A residential system that recycles greywater (water from showers, baths and sinks) or harvests rainwater can lead to water savings of about 146,000 litres a year for a four-member family that uses appliances regularly. That’s the equivalent of three aboveground swimming pools. Installing these two systems will reduce annual water consumption by about 33%.

Our recommendations :

1. A greywater recycling system redirects water from the shower, bathtub and sink drains to a tank that is independent from the sewers. This water is then reused in the toilets to save on potable water (ideally all of the toilet water will come from this source). The water has to be filtered and treated, however, to prevent the build-up of bacteria, which would have an impact on resources and water quality. While these systems can be very effective for families, they provide less water savings and therefore less benefit for a single person using a dual flush toilet.
2. Rainwater harvesting systems direct the water from the roof gutters into tanks for storage. It can then be reused for activities that do not require potable water, such as watering the garden, washing the car or supplying toilets. Water that is reused for toilets must be filtered and treated to prevent the build-up of bacteria, which would have an impact on resources and water quality. Harvesting and using rainwater can still save water and reduce the pressure on public utilities.

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