pay your water and sewage bill, consider this: Approximately 40 percent of all the water used in your home gets flushed down the toilet.
That's a staggering amount, and water is becoming an increasingly precious and costly commodity in most parts of the country.
To help homeowners reduce water consumption and save money, Sloan Valve--in association with WaterSaver Technologies--recently introduced the Aqus Greywater System, an ingeniously designed device that diverts drain water from the bathroom sink to the toilet. Here's how it works:
Aqus consists of a compact pump and reservoir unit that stores in the vanity cabinet beneath the bathroom sink. When water drains from the sink, it flows through a sanitizer that filters and disinfects the water before pumping it into the reservoir tank.
Then, each time the toilet is flushed, water is pumped from the reservoir to fill the toilet tank.
According to Sloan, the Aqus can save the average two-person household as much as 5,000 gallons of water per year. Even if its estimates are off, that's still a lot of water saved.
I found the Aqus Greywater System on-line for $277. It's compatible with most two-piece toilets, but to be sure it'll work with yours, go to: watersavertech.com.
Posted by Joseph Truini | Categories: Kitchen & Bath | Permalink
(6) Comments
just wondering - what's the point of 'filtering and sanitizing' sink water if it's going to the toilet? would not a simple storage tank and pump be sufficient?
Filtering & sanitizing makes complete sense. Unfiltered water would lead to bacterial buildup, etc in the toilet tank. Brilliant product. Let's hope it catches on.
It's also important to filter out hair and soap scum, which can build up and eventually strangle any plumbing device.
Does the filter tank require a replacement filter? If so, how often? Whats the cost of the filter? Does the system require any on going maintenance? How long will the system last? Thanks
This is just one type of graywater system. Several new types are coming onto the market that serve the whole building. More expensive, but they save large amounts of water. Check out the graywater section in the new green code from the International Code Council - Section 708. Free download at http://www.iccsafe.org/CS/IGCC/Pages/default.aspx
i have a problem when my kitchen sink drains water backs up around pipe in basement and not sure where it might be coming from any ideas