While most of the earth is made up of water bodies, access to usable water has been on the decline in the recent past. Now, people are having a hard time accessing water that they can use on a regular basis.
To that effect, it has become essential for people to develop strategies for conserving the water that they already have.
One of the most popular mechanisms of conserving water usage is by reusing wastewater.
Reusing wastewater can help obtain maximum benefit from the limited water we already have. However, before you can reuse water for a different purpose, you need to ensure that this water is safe for the new purpose.
Here are seven tips to simplify wastewater reuse in the home setting.
1. Using Water Treatment Units
One of the best strategies for repurposing wastewater for use in the home setting is by using water treatment units. A water treatment unit is a device that uses different techniques to purify water used for different purposes before.
In doing so, the water becomes clean for human consumption, laundry, and other uses in the home setting.
One of the best water treatment units in the market that uses biological processes rather than chemical processes is the Triple-T unit. The biological water treatment technology employed in this unit treats the wastewater using atmospheric oxygen and bacteria.
This process is highly sustainable and simple, with wide applicability across different sectors. As such, you can use the unit to meet your water needs regardless of the quantity you want to target.
2. Diverting Waste Water To Agricultural Purposes
Another strategy you can use to maximize wastewater without disposing of it after a single use is by diverting it to agricultural purposes.
The best thing about agricultural purposes is that the standards of cleanliness expected of the water are lower than for other purposes in the home. You can use all kinds of repurposed water in the home setting for agriculture, provided it does not have a lot of chemicals that might endanger your crops. The same goes for any drinking water you might want to provide for the animals on your farm.
However, it is essential to note that some wastewater may contain contaminants that might seep into the crop and ultimately become toxic for human consumption. That is why you should always treat the water before irrigating your crops or serving it to your animals.
Alternatively, you can opt for subsurface irrigation systems, which can spread the water evenly around the garden and reduce the effects of untreated water.
3. Coarse Filtration
A coarse filtration is a form of water filtration that involves removing large particles from wastewater.
In a coarse filtration system, the aim is to remove any visible particles from the water before repurposing the water for any at that objective. This process can help remove particles such as grease, stones, plastic, and food. It is essential to note that coarse filtration does not alter the chemical composition of the water but only changes its physical properties.
Water from coarse filtration can be beneficial for purposes such as irrigation and laundry in the home. However, it might not be ideal for human consumption.
4. Fine Filtration
If you want to repurpose water for human consumption and cooking through filtration, then you can opt for fine filtration as an alternative. Fine filtration removes the large particles from the water and the microbes that might harm human consumption. All you might need to do is to set up a fine filtration system, period.
If you are a DIY enthusiast, you can consider setting up the entire structure by yourself. However, it is recommended that you seek the assistance of professionals that have experience in setting up fine filtration systems.
5. Reusing Laundry Water
Do you always pour your laundry water down the drain after running your clothes? You might be wasting this water. You can direct the water from laundry cleaning to outdoor and indoor usage at home.
Once you have completed running your clothes through the washing machine, you can collect them in another container and use the water for cleaning the house, your balcony, pavements, or driveways.
This water can also be ideal for irrigation purposes, provided you are treated as instructed above. Remember, you can also use the water for your rinse cycle as the water for the first cleaning cycle for your next batch of laundry. This helps reuse the water and avoid wastage.
6. Sink To Toilet Systems
A sink-to-toilet system is a kind of system that connects sink water to the water in the toilet tank.
By incorporating such systems into your home, you can help repurpose the sink water into the water you will be using to flush the toilet. Many times, the water you use in your sinks to either clean your hands or brush your teeth is clean enough to run through the toilet. This can be an excellent strategy to save water in the home setting.
Other than using the sink-to-toilet systems, you can also add a double flush system to your toilet. A double flush system allows you to have two kinds of flushing mechanisms for solid and liquid waste. As liquid waste does not require a lot of water, you can help conserve water by flushing just enough water for one round of toilet use.
7. Grey Waste Water Systems
Finally, you can opt to incorporate grey wastewater systems into your home to help collect grey wastewater.
Grey wastewater is all kinds of water that can accumulate in the home from showers, sinks, basins, and taps. Most people would consider such water dirty and unfit for reuse. But if you direct the water to a grey wastewater system, you can still use it further.
Grey wastewater systems direct such water to containers for storage. Afterward, you can use the water to clean your car and driveways and even water your lawn.
Final Thoughts
Reusing water is one of the best techniques you can use to ensure that the water you have in your home doesn’t go to waste. You can use the tips above to improve and simplify the ways through which you can reuse wastewater in the house.
Remember, water is hardly ever in a state where it can’t be diverted for a new purpose. All you need is the right tools to make it fit for reuse.
