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Thursday, May 14, 2015

DIY Laundry to Landscape Greywater System, Vodka Hacks & More





 

Poor Man Survival

Self Reliance tools for independent minded people…


 

ISSN 2161-5543

A Digest of Urban Survival Resources

 "Of all the so-called natural human rights that have ever been invented,
liberty is least likely to be cheap and is never free of cost."

-- Robert A. Heinlein

 

 


Laundry to Landscape Greywater System

This design and much of the information contained within are borrowed from Art Ludwig's website: OasisDesign.net. That website has more in-depth information and alternative designs for different systems. I highly recommend that you visit that site and donate via their tip jar so that they can keep designing! Oasis also sells a book and DVD. I'm happy to take down this instructable if they have a problem with it.

Help me make this instructable better by commenting!

What is greywater?

Greywater is wastewater, excluding human waste, from your home that you can reuse, in this case to irrigate landscape. Greywater is wonderful for many reasons, including:

* Reduced freshwater use

* Reduced chemical and energy use from conventional wastewater treatment

* Effective treatment in soil

* Groundwater recharge

* Reclamation of otherwise wasted plant nutrients

A greywater laundry system is an easy and affordable way to implement this technology in your own home. According to the EPA, 21% of the average american home's indoor water use is with a clothes washing machine, so it's a significant amount of the water.

Greywater has been legal in California since 2009. Laundry systems that follow certain requirements of the plumbing code don't require a permit, but your municipality may have additional restrictions.

Before implementing greywater, consider doing easier and cheaper water conservation measures: fixing leaks, installing low flow fixtures, changing habits, etc.

Step 1: Site Analysis and System Design


Spend some time looking at your site and determining what plants you want to irrigate. Matching your greywater system to existing irrigation zones means you'll be able to dial back that area's irrigation or turn it off completely to realize water savings.

The washer pump can handle moving water any reasonable distance downhill, or up to 2' below the top of the washer 100' away. Perennial plants like fruit trees have more established root systems and are more able to find the water easily. Non-root vegetables can be irrigated with greywater if the emitter is close enough to the plant. They usually will need supplemental irrigation during establishment.

Having your washing machine in a room with an exterior wall is ideal.


Don't Get Caught Doing
These Things in Your Yard

Whoa! I'm not talking about planting skunkweed or doing a nude rain dance in your yard! I'm talking about those budget busting habits that can drain your wallet faster than a nest of termites can chew through a woodpile. Here are 10 things you definitely don't want to get caught doing in your yard this summer.

 

 


 

10 Ways to Get a Discount With Your Online Shopping


 

13 Vodka Hacks That Will Make Your Life So Much Better (And None Involve Drinking!)


https://www.yahoo.com/makers/13-vodka-hacks-that-will-c1431381845728.html


 

Our Weekly Roundup of Goodies to Use & Share

2015 Consumer Action Handbook Now Available


The "bible" of every consumer office in the country is the Consumer Action Handbook because it is a comprehensive consumer directory. It lists both corporate and government consumer offices countrywide, and it provides helpful tips to solve various types of consumer complaints. The 2015 edition is hot off the press (and is free).


DIY Solar Generator Plans – Free


 

Recycle Egg Cartons into Firestarters


 

Cheap dates and family activities
read more here               

Reducing the cost of pet care
read more here

 



 

Yours for better living,

Bruce ‘the Poor Man’

 

NOTE:  You can “tip” the Poor Man for his years of providing noteworthy resources by making a donation at the top of this page using the PayPal tab!

 

Books, Art, Video – the saucy, the odd, the retro, even the practical…
 


 

 
 

A Shallow Planet Production

1 comment:

DAR said...

Another hit! Thanks again for providing such useful information and yes, we made a donation as you offer such a solid public good.