Greywater system for storage?

[Julianna]

I was wondering if anyone stores water (greywater specifically) for use during droughts? We wanted to reuse as much water as we could but it would.need to be stored and that looks like it doesn't fit the scenarios I am reading about. I was wondering if it really means two methods will need to be used... Like an initial filtering and chlorine treatment of greywater and then switch to looking at storing runoff or something similar? Any thoughts? For reference the reason we are looking into this is mega water shortages coupled with no rain for 6-8 months out of the year in a country that mostly relies on rainwater for all water uses in the household.

[habitat-gardener]

I don't have an answer to your questions, just a few random thoughts...

In California, it's illegal to store greywater. Even outdoors for landscape use! It can get really stinky. And the greywater that is legal is laundry, bathtub/shower water, and bathroom sink hand washing, not any kitchen water. I do know of someone who plumbed a vegetable-washing sink that was diverted to greywater, but they did that after the plumbing inspection. Most of the greywater systems I know of are intended for fruit-tree watering, or for riparian plants that can take a weekly (or more) flood.

One low-tech hack is to store greywater in buckets and use it for toilet flushing, assuming there are flush toilets (which seems such a waste if there are massive water shortages!). There are Japanese toilets that incorporate a hand-washing sink on top, and that water is used for flushing.

Since Jordan relies on rainwater for almost all water needs, every household must have humongous rainwater storage tanks? I briefly researched rainwater storage when some communities were offering rebates on 50-gallon rain barrels. I learned that unless you can install an underground tank that can hold thousands of gallons, you won't be able to sustain a vegetable garden through a dry summer with rainwater.

[bower]

I think chlorine treatment would be a problem for plants. So they say:
https://elemental.green/complete-beginn ... r-systems/

Instead of storing the grey water, what about using perennials in the landscape, which help to retain moisture in the ground. Just imagining some climate suitable perennials that could be surrounding your vegetable garden, and holding the grey water moisture from daily use. I think this would make a big difference to your veggie plot, even though you have to water it.
The standard greywater approach would work well for tree crops, afaict. Fruits, nuts?

[Julianna]

I don't have an answer to your questions, just a few random thoughts...

In California, it's illegal to store greywater. Even outdoors for landscape use! It can get really stinky. And the greywater that is legal is laundry, bathtub/shower water, and bathroom sink hand washing, not any kitchen water. I do know of someone who plumbed a vegetable-washing sink that was diverted to greywater, but they did that after the plumbing inspection. Most of the greywater systems I know of are intended for fruit-tree watering, or for riparian plants that can take a weekly (or more) flood.

One low-tech hack is to store greywater in buckets and use it for toilet flushing, assuming there are flush toilets (which seems such a waste if there are massive water shortages!). There are Japanese toilets that incorporate a hand-washing sink on top, and that water is used for flushing.

Since Jordan relies on rainwater for almost all water needs, every household must have humongous rainwater storage tanks? I briefly researched rainwater storage when some communities were offering rebates on 50-gallon rain barrels. I learned that unless you can install an underground tank that can hold thousands of gallons, you won't be able to sustain a vegetable garden through a dry summer with rainwater.

This would be for Jordan so California laws wouldn't apply. They do have giant cisterns. They divert all the roof rainwater into them and they usually have two 4 cubic meter tanks for that buried. But then they sell and have additional 2-4 cu m tanks. Nothing is ever chlorinated here. They traditionally garden without irrigation. It is not necessary for vegetables but some fruits need a bit if you want them. What we wanted was to not dip into purchased water for irrigation. You use your cisterns for drinking and then the purchased water in tanks for household.

[Julianna]

I think chlorine treatment would be a problem for plants. So they say:
https://elemental.green/complete-beginn ... r-systems/

Instead of storing the grey water, what about using perennials in the landscape, which help to retain moisture in the ground. Just imagining some climate suitable perennials that could be surrounding your vegetable garden, and holding the grey water moisture from daily use. I think this would make a big difference to your veggie plot, even though you have to water it.
The standard greywater approach would work well for tree crops, afaict. Fruits, nuts?

This would be for trees mostly and some bushes with small hits to the veggie garden. Veggies don't need irrigation even though we do it in the Western world if you start them at the right time here but we also know how.much bigger it makes things and more productive.

I was reading up and the consensus seems to be pool water is ok but you have to test it aftrr a period of time and wait for the pH to drop as the chlorine evaporates.

[Cole_Robbie]

Chlorine, and much more commonly in the US, chloramine, are both reactive with organic matter. Vitamin c powder is one common way to treat water for people to drink. Anything would work for a plant, I would guess, maybe a powdered humic or fulvic acid would be good.