Green Plumbing Practices; Grey Water, Stagnant Water, and Sustainability

Green Plumbing Practices; Grey Water, Stagnant Water, and Sustainability

California residents may be pleased to hear that water conservation efforts are making a notable and positive difference, especially in urban areas across the state. Keeping track of water usage from county to county is now an absolute necessity, and the people of the Golden State are acknowledging the severity of it all.

The State Water Resources Control Board indicated that during the month of May this year, water consumption dropped by nearly 29 percent. Even though this significant decrease is welcome news, the situation is far from being resolved. The remaining days of summer will be the true test, as the temperatures begin to rise statewide and the demand for water is likely to follow suit.

Zierman Plumbing and Heating is playing an important role in water conservation efforts by urging all customers to consider their options. A few cost-effective methods exist, which may involve acquiring a few three-to-five gallon buckets to recycle runoff water from kitchen sinks, bathtub/shower enclosures, and external washing machine exhaust hoses.

Also known as grey water, excess amounts can be used in place of running sprinkler systems, watering individual potted plants, and harder to reach areas that would otherwise require tapping into your main water supply. Recycled grey water is safe to use in your garden and lawn areas, and you’ll likely see a reduction in your water costs as well. Most utility/water bills will have a section that shows overall water usage for one-to-two month cycles, and you may be surprised to find out how much water and money you’ll likely be saving thru conserving and recycling.

Washing machine sewer hookups can also be redirected towards vulnerable areas in your yard; those who have septic systems can also benefit from the redirect method; grey water filling up septic tanks can become costly over time. An average load of laundry requires anywhere between 10 to 20 gallons that can be used elsewhere as grey water.

It’s also important to reuse standing water within a 24 to 48 hour period. The standing water itself can become infected with certain types of bacteria if left alone for too long, which can cause a number of water-borne contagions to form. Also referred to as stagnant water, many different hazards both inside and outside your home can develop. Inside-the-home stagnant water can create airborne mold spores that can affect you and your family’s respiratory systems, while mildew deposits are capable of spreading inside the structure if not taken care of in a timely fashion.

Aside from learning the ins and outs of water treatment and conservation, it’s also a good idea to have some sort of filtration system in place. Although tap water is considered safe to drink, installing a whole house water filter setup can virtually eliminate the chlorine factor, which is something that Zierman Plumbing is more than familiar with. If you have any additional questions regarding water conservation and/or recycling it safely, we’re always a phone call away.