![]() |
|||||
|
Summery in mp3 - right click to download (2.5 MB) Copyright info: The grey-water cartoons are the exclusive property of
the author and inventor. As the exclusive owner of these cartoons, I declare that the cartoons
can be freely used by any media, in paper or in electronic form. I suggest to use those cartoons which show "gratis" at the
left-hand-bottom corner, or which do not show any copyright info. If this declaration is needed in written form
with the signature of the copyright owner, please send an e-mail to: pal@grey-water.com or pal@grey-water.hu
with the exact text you need, indicating the address where the declaration is to be sent, and
the waiver will be sent back to you, enabling you to use the cartoon.
UDD toilet for ecosan awareness at UNESCO-IHE in Delft (ecosan = Ecosanitation)
The cartoons can be downloaded in all 17 language versions (also without any text) in the original
FLASH format and in Animated GIF format,
or in MP4 format for iPod or in 3GP for mobile
phones on the download page.
In 2005, the total value of the U.S. water recycling and reuse industry was over $2.1 billion. BCC predicts that total market revenue will grow at an average annual rate of just over 8.8% through 2010, yielding total revenue in 2010 of just under $3.3 billion.
Grey-Water Recycling History and Development: The
"Water Closet" or WC, the latrine using water to flush the toilet was invented about 150 years ago. Since then solutions have
always been sought for not to waste clean water by flushing the toilet, or at least to limit the water quantity used for this
purpose. The grey-water systems used in the past were using grey-water tanks in the basement or
in the garden. One of the recent systems built within an EU project is the Aquasave Project documented on CD which was carried out in
Another example which is already more compact, is the "AquaCycle" the details of which
can be seen on the page: www.swamp-eu.org/pub/sample.pdf
PONTOS and
AquaCycle are
trade-marks of the HANSGROHE group,
who developed a household grey-water system, recycling the used water from the bathroom to feed the flushing toilet, to use
the recycled water in the washing machine and to use it for cleaning and to water the garden. Every important system element
is built into one and the same unit, which is very practical and enables easy instalment.
Another system is the GEP IGM system, conceived
for houses.
GEP Umwelttechnik GmbH :IGM Graywater-Recycling-Equipment
Another similar but even smaller system is the:
Twin-Flow, a trade mark of the German www.soltech.de company. This system uses already a smaller tank of about 500 litres. Until today, this
is the simplest and smallest household grey-water system in production. Here also, every important system element is built
into one and the same unit making the system easier to install in the house. Compared to the complicated and very costly system
of the AquaSave Project this is much simpler which makes it more available to a larger public. In the USA hundreds
of thousands of houses have grey-water system, the building of which costs between USD.10 thousand (if built in at the time
of constructions planned beforehand) and as much as 50 thousand (if the system has to be installed by converting the whole
building). Building in a compact system like Hansgrohe or Twin-Flow, the costs can be considerable reduced. Here are two pictures presenting Twin-Flow:
The compact systems are, however still too
large and costly, when we need a grey-water system in a simple, smaller flat. The majority of people live in flats, and not
in detached, or semi-detached houses. The systems presented above are excellent solutions, but they are not readily available
for the population living in flats. We must find a solution to offer the opportunity to use grey-water systems to everybody,
also to those people, including myself, who live in relatively smaller flats, where there is no room to accommodate 500 litres
tanks. We must also consider the cost element. A smaller and simpler and cheaper solutions must be developed, making it available
for the public. The problem to be solved:
- Where to store a larger quantity of water, which is
about 30 times more than the minimum quantity needed for one toilet flushing? The biggest problem is storage, then treating.
Some thrifty people put aside the washing water in buckets, so that they could use it to flush the toilet. I adore those people,
because they save not only for themselves, at the cost of a lot of extra work invested in "bucketing", but they also save
water to the other people, to all of us. Bucketing raises also the question: is it hygienic? Definitely not. And even if the
buckets are covered the bacteria is multiplying so quickly, that after two days the water goes stale, and smells – if
not treated with disinfectant. The majority of us is not willing to do this extra household chore. So where to store grey-water?
- We have the toilet flushing tank. - Ok, but it can store only a limited quantity of water
which is enough only for one flushing. Or if it has a double-actuator button, like the one Geberit [ - But how can we store in a toilet flushing tank much
more water, say 30 times more water than the water quantity necessary for one flushing? - The answer to this solution is a larger tank. We pour much more water into the tank, while, at the same time, we fix the floating buoy at a height where
it normally stands, so the extra water covers the floating buoy, thus the floating
buoy becomes an under-water plunger buoy. - Ok, but how will it work? - The answer to the problem is a "stick" which connects
the underwater plunger buoy with the tap-water opening valve. This stick is going through the greywater column, all the way
long to reach the tap water opening valve. In the fully electronic version, this becomes a "virtual
stick" as it is replaced by water sensors and electromagnetic water valves connected to the electronic control unit. The most interesting thing is that this stick which offered
us the solution is hardly used, since due to teh fact that much more grey-water is produced daily within a household than
is needed to cover the water quantity needed for flushing the toilet. So we borrowed something to resolve the problem, and the
borrowed thing in not really needed in the end. Here your are, the simplest, smallest, cheapest grey-water system, which
is capable to accommodate, store, treat (filtering, disinfecting) and to distribute, feed and measure grey-water in much larger
quantities than necessary for one single flushing, using only one single tank automatically :
This is the "smallest grey-water system" ever having the following characteristics and
advantages in comparison to the larger systems presented at the beginning: . 1. Simplicity : this can be produced by using a simple barrel of about 200 litres, the filters are two mechanic filters, and between
the two filters a solid disinfectant cake is placed, similar to the WC blocks put into urinaries, or hung on the sides of
toilet bowls in little plastic holders. 2. Easy to install: the tubing is from rubber hose or
plastic hose. 3. Not only inexpensive, but definitely CHEAP: any-one can make one at home, "Do it yourself". 4. Easy maintenance: all you need to do is to check regularly the filters and to clean them if necessary, and to replace the disinfectant
if it is used up (about once in a fortnight). 5. 6. Fire extinguishing water reserve: in case of fire, you will have some fire extinguishing water, about 100 to 200 litres. 7. Multiple supply: One grey-water tank or washing machine can supply the flushing water to 1, 2, 3 or 4 toilets. More is not advisable.
The tank should not be more than 150 liters, otherwise one will run into problems. The system must be small and the
greywater must be stirred regularly. This ensures that no sedimentation is forming inside the tank. A larger
tank must tackle more contaminants. The mechanical filters of this small system is not enough for handling larger volumes
of greywater. However the simplest single tank version can be used only if you live in a duplex, i.e.
a two-storied flat, and you have the bathroom and the washing machine upstairs, and the single-tank grey-water system downstairs. If this is not the case, you need a pump to forward the grey-water to the tank. For this,
there is another version, when the tank is using the washing machine, as in the cartoon you can see above. You can also opt
for the version when the single-tank system is equipped with its own pump unit and Central Processing Unit to coordinate the
grey-water recycling activities. This is illustrated by the picture below: Another very important characteristic is : this is an instant system, which does not
store longer grey-water than a few hours. (the previously presented systems store too much grey-water for too long, which
raises many problems) — because of its mechanism, and given its little size and capacity, this tank uses
up almost immediately the grey-water produced in the household. This is a striking difference in comparison to the larger
systems. The grey-water surplus is flowing through the overflow orifice and overflow tube directly into the sewage canal.
Product diversification: The larger systems and the small ones have their different application fields. They are all needed
likewise. Larger systems have the advantage of using up all the grey-water produced in the household. The smallest system
does not keep the grey-water surplus and sends it to the sewage canal. This can be considered as wasting some of the grey-water.
However, its other advantages, like cost efficiency and simplicity makes up for this little disadvantage. While the larger
systems are better for individual houses, the smallest system has its market in the smaller flats. Both types are needed.
The different systems are complementary, and there is a market for both larger and smaller types, the latter being with or
without washing machine, each type satisfies a different need in the market. The smallest system is patented (pending) only in the Manufacturers are wanted ! For all other additional info, consult the text clicking the I wish I had a grey-water recycling washing machine! If you know where to buy one, please let me know! I need one and I want to buy one! Thank you. Grey-water recycling opens optimistic prospects While the Kyoto-agreement on the environmental protection front means a serious challenge to most economies because of the restrictions that it can impose on the industries one single positive development in innovation might bring about noticeable improvements in sustainable development and environmental protection at the same time helping to achieve the goals of the agreement. A good example for such improvement in the past was the introduction of the injection type engine which reduced considerably the fuel consumption of the cars. The technical solution which is presented here is an example to show again that sustainable development is not a contradictory expression and industrial growth does not necessarily imply increased pollution. Today when we enjoy the most incredible high-tech modern conveniences of the space research era like the mobile phone containing dozens of millions of transistors enabling us even to watch TV on our cell-phone and surf the internet, some primitive problems remain stubbornly still with us endangering our future. Such an unresolved case is the example of the flushing toilet for which we waist potable fresh water and this makes up about one third in household water consumption. To resolve this one and a half century-old problem a trivial and obvious solution has been found. Some thrifty and ingenious people mainly house wives collect the washing water with buckets and flush the toilet with that used washing water which is called grey-water. Bucket flushing is an arduous and inconvenient chore and only few people care to toil with it. In addition it is not very hygienic since bacteria multiply so quickly in grey-water that if not treated it will turn stale and will become black-water in just three days. Therefore in those countries where grey-water reuse is general everyday practice there are grey-water laws which stipulate under what conditions grey-water can be reused. The basic requirements are disinfection and filtration. The strictest grey-water law is that of California. In semi-arid places where precipitation is scarce, various grey-water systems are installed to ease the water shortage to some extent. However these systems are complicated and rather expensive. Besides, each individual system must be approved by the local authorities. The solution to this 150 years old problem is the automation of bucket flushing that is to collect house-hold grey-water and following filtering and disinfecting it is stored in the grey-water tank on top of the washing machine from where the central electronic control unit feeds the grey-water in pre-selected quantities for flushing the toilet. The introduction of this eco-civilized modern-convenience the Greywater Recycling Washing Machine will surely give a lasting impetus to economy and society alike. This will be an important step in the conservation of nature by introducing this new still infinitely simple solution which also means a new generation of washing machines. The technical novelty is so simple you could have invented it yourself. Putting this new generation of washing
machine into production then to commercial circulation will mean to make the grey-water system available also for those individuals
who are living in relatively smaller flat or even in a bed-sitter with fairly limited spaces. Up till know the grey-water
systems were available only to relatively few people living in individual or semi-detatched houses and who could afford such
an The greywater recycling washer practically does not consume or use up water it just borrows it before forwarding it to other uses and it is sure to give a long-lasting impetus to the economy to industry and commerce alike. Thus we can expect a boost in industrial output and commercial turnover and consequent improvement in the employment rate contributing to a general growth of the economy which is nothing less than making the "sustainable development" become realty. Do you remember the advanteges of full swing economy? If you have seen the cartoon about the greywater recycling washer then you surely understood its simplicity in all probability. Still let me underline the multiple gains that it assures forcasting a constructive and cooperative way forward for the whole society. First of all its advantages to the individual by saving one third on water and sewage bills. This in itself is the overwhelming decisive marketing factor. No more reasoning is necessary to justify the need for such a product. Still there are quite a few other justifying factors. Secondly the advantages to nature to water conservation to our environment which is a double advantage in itself by rationalizing on water consumption and by cutting on sewage output - which is another of those burning issues of environmental protection and this is nothing else than real sustainable development. All these benign developments and effects
are based on a natural and common need of both the individual and the society unanimously and in perfect harmony without any
side effect or any disadvantage with no harm to anyone not hurting anybody's interests in the name of rationalizing in the
positive sense enhancing efficiency and effectiveness while at the same time economizing on our natural resources without
This is not just the ray of light at the end of the tunnel. Now we can really take our destiny in our hands by seizing the opportunity to create a better world for ourselves for our children for our families for our community to everybody's advantage where everybody is a winner. All these facts provide sufficient ground for embarking on this project. As one of my good teachers taught us "Culture begins with the toilet". Bearing this motto in mind we should also care about the water we waste on flushing our dirt down the drain. Even dogs when nature calls after finishing they make some instinctive movements trying to hide their excrement as it is programmed in their genes. Beyond all instincts and programmed genes humanity has more than 5 thousand years old civilizations and unprecedently developped knowledge based societies, it must be imperative for us not to neglect the cumulative negative effects caused by the distructive human behaviours. We must not ignore such a thought-after solution which is in high demand for this more than 150 year-old unresolved issue on how not to waste fresh water on flushing the toilet. This is a historical opportunity to seize in order to reverse the environmental deterioration. This is our responsibility. Our future is at stake. Everything is at hand to make the best of this opportunity. If you hold that these lines are
forecasting naïvely an exaggeratingly idealistic scenario seen through pink sunglasses please do not forget the present
harsh reality of five million jobless in Germany or the grim situation in France filled with extreme social tensions where
40,000 cars were set on fire in one single year in 2005. Even the United States of America is full with social tensions of
all kinds especially after the Only after re-thinking today's socio-economic situations will you understand that I really mean genuine positive effects triggered by the introduction of such a simple technical novelty. Wherever you live think of the economical situation of your country. Does your economy performe so well that no improvements are needed? Or are the sought-after easy improvements really welcome? I can not imagine anything simpler than the grey-water reusing washing machine. The European Union is trying very hard to improve the present stagnating economic situation. Still the Lisbon initiative has not produced any spectacular break-through yet. We are far from it. Also it is to be seen what the "Plan D" meaning Democracy Dialogue and Debate will bring about. Each and every opportunity should be grasped to improve the present grim economic situation. There is an old saying "not to throw away the child with the bathing water" - nowdays even bathing water has become so precious that we must not throw away the bathing water itself because we can use it to replace precious drinking water. And also it is in the interest of the child because we should think about the future as well, about the future that we bequeath to the generations coming after us. The media is echoing with the threat of climate changes and global warming and reports about catastrophic tsunamies cyclons and forest fires in a lot of countries. The media is buzzing with reports about the burning issue of water shortage. Now here is a solution which can ease water shortage and boost the economy at the same time. I do believe that in spite of the staggering problems surrounding us, we do have the necessary insight and wisdom to choose "the road ahead". All the more so, since there is not a single negative counter-argument our any counter-interest to bump against. The road is safe and free, you can engage
high gear. See beyond the horizon.
SeaWater Desalination GE (General Electric) proudly boasts that 7 billion litres
of water is desalinated daily using GE Water Technology. We must acknowledge, this is really a big achievement. This also
shows how big the water shortage problem is. Still, would it not be useful to save, at the same time, 35% on water consumption
and waste water output by using the grey-water reusing washing machine?
Desalinated water a sweet deal, a sticky problem MEXICO CITY, March 20, 2006
(AFP) - Desalinating sea water for coastal populations is 10 times cheaper than in the 1990s, experts note, while others warn
of environmental hazards. "A dozen years ago, desalination cost
eight dollars per cubic meter," said Loic Chauvin, president of the France-based World Water Council. "Now, we are at 80 cents, one tenth
as much, and that is sure to fall," he said. Gerard Payen, environment advisor to
UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, agreed. "Desalination is well along, works
very well. "However, it takes sea water and energy,"
he said. "Because the cost of desalination depends on the cost of energy," he said, "the technology is most highly developed
in countries with sources of energy or which are on islands, where there is no other choice." Desalination plants have adapted to
the needs of dry and desert regions, to produce water for drinking, irrigation or industrial use. Countries around the Gulf are the prime
consumers. Two thirds of the world's desalination capacity is installed on the Beyond the Gulf and the The Hamma plant outside "It is not as expensive as many people think, the benefits are greater
than the investment and it is a sustainable source of water," she said. Environmental groups do not agree. They say the leftover
salt jeopardizes marine flora and fauna and that desalination uses a lot of fossil fuel. Unfortunately, there are no EU directives encouraging saving on water. But there is an EU directive stipulating that
waste water output must be reduced by the member states gradually, each year. The introduction and spreading the of the grey-water
reusing technologies will largely contribute to the success of that EU directive on waste water output. Apart from this improvement,
on the final analysis, the biggest achievement of all will be the long lasting impetus that the progress of greywater reuse
will give to the economies, during the long years, as it will become general, contributing to the sustainable development.
An earlier version of the invention can be seen in detail, with description on the following website: www.geocities.com/paulokros/ . There are four basic versions of the single tank greywater recycling system: 1. the tank alone, with mechanical operation, and eventually connected to the stronger than usual water pump of the
washing machine; 2. fully electronic tank provided additionally with electronic control unit and pump and electronic water sensors
and electro-magnetic water valves (enabling operation when greywater is not flowing into the tank with gravity free-fall). 3. the mechanical operated tank on top of a washing machine 4. the tank on top of a washing machine with fully electronic operation. This diversification makes it possible that every region, according to its different development level could make
use in some form of this new greywater reusing techniques. In less developed regions the mechanically operating tank can be
used, which fits into the given level of the technological environment. Useful links: California gray water law (pdf)] http://eboals.bologna.enea.it/ambtd/aquasave-doc/aquas-ing.htm http://www.oasisdesign.net/greywater/law/index.htm The Aquasave Project documented on CD The European Commission, in the framework of the life-environment action (Life 97 Environment /IT/000106),
financed 50% of total costs. This is excellent educational stuff and is worthwhile to download. After download, if necessary,
it will want to install QuickTie 4, (your may have already a higher version) then you can choose English or Italian. The following
18 pages are copied from the CD. Enjoyable carefully chosen informative literature. Goals of the Aquasave project to develop behaviours and technologies meeting the water needs in urban
areas with consumption habits that are compatible with the protection of the environment in the framework of a saveguard strategy
of the water resource to implement an integrated system for the saving, the recycling and the re-use of water in eight newly
built flats. The system is based on the assumption that out of the 250 daily litres of drinking water used every inhabitant
only 4% must be high-quality water. The remaining part is designed for less "precious" uses or it is wasted as a result of
the carelessness of the users or of badly devised sanitary facilities. to examine the reliability of the system, the possibility of
using the system in very different sectors from the one designed for the experiment, the enviromental and economic benefits
of the system and to verify the unchanged comfort for the user despite the reduced consumption. Graywater is untreated waste water which has not come into contact with toilet waste. Graywater includes waste water
from bathtubs, showers, bathroom wash basins, clothes washing machines, and laundry tubs, or an equivalent discharge as approved
by the Administrative Authority. It does not include waste water from kitchen sinks, photo lab sinks, dishwashers, or laundry
water from soiled diapers. Though more than two thirds of the Earth surface is covered by water, 97.5 percent of this is salt water. From the
remaining 2.5%, 1% is forming ice in the North-Pole, and another percent is frozen in ice in the South-Pole. The remaining
half percent can qualify as potable water, but about 90% of that half percent is stocked underground, which is not directly
available. This means that less than one thousands of all the water is potable water on the surface of the Earth, but the
distribution of that is not according to the population needs. a). Deforestation : by radically reducing the vegetation, the potable water is running off quickly to the rivers and seas and will become
salt water. Deforestation contributes largely to the spreading of desert areas and to climate changes. b). Spreading of desert : is partly the consequence of deforestation, i.e. inadequate human behaviour, partly the consequence of climate changes.
c). Climate changes: is a consequence of uncontrolled industrial expansion, causing extensive emission of gases like sulphur dioxide,
carbon dioxide and other toxic gases, and a consequence of excessive deforestation. d). Water pollution : Large ocean going vessels pour their sewage into the water without any treatment, and oil tanker accidents cause
catastrophes endangering the habitat of many species of animals living in the ocean and in the seas. The largest part of the
sewage produced by human population is flowing without any cleaning treatment into our rivers and sees, thus poisoning our
waters. e). Inappropriate consumption habits: People use too much water unwisely in their daily activities. The industrial development needs
more and more water. Because of deforestation and climate changes, more and more water is needed for agricultural production.
There is no agriculture without water. f). Overpopulation : leads to deforestation, while more and more land is needed for production of more food. There is an exodus of rural
population into the cities, an ever increasing number of people has been moving into the large agglomerations, contributing
to excessive urbanisation, which, on the other hand is a major reason for water pollution. Today, the population of our planet is around 6 billion, and 1/6th of them,
about 1.2 billion people do not have potable water, which water is contaminated and is a major cause of mortality. On the
other hand, according to the water usage statistics, only about 2% of domestic water consumption is used for drinking water,
and not more than 15% is used for drinking and cooking. According to the statistical forecasts, between 2025 and 2030, the
population of the Earth will reach eight billion, and half of them, around 4 billion will not have potable water of adequate
quality. The above data shows that 85% of the water that we use in the household does not have to be of potable water quality.
In household water consumption ca. 35% is wasted on toilet flushing while the washing machine and bath/shower account
for about 50% where the water becoming slightly polluted with soap/detergent is called "grey water" We can reuse that approximatively
50% grey water to flush the toilet. Water consumption statistical data varies very much, depending on geographical location
and on socio-cultural factors. It is obvious that no potable water quality is needed to flush the toilet. The "water closet"
was invented about 150 years ago in The "California gray water law" is considered to be the strictest one of all the national grey water laws. It defines grey water as follows: Graywater is untreated waste water
which has not come into contact with toilet waste. Graywater includes waste water from bathtubs, showers, bathroom wash basins,
clothes washing machines, and laundry tubs, or an equivalent discharge as approved by the Administrative Authority. It does
not include waste water from kitchen sinks, photo lab sinks, dishwashers, or laundry water from soiled diapers. It can be seen that grey does not mean the colour of the water, but rather it means the quality of the waste water.
It is interesting to see that waste water from kitchen sinks does not qualify as grey water, it i | ||||