Wise Water Management
WISE WATER MANAGEMENT
“We've
reached a point in water management where if it's not water reuse, it's water
abuse.”
- Don Beard
Grey water, accounting for approximately 50% of our household water, can be treated effectively, economically and efficiently for further reuse in plethora of applications. Greywater is domestic wastewater generated from kitchen sinks, wash basins and during washing of laundry. Greywater is a resourceful commodity and its reclamation is considered as a sustainable solution for managing water shortages in many parts of our country. Groundwater and surface water sources are becoming increasingly vulnerable to anthropogenic pollution. The best cost-effective process to reduce water scarcity is the reuse of grey water.
Grey water typically breaks down faster than black water and has lower levels of nitrogen and phosphorus. The key difference between greywater and sewage (or black water) is the organic loading. Sewage has a much larger organic loading compared to greywater. Hence the need for a separate treatment system right on the premises of the house or an apartment block or hotel, from where the grey water arises, and where the treated water would then be used would be the sustainable solution to combat the current water crisis.
Both rainwater collection and greywater reuse are intelligent ways to nourish your garden. Grey water contains high levels
of detergents, particularly surfactants, which alongside other chemical
constituents can pose a serious risk to human health and the environment.
Biological treatment may not be effective in the treatment of grey water since
the detergents inhibit the activities of microorganisms. Chemical treatment
options have an impact on public perception and could be cost prohibitive for
domestic and small-scale reuse applications.
A simple solution which can easily be adopted is shown. Raw grey water
enters the first chamber filled with coarse gravel filter and passes through the
second chamber filled with medium sized gravel where the large suspended
particles are removed. Chamber I can alternatively be provided with oil
absorbing hydrophobic materials which can absorb oil but not water. This water
is again fed to the third chamber of activated carbon filter and is finally collected
in the fourth chamber filled with sand where the complete filtration takes
place. In this modular concept, significant improvement in grey water quality
is expected to be achieved. The modular grey water system can be custom-made
according to the needs of treating grey water. The modular system can be fabricated according
to the size of the family.
The modular grey water system will benefit the home makers in
terms of water reuse and conservation and provide a sense of satisfaction and
pride of saving water. Apart from activated charcoal, low-cost sustainable
materials such as zeolite, activated carbon, mussel shells, fly
ash, ground granulated blast furnace slag and silica gel for the treatment and
removal of detergent characteristics. The modular system can reduce water
consumption by 80% through recycling processes thus saving money and even make
benefit after reasonable return of investment period.
Also, there will be less impact
on wastewater treatment plant infrastructure, reduced energy use
and chemical pollution from treatment thereby creating a circular economy where
a true nexus approach to water, energy and waste management can be achieved.
Apart from reducing water footprints, greywater recycling can reduce carbon
emissions and energy use and will compliment other on-site sustainability
solutions.
Water is
life's matter and matrix, mother and medium.
GO GREY!
GO GREEN! GO BLUE!
Superb mam
ReplyDeleteUseful tips, will try to implement
ReplyDelete