What’s the Difference Between Rainwater Harvesting Systems and Greywater Systems?

All too often in this industry, we have seen the definitions of rainwater and greywater harvesting become muddled. While both systems recycle water, it’s the type of re-used water that’s completely different.

Both rainwater and greywater have valuable applications in a variety of situations. Here are the differences between greywater and rainwater, and how each can be harvested and re-used to help homes and businesses save water.

First, let’s define the 3 different levels of water, according to its cleanliness. White water is fresh, completely clean and potable. Blackwater (bathroom or toilet waste water) is considered heavily polluted by chemical and biological contaminants and (obviously) is not recyclable. Greywater is in the middle in terms of sanitation. While it frequently appears cloudy, it can be filtered and reused.

 

Rainwater Harvesting 

In its simplest form, rainwater harvesting is rain that is captured by a system that includes a series of spouts, cisterns, and pumps. It has not been inside a home or commercial building. It is filtered and held in the cistern until the water is used. The system can be as simple as a rain barrel, or as complicated as a complete system of pumps and cisterns and multiple filters. While it is most often re-used for irrigation and water for gardens and livestock, it can be filtered and treated for use as drinking water.

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A simple rainwater harvesting system

 

Greywater Harvesting 

Greywater is water that has been used once and is now considered wastewater. It comes from domestic sources such as washing machines, bathroom sinks, or showers. Kitchen sinks and dishwashers are usually excluded from recyclable greywater due to bacteria and legal reasons. Greywater makes up approximately 50 to 80 percent of all wastewater coming from the home or business. Greywater recycling systems are a series of filters, pumps, sensors, timers, and valves that are attached to the existing plumbing to capture the used water and treat it for re-use.

Some homeowners like the ability to redirect water from sinks and showers to places on their property other than the sewer.

How a greywater system works

How a greywater system works

How do you know which water harvesting system is best for you? The decision depends on your property’s capabilities and your personal preference. If you’d like to reuse nature’s rain, then a rainwater harvesting system is ideal. If you’d rather recycle water that’s been used in your home, a greywater harvesting system can make perfect sense. RainHarvest can help you find the perfect solution. Although working with greywater from the home is not the same as using a rainwater harvesting system, both systems are excellent alternatives for reusing the water available to us.


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