Grey Water Can Save Crops, Gardens In All U.S. States

Grey water is water that has been used but is not completely soiled. And, in an increasingly arid world, it may be the best tool in your water conservation toolbox, according to Shea Swenson for Modern Farmer.

Photo Insert: Leigh Jerrard, an architect by trade, changed his career path to focus on sustainable grey water reuse due to his interest in water conservation. Jerrard founded Greywater Corps in 2009.

According to a 2018 study, grey water can account for up to 75% of the wastewater volume produced by the average household. That means that three-quarters of the water discarded from homes is literally washed down the drain, despite its high potential for reuse.

Leigh Jerrard, an architect by trade, changed his career path to focus on sustainable grey water reuse due to his interest in water conservation. Jerrard founded Greywater Corps in 2009, which installs small-scale grey water recycling systems for California homes and buildings, pumping the lightly used water into yards and gardens.

There’s this great double benefit to grey water, which is that you’re saving water on the incoming side and you’re reducing sewage on the outgoing side,” says Jerrard, highlighting that gardens and plants see the benefits as well. “There are nutrients in grey water that citrus trees and roses are going to love.”

Grey water, unlike black water, or water from bathrooms and toilets that comes into contact with sewage, can be reused in a variety of ways without the use of chemicals.

However, the slightly used water contains organic matter from soap and detergents, as well as contact with dirt and skin, and thus requires some special treatment. As a result, the irrigation systems Jerrard and his team install differ from the standard irrigation setup.

Grey water must be pumped out immediately and cannot be saved for later use, unlike traditional irrigation systems or rainwater harvesting tanks, which rely on stored water to be used on demand. Non-potable water should not be stored in tanks or reserves to avoid particle decomposition in the water.

Jerrard explains that if grey water is left stagnant for 24 hours, “it will basically grow anaerobic bacteria in a tank after 24 hours and start to get funky.” However, it is perfectly suitable for non-contact uses such as growing food crops, watering lawns and gardens, and even flushing toilets.

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