Considering that we live in ocean-blessed Los Angeles, it’s appropriate for everyone to get a grasp on gray water and water conservation. Gray water usage is the re-utilization of water that has washed from your kitchen, bathroom sink, or laundry -- Water not fit for drinking, but is fine to flush with. You can also water plants with it after some basic filtration.
There are many uses of gray water and even black water, as your toilet water is referred to, but this is a basic method, an easy effort solution, and a way to get to KNOW your water use and reduce it: First, replace the trap under the sink with a five-gallon bucket; it’s an easy channel-lock wrench job. Then, after you brush your teeth and wash your hands, empty some of the water in the toilet basin to flush it.
Since I set this up, my perception of water has changed. My girlfriend has been really appreciative of how in touch she’s become with hearing her water usage, now that it empties into the bucket. It turns you on to water and to turning it off when you can.
For more information, you might check out Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands, a book by Brad Lancaster which has some great gray water DIY projects and strategies. Next, I’ll post how my friend and I made a gray water set up from his kitchen sink to our front yard garden.
