Keys to Using Grey Water for External Uses

When you are washing the car or watering your garden, is fresh drinking water a requirement?  Of course it isn’t, which is why many Australian residents are using rain water tanks to retain their used household water for other purposes, helping to alleviate some of the strain on the local water supply and lowering their own utility bills.  Anytime you are considering the use of “grey water”, remember that there are elements to the process that must be adhered by to ensure the safety of your plants and the avoidance of toxic chemicals in the soil! 
Understanding Grey Water
Grey water is any water used in the house for purposes like showering or washing clothes.  The water is safe for horticultural use, though it must be filtered of the detergents or chemicals that are used during these practices.  Grey water MUST NOT BE USED FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION! With this exception in mind, just about everything else is fair game, so understanding the nature of grey water and how it should be handled can help to save you plenty of money and reduce the amount of city water your property requires.
Properly Filtering Your Reclaimed Water
Also known as “reclaimed water”, grey water provides the perfect opportunity to reuse water for your irrigation needs.  A filtration system is the key!  Multi-layered filter systems are the perfect way to remove the toxins from this water before it ever reaches your garden or the ground.  By pushing all of the grey water through sand filters and a grease trap, you can remove the oils, soaps, and other toxins that will do much more harm than good to your garden.
The Prevalence of Grey water Usage
Australian rain water tanks are the first step toward creating a self-sustaining water system on your property.  We have already seen cities across the world use grey water for golf course irrigation, localized gardening areas, and watering recreation parks.  They often use a color-coded system that reminds visitors that the water coming from the sprinkler systems is not safe to drink.  Your filtered grey water must fall under the same category, so be sure that everyone in the area knows that the system is pumping out water that is not intended for human consumption.
Reducing the Strain on Your Septic System
Many homes have a self-sufficient septic tank system that filters the water used for future uses.  Rain water tanks and the systems associated with them operate in much the same manner.  And, because septic systems can be costly to repair or replace, many residents are finding it helpful to relieve some of the stress on the system by getting their irrigation or car washing water from another source.  This source, of course, being the reclaimed water from their own home usages.  Save your septic system by lending it a helping hand with slimline water tanks.
Many Australian residents are just now learning about water restrictions, which have increased the demand for self-sufficient rain water tanks and have expanded the uses that many of us take advantage of.  Collecting your household grey water and reusing it for many other outdoor activities has helped to slow the drain that we are experiencing on our nation’s clean drinking water.  Because so many residents enjoy maintaining gardens or would like to clean their cars each weekend, it is important that new ways to harvest and reuse water enter the forefront of our minds.  Purchasing a tank, making the necessary connections between the home’s water system and the holding area, and properly filtering the grey water to make it safe for reuse can ensure that future generations enjoy the same clean water that many take for granted today.