Remove
the Chlorine from Municipal Water Supply.
Use a whole house filter, such as the Aquasana
Rhino, to remove chlorine from the municipal water supply. Chlorine is
added to municipal water to inhibit organic growth. Gray water from your
showers, washing machine, and baths will also contain chlorine. Chlorine
in gray water will also inhibit organic growth. Chlorine free gray water
will ensure the best possible growth for your beloved plants.
Simple
Gray Water Conversion for Every Household.
By replacing your toilets with composting toilets, your
main sewer line can be converted to a gray water line! Removing toilets
keeps the black water from going to the sewer. Connecting a gray water
irrigation line to the main sewer line with a valve is all that is left to
do. The valve is used to divert the household water to the main sewer line
when the dishwasher is being used, washing dishes in the sink, or washing oily
clothes. Otherwise, shower water, bathtub water, bathroom sink water, and
washing machine water can be diverted to the gray water irrigation line!
During the non-growing seasons, the drainage from the household can be diverted
to the sewer. New Mexico considers dishwasher water and kitchen sink water
as black water.
Use
your garden hose to drain the bathtub water.
By using a garden hose, no pump is required, because the
garden hose will siphon the water from the tub through the window. First,
place the male end of the garden hose in the bathtub. Hold the male
in down with something heavy enough to keep the hose at the bottom of the
bathtub and to keep it from moving. Next, extend the female end of the
hose out the bathroom window. If you need to take the window screen off
first, then do so. Next, connect the garden hose to an outdoor water
faucet. The hose needs to be primed before the siphoning can start.
Turning on the faucet will fill the hose up with water. Once the hose is
filled with water, detach the hose from the faucet. Then carefully take
the hose to where you want to distribute the water. A simple pump such as
the battery operated submersible
utility pump can also be used to pump out the bathwater or to start the
siphon process.
New Mexico Gray
Water Irrigation Guidelines.
§ The gray water distribution system must be constructed
so that overflow from the system drains into the sanitary sewer or septic
system. In some cases, a liquid waste permit may be necessary if an on site
septic system is modified.
§ A gray water storage tank must be
covered to restrict access and to eliminate habitat for mosquitoes or other
vectors. Standing water left in place for more than seven days has the potential
to allow mosquitoes to breed and hatch.
§ The gray water system must not be
located in a floodway.
§ Gray water is discharged only in
areas where there is vertical separation of at least five feet between the point
of discharge and the ground water table to protect ground water resources from
possible contamination. Current Liquid Waste Disposal Regulations require that
gray water is not applied within 100 feet of a domestic well or within 200 feet
of a public water.
Use proper size
hose to extend the washing machine outlet hose.
Do not use a tube that is any smaller in diameter then the
washing machine outlet hose, otherwise, the pump will burn out.
Do not raise the
washing machine outlet hose too much higher or it will burn out the pump.
Bury the gray
water distribution tube or pipe in garden furrows with mulch.
The vegetable plants will not be splashed with gray water.
Old socks make
great filters
Make sure the socks are replaced frequently.
Storage tanks
must have lids.
Gray water should not be stored over 2 days.
Make sure that
no harsh chemicals are being used.
Gray water will not be useful if it contains harsh
chemicals. Some detergents can add stress to plants. There are
bio-degradable detergents available.
Detergents
breakdown minerals in the water.
Plant roots can absorb the water much more efficient.