A new conversation for business.
Nearly half the water used in the home is flushed down the toilet. There are many solutions for under sink gray water units that help save and recycle usable water. A strong contender among the competition is the AQUS gray water system which efficiently captures the water from the sink and transfers it to the flusher. This handy unit can save up to 7 gallons of water per person each day, that figure adds up real quick.
The trick? The sink water first runs through a simplified dispenser or filter of sorts that houses bromine and chlorine tablets. These tablets kill the bacteria from the polluted sink water. A 5.5 gallon holding tank lies beneath your vanity and is attached to the dispenser. A modified p-trap directs the water from the sink through the dispenser and into the tank.
A small copper or flex tube is directed from the holding tank into the toilet bowl tank to facilitate the transfer of water. A fill-control device attached to the back of the toilet impedes the float valve from filling your toilet with freshwater. Instead, the gray water from the vanity holding tank enter the toilet bowl through two tubes which enter through drilled out bolts that will simply replace the bolts on any standard toilet.
The system is effective, cheap, and easily maintained. I know of two developers in my neck of the woods who have begun installing these in their developments. The cost and labor to install them is cheap compared to the publicity and wow-factor that they claim helps sell them homes in the current tough residential market. In many ways, these kinds of simple and eco-friendly solutions are helping businesses profit while at the same time establishing higher demand for environmental sound alternatives and products.
Most of the units out there run between $200-300. That cost can be regained quickly. For example by simply installing more efficient toilets with low flow flush and a smaller holding tank you can save $100 a year. These toilets use 60 percent less water than the pre-1994 model toilets. If you were to couple low flow toilets with a gray water flush system the saving s could be significant especially considering the inevitable shortages on fresh water that threaten all of us in years to come.
The shortage of freshwater in years to come? Probably not.
this isn't the first time something like this was introduced. anyone could make one of these with stuff from the hardware store.
one thing to remember is that graywater has carbon and oils in it that can ultimately interfere with flushing the toilet.
it's cool that this is on the market but let's keep an eye on context.
anonymous - have you been living under a rock?
uh-the southeast these past few months????
Actually, there IS a projected shortage of freshwater on the North American continent because we're depleting the aquifer (natural stores of underground water) that lies under the Midwest faster than rainfall can replenish it. Add to that the amount of water becoming undrinkable due to chemical pesticides and fertilizers seeping into the water table and you have a really scary scenario in the coming years. It's just common sense.
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