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On-Site Greywater Treatment

What is On-site Greywater Treatment?
A greywater treatment system captures and
cleanses wastewater from fixtures such as
sinks, showers, and washing machines for
reuse. The definition of greywater differs
across states. In New Jersey, the NJ DEP
defines greywater as any sanitary sewage
generated within a residential, commercial,
or institutional facility which does not
include discharges from water closets or
urinals. Greywater is of lesser quality than
potable (drinkable) water but of higher
quality than blackwater, which in New
Jersey includes discharges from water
closets, toilets, urinals or similar fixtures
alone or in combination with other
wastewater. 1

Figure 1 - The Irvine Ranch Water District provides

recycled water for toilet flushing in high rise buildings
in Irvine, California. For new buildings over seven
stories, the additional cost of providing a dual system
added only 9% to the cost of plumbing. (Source: US
EPA, Pacific Southwest Region 9).

New Jersey receives an average rainfall of 45 inches per year; however, the state faces
long-term water issues as the population continues to grow and the water supplies remain
constant.2 The commercial sector consumes a large amount of fresh water and by
incorporating systems that promote water efficiency, such as greywater treatment
systems, new commercial projects can reduce fresh water consumption while also
reducing demands on water infrastructure and stress on natural resources. 3 Depending on
the location of the project and the type of municipal waste system, a greywater system
can also reduce the amount of wastewater requiring treatment by municipal facilities and
the amount of wastewater discharged into local waterways.

How to Incorporate a Greywater Treatment System

When planning a greywater system, it is important to decide which fixtures to collect
greywater from and how to reuse the greywater. Work with a design professional to
1

NJ DEP. Division of Water Quality. Standards for individual subsurface sewage disposal systems.
www.state.nj.us/dep/dwq/pdf/njac79a.pdf (accessed December 6, 2010).
2
US EPA. http://www.epa.gov/watersense/docs/new_jersey_state_fact_sheet.pdf (accessed April 5, 2011).
3
US EPA. http://www.epa.gov/watersense/spaces/ci.html (accessed April 5, 2011).

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estimate how much greywater will be produced and what type of greywater system will
best serve the project needs. Greywater can be cleansed for reuse through constructed
wetlands or other natural or mechanical systems. In natural systems, the greywater is
filtered through layers of sand and cleansed with the help of plants and microorganisms.
Large and complex projects often require engineered greywater treatment systems that
are designed specifically for the needs of the particular project. Greywater treatment
package systems are generally best suited for small projects but these prefabricated
systems can meet the needs of some large projects as well. 4 The NJ DEP Division of
Water Quality, specifically the Bureau of Non-point Pollution Control, permits greywater
treatment systems through the NJ Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NJPDES)
Wastewater Recycling Treatment System (WRTS) process. Check local codes and
regulations regarding greywater systems, as some municipalities will require special
permitting for the installation of such systems.
Components of a greywater system may include: 5
o Separate plumbing system from sinks, tubs, showers and clothes washer
o Bypass valve a mechanism that can reroute greywater into the standard septic or
sewer system if necessary
o Surge tank stores water temporarily and acts as buffer for high flows from tubs
or clothes washers
o Pump to pump greywater into the discharge system
o Filter to screen sediment
o Check valve that prevents water from backing up
o Subsurface drip irrigation (if greywater used for irrigation) - irrigation equipment
or some component to convey the water underground
Additional Considerations:
o Detergents use mild or biodegradable detergent if water will come in contact
with plants. Do not use bleach.
o Permitting check with local government office to ensure the greywater system
meets all requirements and conforms with regulations
o Safety marking mark all greywater pipes to ensure proper maintenance practices
o Space requirements sufficient space needs to be allocated for greywater system
equipment

See the Alliance for Water Efficiency website in Resources Section for more information on package
greywater treatment systems.
5
Low Impact Living. http://www.lowimpactliving.com/blog/2007/11/13/graywater-recyclingsystems/?url=pages/newsletters/newsletter-greywater (accessed October 20, 2010).

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Example
Queens Botanical Garden Visitor Center
Greywater from the Visitor Centers sinks, dishwashers, and shower is piped to a
constructed wetland, while rainwater cascades off the terrace roof into a cleansing
biotope. In both places, water is filtered and treated naturally through bacterial activity on
the roots of carefully selected plants. The treated greywater is returned to the building for
use in toilet flushing, while the cleansed rainwater supplies a meandering water feature
and fountain. 6
http://www.queensbotanical.org/103498/sustainable/sustainable_systems/water
Benefits
On-site Greywater Treatment:
o Conserves fresh water
o Saves energy by reducing the demand on energy-intensive wastewater treatment
processes
o Prevents the release of polluted water into local waterways during large storms,
when wastewater treatment systems are overwhelmed
o Reduces water bills
Costs
The cost of a greywater treatment system will vary significantly depending on the
application, scale, and type of system. It may not be cost effective to retrofit an existing
plumbing system with a greywater treatment system. However, greywater treatment
systems may be appropriate for new construction. 7 The installation of a greywater system
will add upfront costs, but can be recovered over time. Cost estimates of greywater
treatment systems varies widely, from $400 to $5000, depending on project parameters.8,
9
Subsequently, the payback period will vary as well. Greywater systems generally

Queens Botanical Garden. http://www.queensbotanical.org/103498/sustainable/sustainable_systems/water

(accessed July 22, 2010).
7
Alliance for Water Efficiency.
http://www.allianceforwaterefficiency.org/Package_Graywater_Recovery_and_Treatment_Systems.aspx
(accessed March 4, 2011).
8
American Water Works Association, White Paper on Graywater.
http://www.awwa.org/files/Resources/Waterwiser/references/PDFs/GraywaterFinal%20Report2010.pdf
(accessed April 29, 2011).
9
Correspondence with Tad Radzinski, PE, LEED AP, President, Sustainable Solutions Corporation, April
7, 2011).

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require additional space and equipment and storage tanks, separate piping systems,
filtering, and treatment, etc. that all can add additional cost.10
Resources
Alliance for Water Efficiency: Package Greywater Recovery and Treatment Systems
Introduction
http://www.allianceforwaterefficiency.org/graywaterintroduction.aspx?terms=package+greywater
American Water Works Association (2010) White Paper on Greywater
http://www.awwa.org/files/Resources/Waterwiser/references/PDFs/GraywaterFinal%20R
eport2010.pdf
New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Division of Water Quality
http://www.nj.gov/dep/dwq/
Rutgers University NJ Agricultural Experiment Station Water Resources Group
http://www.water.rutgers.edu/main.htm
US EPA WaterSense Environmental Benefits of Water Efficiency
http://www.epa.gov/watersense/water_efficiency/environmental_benefits.html
Queens Botanical Gardens Graywater System
http://www.queensbotanical.org/103498/sustainable/sustainable_systems/water
Oregons Building Codes Division (BCD) has an approved alternate in its plumbing code
for gray water reuse
http://www.cbs.state.or.us/external/bcd/programs/green.html

10

Urbanedge.org. http://www.urbanedge.org/green-housing.php?subcode=water-systems (accessed January

1, 2011).