WHAT IS GREYWATER?
Greywater is used water from showers, tubs, bathroom sinks and washing machines. It is NOT used water from toilets, kitchen sinks or dishwashers. That is blackwater.
An orchard thriving on greywater.
WHAT DOES IT DO?
Greywater systems take this lightly used water and reuse it for irrigation. They are ideally suited for trees and large shrubs, growing heat beating shade trees in record time and providing bountiful harvests and food security when paired with fruit trees. They cannot irrigate lawns or other groundcover.
“Our water consumption dropped 60 percent!” - C. Curtis, Claremont
HOW DOES IT WORK?
First, we modify your plumbing in order to separate greywater from blackwater. Once we have harnessed your greywater supply, it can either be treated or used as is. Most of our systems use untreated greywater, which requires specific forms of irrigation. Treated greywater allows for more flexibility in terms of irrigation. Water is distributed to your landscape by pump or by gravity, depending on the type of system.
Greywater is never stored, in tanks or otherwise. Pump basins look like storage tanks and are often confused with them, but they are not meant to store greywater.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS?
What have you done for me lately? A greywater system checks off a lot of boxes:
☑️Saves Water and Money
☑️Reduces Sewage Output
☑️Boosts Plant Growth
☑️Boosts Crop Yields
☑️Reduces Energy Footprint
☑️Creates A Cool Micro-Climate
☑️Heals the Bay
☑️Preserves Aquatic Ecosystems
TYPES OF GREYWATER SYSTEMS
Our trade exists at the intersection of plumbing and landscaping. The greywater system itself bridges the gap between plumbing and irrigation to make a fully functional system. We install four basic types of greywater systems that can take on different forms depending on each project’s demands and opportunities:
GWC PUMPED SYSTEM
Low-maintenance and versatile, our most popular system offers a great deal of flexibility for irrigation options while using only untreated greywater.
BRANCHED DRAIN
This classic system harnesses the power of gravity to irrigate areas downhill from the home. Its simplicity makes it extra easy to maintain, but also less flexible.
HI-TECH SYSTEM
Our advanced hi-tech system filters greywater to NSF350 standards, making it compatible with conventional drip and spray irrigation systems.
L2L
The laundry-to-landscape is a DIY favorite and our most budget-friendly offering. Installed in a day, they make for a great starter system .
TYPES OF IRRIGATION
Once the greywater system has separated greywater from blackwater and moved it out of the house the irrigation component takes over, distributing that water to your garden. Broadly speaking, we work with four main types of irrigation:
MULCH BASIN
Trenches filled with wood chip mulch that filter and percolate greywater into the ground sub-surface. Our most commonly installed irrigation, compatible with any type of greywater system.
MOVABLE DRAIN
An open hose from the greywater system to the yard; maximum flexibility but users must pay attention to avoid undesirable runoff and pooling. Can be hooked up to a pumped system, L2L, or flow by gravity.
CONVENTIONAL
Advanced systems that treat greywater intensively can be connected to standard irrigation such as drip lines. We provide a connection point from greywater or rainwater, but do not install conventional irrigation.
Get your own system
Each project is unique, so we start with a phone call or email exchange to learn about your needs and discuss the best type of system for your situation. We are more than happy to talk about your options and find a system tailored to you.