2012年3月14日 星期三

IRRIGATING WITH GREYWATER

Greywater can be used to replace drinking water for watering your garden. There are a
number of ways that greywater can be applied to your garden depending on whether you
are using a greywater diversion device or a greywater treatment system. The different
types of irrigation systems are discussed below.
SUB-SURFACE IRRIGATION
Greywater from a greywater diversion device or a greywater treatment system can be distributed by sub-surface irrigation.
Sub-surface irrigation means that the irrigation distribution system needs to be buried at least 10 cm below the surface level of soil or
mulch. It is also recommended that distribution pipes and fittings are at least one metre from a boundary, building, in-ground swimming
pool, or in-ground potable water tank. This protects structures from becoming destabilised and prevents runoff to neighbouring land.
The sub-surface irrigation system is not required to be installed by a licensed plumber, but it should follow the manufacturer’s
recommendations or design where relevant. Irrigation systems shall not be connected to both the mains water and the
greywater system.
The simplest sub-surface irrigation systems consist of a pipe network to transport the greywater to targeted areas of the garden,
and a water spike/dripper distribution head as shown below.

Examples of water spike distribution heads
G2G dripper from grey to green
Pipes are installed on the surface of the soil and drippers
transport water to below 10 cm in the ground.
www.greytogreen.com
A borby tube
Connects with an irrigation system which is buried at least
10 cm in the ground.
www.borby.com.au

  

Other types of distribution systems are also available and include, but are not limited to, the following:
■ Perforated pipes (refer to AS1547)
■ Irrigation domes
■ Piped trenches.

Nylex irrigation domes
www.nylex.com.au
Piped trench distribution system

SURFACE IRRIGATION
in Australia, surface irrigation is only permitted for greywater treated by approved greywater treatment systems. Surface irrigation is not permitted if greywater comes from a greywater diversion device. For more information, please see the atticle titled : Choosing the Right Greywater System For Your Needs.
Surface irrigation systems use sprinklers and/or exposed drippers to disperse the greywater to the garden or lawn.
When using greywater for surface irrigation, it is important to control the droplet size, throw and plume height of the sprinklersystem and to allow for wind drift to stop the water distributing beyond the designated area. It is recommended that spray heads that encourage large droplet formation (rather than mists) are used. Also, increased setback distance from property boundaries
and swimming pools are recommended.
For more information about garden irrigation, please see the Irrigation Association of Australia’s ‘Your Guide to Good Garden
Watering’: www.irrigation.org.au

GENERAL TIPS
There are also a number of standards you need to make sure you comply with, no matter what irrigation method you use to
distribute greywater to your garden.
■ Greywater system components must be labelled “Recycled Water – Avoid Contact – DO NOT DRINK.”
■ Warning signs, complying with Standards AS 1319 or NZS/AS 1319, must be fixed at all greywater outlets and at the
boundaries of the irrigation area in at least two places. The signs must be clearly visible to property users, with wording such
as, “Recycled Water – Avoid Contact – DO NOT DRINK”.
■ All distribution pipes must be coloured purple (AS 2700) and be clearly and permanently marked “Recycled Water – Avoid
Contact – DO NOT DRINK”.
■ The greywater irrigation system should distribute the water evenly within the irrigation area so as to prevent ponding and
ensure the water is applied efficiently.
■ The irrigation system should minimise the risk of greywater coming into contact with people, animals or any plants,
vegetables or fruit intended for human consumption.
■ A minimum grade of 1:100 for gravity-fed irrigation systems is recommended to prevent pooling of the greywater in the lines
and allow even distribution of the greywater. That means for every one metre of irrigation line there will need to a gradual
change in depth of the irrigation line of 1 cm.
■ In-line strainers (150–200 mesh) are recommended on the pump discharge side of pumped systems to protect pipework
from any solids carried over from the greywater unit into the irrigation.
■ Flush valves in surface boxes should be installed to allow periodic flushing for cleaning of the system.
For further information, AS1547:2000 outlines in detail information on the design, installation and maintenance of sub-surface
and surface irrigation systems.
A greywater irrigation system can be designed in many ways to target key areas in your garden. An example is shown below.

Greywater irrigation system

2012年2月13日 星期一

Choosing the Right Greywater System for your Needs


You can reuse greywater for a number of non-potable water uses, depending on what

type of greywater system you decide to use. Therefore, it is important to decide how

much greywater you need, and where you want to use it before you decide which option

is best for you.

Mechanical filtered greywater can be diverted for:

Ø   Sub-surface irrigation (irrigation buried at least 10 cm below the surface of soil or mulch).

Treated greywater can also be used for:

Ø   Surface irrigation.

Ø   Toilet flushing.

Ø   Clothes washing machine use.

The basic differences between greywater diversion and greywater treatment systems Aqua2use provide today are outlined in the following table:




Greywater reuse
Mechanical filtered greywater
Treated greywater
Model type
Main function
Remove grit, hair, lint, sand
soap scum, silt from greywater,
BOD, SS, Turbidity reduction
E.coli disinfection
Remove grit, hair, lint, sand
soap scum, silt from greywater
Working Principle
Mechanical filtration
Biological filtration
Effluent water Disinfection
Mechanical filtration