GREYWATER

What is greywater?

Greywater is water discharged from household drains and appliances, such as showers, baths, basins, sinks, washing machines and dishwashers. It does not include wastewater from toilets (known as blackwater). Greywater can be reused in the garden or even set up to flush the toilet.  From the humble bucket in the shower to more permanent greywater treatment systems, households reusing greywater are saving thousands of litres of drinking water.

You can use household greywater on your garden and/or for toilet flushing. Using treated greywater for toilet flushing can potentially reduce your domestic water consumption by up to 20 per cent. Untreated greywater is not suitable for toilet flushing.

What are the risks of greywater?

Using greywater correctly can help conserve drinking water but there are a number of potential health and environmental risks in using greywater. It must only be used in a safe and controlled manner.

In most instances, untreated greywater can be diverted for immediate use, such as in the garden.  However, greywater contains many pollutants, such as chemicals derived from cleaning products, dirt, food and human waste. Untreated greywater must not be stored longer than 24 hours and it should not be used to water vegetable crops that are eaten raw or undercooked.

What types of greywater systems are available?

There are two main types of formal grey water systems available in Victoria:

• A diversion system that diverts untreated greywater for immediate use, usually from a wastewater system (Starting at under $100 but most cost $800 - $1000).
• A special purpose greywater collection and treatment system that can cost up to $10,000 - requires Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) and local council approvals.
  

Both systems must be installed by a licensed plumbing practitioner. A $500 Victorian Government rebate is available under certain conditions. 

Where can I obtain more information about Victorian greywater rebates?

A $500 Victorian Government rebate is available if you install a permanent greywater system that recycles wastewater from laundries and bathrooms for use on the garden or for toilet flushing. Visit http://www.ourwater.vic.gov.au/ for details and further information on rebates.

Greywater

View  Technical Information on greywater, including information on storage and plumbed systems, from the Plumbing Industry Commission

Get the facts ... on Greywater

• Household chemicals and greywater reuse
• Greywater do's and don'ts

Case studies

• Victorian case studies

Contact your local council

• Find your local council

Need help? Useful contacts and resources

• Using greywater can carry a number of potential health and environmental risks. Care must be taken to ensure that greywater is used in a safe and controlled manner. Using greywater correctly can help you conserve water. You can obtain Australian research on greywater and can find out more about greywater by visiting the following websites:
• Department of Human Services
• EPA Victoria
• Master Plumbers & Mechanical Services Association of Australia
• Our Water Our Future
• Save Water
• The Plumbing Industry Commission
• Victorian Government Health Information
• Water Smart

Products

• GRAS (Greywater Rainwater Automated Solutions)
  Permanent grey water system, approved by the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA).