Gauteng Smallholder December 2015-January 2016 | Page 41

WATER CRISIS

The great grey-water usage debate

W

ith Gauteng in the
grip of a drought,
and with heatwaves causing, or
at least exacerbating,
municipal water shortages,
many eco-nuts are making
the suggestion that householders should divert their
grey water from whatever
drainage system they have
and use it to water their
gardens, wash cars etc.
Is this a bright suggestion? Yes.
And no.
Firstly, let's define what
constitutes grey water and
compare it to the infinitely
more sinister “black” water.
Simply put, grey water is that
which flows into your drain
from everything other than
your toilets (toilet water is
black water).
Thus, in a domestic setting
grey water comes from
kitchen sinks, dishwashers
and washing machines,
basins, showers and baths.
As such, it contains:
K Small food scraps off dirty
plates, vegetable peelings, soil
particles from vegetable
washing, raw animal blood
and meat scraps.
K Fats, oils and greases
(called “fogs” in the trade)
from food preparation,
cooking and cleaning up,
even if most of it is wiped off
plates and pans before they
are washed, but also bath oils,
and residues of lotions and
potions applied as moisturisers and makeup, not to
mention the natural oils
produced by your body that
are washed off when you
shower or bath.
K Residual fluid foodstuffs
that are poured down the
drain such as stale milk,
vinegar, coffee and tea dregs,
drink dregs left in glasses after
parties, wine dregs, whey
from butter, yoghurt and
cheesemaking, etc.
K Hair, including that which
falls out when you wash your
scalp, that which you cut off

mouthwashes etc from rinsing
No, it!s NOT safe to use grey water
out dosing containers,
untreated, but treatment isn!t difficult syringes etc.
when you shave and
that which comes from pets,
from washing blankets etc.
K Sundry unpleasant solids
and semi-solids that are
wiped up and disposed of
when scrubbing floors,
washing windows, wiping
down kitchen counters etc.
K Soaps and detergents

QUIRKY

which can range from gentle
hand-soaps, shampoos,
conditioners and shower-gels
to aggressive household
cleaning detergents, degreasers and disinfectants,
K Toothpaste residue,
K Assorted germs and
bacteria, and, finally,
K Residues of medicines,

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And all of that does not take
into account those who
choose to p