Grey Water Recycling System Australia

Grey water can be reused to benefit both man and nature, especially in hot, dry, Australia where water thriftiness is becoming a major trend. Below are two applications of grey water in Australian context, where they could be put into good use.

Irrigation

Grey water usually breaks down faster than black water due to its lower nitrogen and phosphorus content. However, it must still be assumed that grey water may contain pathogens and microorganisms that may harm humans. Thus grey water when applied in Australia should be applied underground whenever possible to avoid humans coming into contact with potentially dangerous microorganisms. There could be a danger of inhaling the water as an aerosol.

Indoor reuse

Recycled grey water from showers and bathtubs can be used for flushing toilets, which potentially saves a lot of water because a lot of water is used when flushing the toilet. However,grey water that has not been treated should not be used as flush-water because it will cause the toilet fixture to smell and discolour, especially if left for more than one day.

Australia is facing increase pressure on our water supplies as a result of recent drought conditions and population growth in our metropolitan centres, grey water recycling system in Australia is becoming established as a way of moving towards sustainable management of our resources and environment.

Grey water treatment system in Australia adopts the concept of using water that is 'fit for purpose'. In practice this means using high quality drinking water for drinking and other personal uses, but not necessarily for purposes where alternative water sources can be safely used, such as toilet flushing, garden watering and crop irrigation.

As grey water can contain disease-causing microorganisms and other contaminants, its reuse can carry health and environmental risks. Therefore care must be taken to ensure that untreated grey water is used in a safe and controlled manner, or that best grey water treatment system in Australia is carried out to an appropriate level before use. For more information on this, the Department has developed a guidance note describing the appropriate uses for grey water that has been treated to different degrees

Domestic water treatment system in Australia can be used untreated, or it can be treated to varying degrees to reduce nutrients and disease-causing microorganisms. The appropriate uses of grey water depend on both the source of grey water and the level of treatment. The potential health risks associated with grey water recycling when it has been sourced from a multi-dwelling or commercial premises are considered potentially greater than those associated with grey water recycling within single domestic premises.

Grey water recycling must always occur in a safe and controlled manner. Local council officers may investigate recycling activities that place public health at risk under the nuisance provisions of the Health Act 1958, and recycling that causes environmental pollution may be investigated by the EPA under the Environment Protection Act 1970.

Grey water treatment systems in Australia that are designed to treat more than 5000 litres per day for domestic and commercial recycling must comply with the requirements in the EPA's Guidelines for Environmental Management: Dual Pipe Water Recycling Schemes.

Greywater and the environment

The potential ecological benefits of Grey Water Recycling System include:

Lower fresh water extraction from rivers and aquifers
Less impact from septic tank and treatment plant infrastructure
Topsoil nutrification
Reduced energy use and chemical pollution from treatment
Groundwater recharge
Plant growth
Reclamation of otherwise misdirected nutrients