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washing machine grey water toilet system

 
Posts: 15
Location: durham nc
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so im sure this must have been done before . if not im sharing this really easy system that has worked for years

the washing machines 3/4 horse power impeller pump can probably lift water over 2 stories. a grey water barrel is situated in the attic next to your plumbing vent stack the barrel s over flow dumps into this pipe i ran salvaged fire hose with pvc right angle barbs as not to kink you will probably need at least a 2.5 ddiameter pipe to supply the water tower from your washing machine(it moves hig volumes of water). inside the barrel i have a 50 micron screen over a 3/8 poly ethelene supply line that runs straight to the toillet as normal. the storage barrel has a 3 in sump to catch sediment
this system works well. the pros your not pooping in your drinking water your using the water twice. cons every so often i will need to do a load of laundry with bleach to nock down methane causing bacteria, every so many weeks the toillet flapper contact will need to be cleaned, the toillet water is grey
 
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Location: Cincinnati, Ohio,Price Hill 45205
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A great system you have there. How big is the tank in the attic?
I am am designing a system with a header tank(the tank you have in the attic) fed from rainwater , so as to avoid having sitting grey water turn into blackwater.

Maybe ammonia, or oxygen bleach would keep the microbes in check, or perhaps a bubbler to aerate the tank?
Btw, i am assuming your attic is never below freezing , right? The lack of a moderate climate and/or a climate controlled attic has left me searching for a good place to put my header tank...

My greywater discharge from the laundry will eventually go to a mulch basin, during the warm season, but I still want to raise my bathroom sink enough that it will feed the toilet tank directly.
I figure the the water that overflows into the bowl will be enough to wash away urine at least.

Thanks for sharing your system, please post photos if you have any!
 
derek dihoff
Posts: 15
Location: durham nc
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thats a good idea lots less infrastructure if you nix the trap under the sink you might not need to raise the sink the overflowstack inside the toillet might be able to keep up with a low flow faucet
 
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