ELEMENT:
6 000L Aerobic Wastewater Treatment System (AWTS) with a recirculating
sand filter
AIM:
One way to reduce the environmental impact of urban areas is to reuse
resources where possible, such as reusing greywater onsite for toilet
flushing and garden irrigation.
STRATEGY:
Greywater is the water collected from the showers and baths, hand basins
and the laundry. Once the greywater is collected it is treated in an aerobic
greywater treatment system, which incorporates a recirculating sand filter.
The Department of Natural Resources & Mines estimate that when greywater
is recycled and then reused by the house, 60% of the current household
water needs could be met by rainwater and reused greywater. While the
payback period for these systems is long (if ever) for the householder,
independent systems like this reduce the burden on local infrastructure
and reduce the requirement for new reservoirs in growing residential areas.
The treated water from all sources except toilets and the kitchen could
potentially be used to irrigate the garden. Unfortunately present government
legislation does not permit the use of treated greywater for irrigation
within areas with sewerage infrastructure in place. Therefore, until legislation
is changed the treated greywater is discharged into the sewerage.
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