A drain pipe or hose empties
gray water into the pit.
Several states already use
gray water to some degree, but many of them, such as Arizona and New Mexico, are in dry regions of the country and have an added incentive to reuse their water.
For about three years I lived in a small house that had
gray water for the kitchen sink and washing machine.
Gray water projects target the biggest water-wasters in the house--particularly bathroom showers and sinks, where a lot of
gray water is generated (toilet water, known as "black water" is never to be reused).
Even the use of "clean"
gray water raises safety concerns, but laws have been changed in the last few years to permit its use.
Both Northern Testing Laboratories and the University of Alaska Fairbanks Environmental Technology Laboratory are collecting data to verify the effluent quality of the
gray water released by the AlasCan system.
Design implements the unloading buffer of the Basic Separation series with above ground
gray water agitation tanks that have been the company signature for years.
They come with paper towel holders, soap dispensers and fresh and
gray water tanks made of polyethylene.
Facilities can also save water by using a
gray water recycling system.
Micro-systems, which already exist for individual homes, recycle so-called
gray water from laundry and shower for lawn and garden use.
Environmentally sensitive features indude water- and energy-efficient buildings,
gray water recycling, organic gardens and the use of native plants.
Extensive gray-water contamination (flooding) or
gray water exposed to environmental stresses (time and temperature changes) can progress to Category 3 water in as little as 48 hours.
