I recently read this book as part of my research in starting up a permaculture-based small farm and homestead. It is clear and easy to read; I give it 8 out of 10 acorns. I would rate it even higher if more of the book were applicable to my zone 5 climate. (Cold-climate zones get their own appendix, but still, it was a little discouraging to see how much easier it is to use greywater in places where the ground is not frozen solid for months at a time.)
The book favours simple systems over complex, expensive ones. I appreciate a book that points out an outdoor shower is a type of greywater system. Also, that you can keep a bowl in your kitchen sink to toss the water outside; and you can drain a bathtub by siphoning the water through a hose out the window. I expect that most people, like me, want more comprehensive solutions. But these simple measures are empowering. It’s all part of a spectrum of greywater management.
Some parts of the book, like why and how to design a mulch basin to receive the greywater, were immediately helpful to me. And I liked the information about longevity and environmental sustainability of different plumbing materials. Other parts will require another reading; for example, I got a little lost in trying to equilibrate the amount of greywater produced by the household with the watering needs of the trees by the mulch basin (especially changes over time).
This book is remarkably clear-sighted about the practical obstacles, including human behaviour and design errors. For example, systems that depend on someone moving a hose to disperse greywater in different places are nearly always abandoned within a year or two. Ludwig encourages readers to consider long-term variables, such as whether the system will be understood and maintained by other people over time. (It could even possibly be a drawback if you decide to sell your property.)
After reading this book, I’m undecided on whether installing a comprehensive greywater system should be a priority, on a site with good water supply and a seemingly well-functioning septic tank and field. But I feel much more knowledgeable about key considerations and several practical options to get at least partway there. Maybe someday I will build that solar greywater greenhouse, which Ludwig calls “the ultimate in favorable microclimates, and the best option for year round treatment” in my cold climate. In the meantime, I’ll be the one with the hose hanging out the bathroom window.
