How a greywater system can save you money

The cost of water is rising as water suppliers upgrade their pipes and governments pay for desalination plants.

As the weather becomes hotter - and drier, as has been forecast - you need to cut back on water use.

You can reduce your water consumption in a number of ways with water-saving devices such as efficient shower heads and dual-flush toilets.

Water tanks harvest free rainwater but if there is no rain, why not consider a greywater system to recycle water from the shower, the laundry and the bathroom basin?

Barry Porter, CEO of Nubian Water System, says the average Australian generates around 100 litres of greywater each day.

In fact, around half the water you use is greywater and if you recycle it you can cut new water use by 50%.

There are simple and complex greywater systems, with the simple ones redirecting shower water straight out to the garden, usually underground.

Others involve a high-level filtration system and disinfection so you can reuse the water in the home for toilet flushing, washing clothes and above-ground irrigation.

Australia has one of the toughest sets of regulations for greywater in the world, says Porter. You do need a system with filters to keep the large particles out so they won't clog the pipes.

You also need pumps to distribute the water.

It is best to use garden-friendly biodegradable cleaning products and laundry soap free from or low in sodium and phosphorous.

The more sophisticated greywater systems are not cheap.

Porter says a proper system costs $10,000 to $15,000 to install and can typically treat around 1200 litres a day. You must look at it as an investment for the long term that will pay for itself over the years.

Financial institutions such as the Community First Credit Union offer green loans at low rates to finance the purchase of five-star-rated, environmentally friendly products such as greywater treatment systems, rainwater tanks, solar hot water systems, insulation and double glazing.

Green loans are usually cheaper than personal loans. In Community First's case, the interest rate is the same as the standard variable mortgage rate.

There are no monthly loan account-keeping fees and you can roll the loan into your home loan at a cheaper rate.

It is difficult to generalise about the requirements for installing greywater as they vary from state to state.

Porter says increasingly local councils insist on recycling water systems in new houses, commercial buildings and apartment blocks, to save demand placed on sewage systems and power to pump water.

How to lower your water bill

• Be conscious of the water you use. Don't shave in the shower, and put the dishwasher on the short cycle.
• Install a low-flow shower head. A five-star WELS-rated shower head can save an average household more than $100 each year on water and energy bills and cut greenhouse gas emissions by up to one tonne a year.
• Put in a dual-flush toilet. According to livinggreener.gov.au, an average single-flush toilet costs around $760 over 10 years. In contrast, a water- efficient dual-flush toilet costs around $250 over the same period.
• Buy water-efficient whitegoods such as dishwashers and washing machines with a high star rating under the Australian government's water efficiency labelling scheme. - Consider a front-loading washer. It may cost more but will use less water and detergent. Wash with cold water.
• See livinggreener.gov.au for rebates for water-saving devices.

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