WITH the message that the drought is here to stay for the foreseeable future – and likely to worsen – a number of home owners are ensuring their own water security by harvesting rain water and ‘grey water’.
One such person is Arboretum resident Bruce Rattray, who with the help of his son Barry has installed an intricate system that collects and circulates not only rain water via the gutter drain pipes, but also ‘used’ water from sources including the bath, shower, basins and washing machine.
This is then used for the garden hose, car washing and the many household functions that require water.
The only municipal water used by the occupants is for drinking.
‘Rain water collection is made possible by plumbing downpipes from all gutters into four 2 200-litre Jojo storage tanks,’ said Barry.
‘Before it is stored, however, the water passes through a ‘first catch’ filter system to remove any dirt coming from the gutters or roof tiles.
‘The rain water is then plumbed from the storage tanks into the main water supply of the house via a 0.5kW pressure switched pump, supplying all water points in the house.
‘Two smaller (500-litre) tanks are set in position and plumbed to collect all the used or grey water , and then plumbed into a 0.75kW pressure switched pump which connects to the garden irrigation system.
‘Grey water can also be connected to the household toilets in order to ‘flush for free’.’
However, Barry says grey water should be moved within 24 hours to prevent bacteria from thriving.
‘No food wastes should be used in grey water system, therefore no kitchen sinks are plumbed into these tanks.
‘It must be understood that this system is used to save water, not money!
‘Additional electricity costs for the pumps must be taken into account.
‘The system does, however, ensure that water is available for your household during this and any future crisis.’
A basic residential set-up with one 2 200-litre tank and a 0.75kW pump plumbed into a hosepipe simply for watering the garden will cost about R7 000.
However, a pump is not always necessary. If the tank is slightly elevated, gravity will do the rest
