Posts: 990
Threads: 22
Joined: Dec 2007
Appearantly the state is pushing the counties to develop a greywater disposal plan to all cesspool and septic system owners with the idea of full water usage. This would be primarily for watering plants. The only system I have heard of here is Weatherford's, and he admitted it's complex as hell.
My thought here would be to recycle bath and wash water (like many do already), and mabe a medium screen before direct application to the base, not leaf part of plant. If you used clean soaps you should be able to use on edibles.
I would question the dish water as there would be too much organic content and hence bacteria requiring full composting.
Does anyone still use Dr Bonners?
Gordon J Tilley
Posts: 1,955
Threads: 100
Joined: Aug 2005
In dry places gray water is used to flush toilets
Posts: 990
Threads: 22
Joined: Dec 2007
Yes Damon I did get it from your blog, getting a lot from it, keep it up.
However bundling sink water into the mix isn't the way to go. The requirments would be somthing like Weatherford has, and nearly duplicates a septic and costs a bunch. All bacteria laden stuff should go septic, as I believe is recommended if just for the water to keep the tank working.
With just bath, bath sink and washer, and a good biodegradable soap system, you'd have decent fertilizer.
Gordon J Tilley
Posts: 473
Threads: 19
Joined: Jan 2009
I have to ask... what do you guys need to water? All anyone ever tells me is how much it rains there. We don't see rain for months on end here and everyone has in-ground automated sprinkler systems just to keep lawns alive and somewhat green.
For discussion points and so all have background info the wiki has a great deal of info on this subject:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greywater
Peace Out!
-Blake
http://www.theboysgreatescape.blogspot.com/
Posts: 2,484
Threads: 10
Joined: Feb 2008
I was also wondering about the need for or benefit of grey water re-use in most areas of Puna. Normally there is actually too much rain on your lawn and garden, so much so that it washes away your fertilizer and nutrients. Re-using gray water for flushing toilets is the only benefit I can see under these circumstances. There are occasional water shortages for those on catchment. If you put the extra money into larger catchment systems to tide you through the dry spells you would probably come out just as well.
It all boils down to what water use you would displace with gray water. Usually this is irrigation water. There isn't a big need for irrigation water when you get more than 10 feet of rain a year.
Posts: 1,261
Threads: 55
Joined: Nov 2005
This has a lot more impact in Kau than Puna. I'd hazard a guess that many folks in Oceanview have been been using greywater all along.
Posts: 859
Threads: 10
Joined: May 2008
sounds like another way to make some permit money...
-----------------------------------------------------------
I do not believe that America is better than everybody else...
America "IS" everybody else.
HBAT
-----------------------------------------------------------
I do not believe that America is better than everybody else...
America "IS" everybody else.
The Wilder Side Of Hawaii
Posts: 1,955
Threads: 100
Joined: Aug 2005
The idea has been around for a while on St Tomas some people were using it for toilet water when i lived there in the late 80s
it only rains there during hurricane season so people on catchment have to stretch their water a long way
Posts: 990
Threads: 22
Joined: Dec 2007
My point here was that it could become a mandated item for a permit if you are off sewer, that is the debate at the moment, all for water conservation.
Gordon J Tilley
