Monday, August 27, 2012

poor man's DIY greywater treatment system

i have finally posted the house for sale for $55K. any takers????


I finally got around to building the greywater filtration system for the house.  greywater is water uncontaminated by fecal matter i.e. kitchen sink, shower, sink, etc.  in my case the water will include urine from the composting toilet which diverts urine. the basic design is greywater from the house is piped into two 55 gal retention drums with alternating layers of 3/4 in. gravel and charcoal.  the drums provide retention time for the solids and initial breakdown of the waste stream. the overflow then enters the plastic lined pond that will house aquatic plants and fish.


started the day with two holes and a pile of supplies. 500 gal pond liner, 2 x 55 gal drums, 3 x 1 1/2" PCV couplings, 1 1/2" PCV, 2" hole bit, primer and PCV glue and other stuff.


the drums need to be uphill of the pond to encourage flow through the system.


laying out the system


i drilled holes through the adjacent drums to connect the couplings.


1 1/2" couplings with 5" PVC pipe


downhill.


pitch the overflow pipe down into the pond. this was just over 2" fall over 2'.


drums with 3/4" gravel (1 ton filled both perfectly) and store bought charcoal (without lighter fluid) layers filter wastewater.


the view after everything is in place.