April 29, 2016
Home Water Recycling
Don’t let your water just wash down the drain – put it to work! Use a gray water recycling or rainwater capture systems for your Dallas area home. The average four person household in a temperate climate may use over 20,000 gallons of water monthly. Most of that water is used for landscape irrigation, washing the dog or other uses. That same family may use another 3,000 gallons of water per month to flush toilets.
Most people don’t think of that as wasting water. They aren’t aware of the advantages of recycling as much water as possible. Recycling wastewater is an important issue right alongside recycling or composting. Droughts, efficient water utility systems and purification issues have made clean water harder to get. Most people aren’t aware that their wallets can benefit, too.
There are many different styles of water recycling systems that people use to recycle wastewater or greywater. Greywater is water that has been used for laundry, showering, or cooking, etc. but it has not been in contact with any sewage or sewage pipes. However, before you make any decisions, check your city ordinances and state laws to make sure your potential system options reuse wastewater correctly. In some places, using recycled wastewater for certain purposes is illegal. Wastewater from showers and sinks can be regarded as “sewage” in some cities. This wastewater can only be legally used to flush toilets in the same building it was collected in.
Greywater filtration systems utilize a series of filters within a reservoir to remove particles from your wastewater. They can be used in conjunction with your shower or sink to help ensure the quality of your wastewater when you use it for applications other than flushing the toilet. Water filtered systems may be more expensive than some non-filtered systems. But, they have a broader range of uses for the recycled water. More and more home appliances, such as washing machines, are designed with the option of using recycled water.
Unfiltered pump systems are the most common wastewater recycling systems. They have a variety of uses, they are not well-suited for use with outdoor systems like rain barrels because they can easily clog with debris and sediment. Often, they are attached to the outlet of bathroom sinks and showers. The water is then piped through a reservoir and pumped into the toilet tank. Or you can send the recycled wastewater to your garden. While most household soaps won’t hurt the plants or grass, it always good to be careful about disposing of harsh chemicals.
In addition to recycling greywater for flushing, household uses or landscaping, people are also using recycled water in their natural swimming pools. Natural pools rely on a constructed wetland of plants and gravel to filter the water in an area called the regeneration zone. This section looks like a water garden. A wide variety of plants and algae create an ecosystem that cleans the recycled water. The clean water slowly flows from the water garden area into the swimming pool. A specialized water skimmer removes large debris that falls into the swimming pool before the water is circulated into the regeneration zone. Additional equipment, like UV light filters and sand filters to remove phosphorous, can also be installed into the system to maintain the balance of a natural pool system.
One benefit of using recycled water is a reduction of water usage by as much as 50% to 70%. A similar reduction may be reflected in the water bill. By some estimates, a family could save an average of 405 gallons of water a day, which is 150,000 gallons a year. In addition to using less water, electricity and other resources are saved because that water is not being processed at the local sewer treatment plant.
About BERKEYS Air Conditioning, Plumbing & Electrical:
BERKEYS Air Conditioning, Plumbing & Electrical was founded in 1975 and is headquartered in Southlake, TX. BERKEYS serves the greater Dallas / Ft. Worth metroplex; is licensed & insured; and offers 24/7 emergency service. BERKEYS is a member of the Better Business Bureau of Dallas and Fort Worth, TX. BERKEYS can be reached at www.Berkeys.com. TX License Numbers: TACLB 41879E; JEFF SIMS M-38424; TECL 30739
Berkeys Air Conditioning, Plumbing & Electrical services the greater DFW area including, but not limited to Dallas, Fort Worth, Plano, Frisco, Keller, Arlington, Grapevine, Flower Mound, McKinney, Irving, and more. Check out Berkeys Plumbing AC and Electrical reviews or see the Better Business Bureau of Dallas and Fort Worth, TX to confirm Berkeys is a company you can trust.