11-06-2006, 01:45 PM
I have been using greywater on some of my fruit trees here in California for about 4 years now and they are doing great. I gw the washer, bathroom sinks and shower/tub. The water drains into a 30 gal tank with a pump controlled by a float valve. This way, any load of wash with bleach in it (I use a lot since I have hard water) is diluted. One benefit of greywatering I have not seen mentioned is that clorine does a great job of killing the bacteria in your septic tank. The bacteria in your septic breaks down solid waste before it gets out to your leach lines so it does not plug it up. Too much bleach in the septic will mean pumping the holding tank out frequently or leach field failure.
By the way, you should check with your health department before greywatering. I looked on the county WWW site and it was no help. The county I live in has a liberal policy toward gw so my system is permitted. California state rules are so strict you almost have to put in a second septic system.
By the way, you should check with your health department before greywatering. I looked on the county WWW site and it was no help. The county I live in has a liberal policy toward gw so my system is permitted. California state rules are so strict you almost have to put in a second septic system.
Larry