Greywater Reuse Systems
Recycle water
For huge water conservation gains, use the same water more than once! Greywater reuse systems collect water from showers/bathtubs, bathroom sinks, and clothes washers. Then, under current regulations, it can be reused outdoors for irrigation use, or brought back inside for toilet flushing - replacing potable water usage.
How low can you go?
So just how much water could you save? In a typical residential home, the greywater volume equates to about 50% of the indoor water use. Think about all that water being available for irrigation!
Greywater-ready new construction
If you are building a new home or thinking about remodeling your existing home, adding a greywater reuse system can be one of the best decisions you can make. Why? Because once you single plumb your house, you most likely won’t be able to install a whole-house greywater reuse system in the future.
Retrofitting existing construction
The simplest and least expensive greywater reuse system is a Laundry-to-Landscape system. While municipalities are trying to make greywater system regulations more sensible, there are still many intrigues of current regulations. Cactus Rain will ensure your system is designed and installed to code.
If plumbing is accessible, such as in a crawl space or from a second floor, it might be possible to capture greywater from more fixtures.
Curious about adding greywater reuse to your new build, remodel, tiny home, or septic project? Let's get a conversation started.
Design & Consulting
We provide design and consulting services for greywater reuse systems on residential and small commercial projects.
Greywater systems can become a maintenance nightmare if not designed properly. Contact Cactus Rain for full design services.
We always try to use the simplest, lowest maintenance systems, and to optimize
according to your desired water conservation goals.
Installation
While municipalities are trying to make greywater system regulations more sensible, there are still many nuances of current regulations.
Cactus Rain will ensure your system is designed and installed to code.
- Laundry to Landscape
- Gravity Irrigation
- Advanced Filtration
Service & Maintenance
We offer a range of maintenance, inspection, and testing services that complement our installed systems, or help you diagnose issues with your existing greywater recycling system.
- System Assessment
- Annual Maintenance Contracts
- Upgrades and Repairs
- Water Testing
Products
Conserve water. Add luxury, beauty, and plants.
LeapFrog Design’s Estuary is a plant-powered household water recycling system. On the surface, a modern planter box full of vibrant plants adds beauty to your home. Inside, plants and microbes clean water from sinks, showers, and washing machines so you can use it again for flushing toilets and irrigation.
How much does a Greywater Recycling System typically cost?
Here are some indicative price ranges of different system types and sizes.
These price ranges apply to residential projects only.
Gravity Irrigation Systems
<$1,000
- DIY L2L Kit
$2,000 to $3,000
- Fully installed L2L system and mulch basins
$2,500 to $5,000
- Branched Drain system and mulch basins
Filtered, Pumped Systems
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- Because of maintenance difficulties and poor satisfaction, Cactus Rain does not offer DIY filtered systems at this time.
$5,000 to $10,000
- LeapFrog Estuary
Our Process
Contact & Initial Discussion
After you contact us, we will ask a bit more about your project to make sure our services are a good fit. During the phone consultation, we will be able to discuss:
- Your goals and objectives
- Intended use of rainwater/greywater
- Potential volume of water
- Timeline
- Budget/ costs
- Next steps
- and much more...
Initial consult is free
Remote Consultation
If you are located far from our office in the East Mountains of New Mexico, or if you are just exploring options right now, you can email us your house plans, site pictures, etc., and we will create a "getting started" design guide for you.
$195 Remote consultation
On-Site Consultation & Estimate
...Then we visit your project!
Our consultation and site analysis includes:
- Site assessment
- Soil typing
- Indoor water use audit
- Rainwater harvesting sizing report
- Irrigation sizing report
- Property-specific considerations and recommendations
- Multiple design and equipment options, including estimated costs
- Local rebates and incentives
We have a passion for educating people about the systems we design. Our on-site consultation is essentially an educational and personalized design session where we work through all of the various options for your optimized and cost-effective system. It takes time and research to do this, so we do charge a fee for the on-site consultation.
- $495 On-site consultation & estimate
- $295 Certified slope + topography map (required for some permitting jurisdictions)
- Water Testing
$250 L2L install-only consultation
Greywater Install
If the system design is right for you, then we will send you a contract for the complete install work.
Greywater Installs include:
- Site plans,
- Permit applications
- Operation & Maintenance Manual,
- Collection and Distribution piping,
- Mulch basins (as applicable),
- All necessary components,
- Licensed plumber (as applicable)
Start Saving Water!
Recycling greywater is a great way to reduce water waste and promote sustainability. For huge water conservation gains, use the same water more than once. Greywater reuse systems collect water from showers/bathtubs, bathroom sinks, and clothes washers. Then, under current regulations, it can be reused outdoors for irrigation, or brought back inside for toilet flushing - replacing potable water usage. In a typical residential home, the greywater volume equates to about 50% of the indoor water use. Think about all that water being available for irrigation!
Regulations in New Mexico are supportive of rainwater harvesting and greywater recycling. Although the State does not require a permit for most residential greywater irrigation, note that the City of Santa Fe requires a state permit, and Bernalillo County requires a variance. In the rest of New Mexico, these systems may not require a permit, but they must still comply with the applicable regulations.
Water from showers, laundry, and bathroom sinks is relatively clean and suitable for reuse. Water from the kitchen sink and dishwasher are not currently allowed in New Mexico, but these regulations may be updated soon. Avoid Black Water: Black water (containing human waste or toxic chemicals) should never be reused unless treated by an approved Advanced Treatment System.
Not all plants are equally suitable for greywater irrigation, but many can thrive with recycled greywater. Fruit trees like citrus, apple, and peach trees and flowering shrubs like lavender and salvia are great for greywater irrigation. NM regulations say to avoid irrigating edible plants other than fruits and nuts with greywater.
Plant-friendly products are key when reusing your greywater to irrigate a landscape. All products should be biodegradable, non-toxic, and low in salt. Avoid laundry detergents containing boron, chlorine bleach, hydrogen peroxide, and optical brighteners that are harmful to plants and the soil. Also skip fabric softeners; replace them with wool balls in the dryer. There are a range of plant-friendly, biodegradable liquid or strip detergents available in most stores or online.
If you are building a new home or thinking about remodeling your existing home, adding a greywater reuse system can be one of the best decisions you can make. Why? Because once you single plumb your house, you most likely won’t be able to install a whole-house greywater reuse system in the future.
Diverting greywater away from septic drain fields and instead recycling it for use elsewhere on the property, such as in bathrooms or gardens, reduces the amount of water put through the septic system.
Research show that diverting greywater for irrigation has little effect in a well-functioning septic system, and actually helps extend the life of a poorly functioning, undersized, or failing septic tank and drain field because it decreases the amount of wastewater the septic system has to process (called "reduced hydraulic loading").
By introducing a greywater recycling system, not only are resources being conserved but also less maintenance is required for optimal functioning of a septic system.
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PROS OF GREYWATER SYSTEMS |
CONS OF GREYWATER SYSTEMS |
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· Greywater is produced every day, all year long, and is a reliable source of irrigation. · Simple systems recycle tens of thousands of gallons a year for a relatively low cost. · Systems take up little space: often, all the pipes are buried and invisible. · It’s easy to irrigate fruit trees, shrubs, and large annuals and perennials. · It’s an automatic system, saving time and ensuring plants get watered. · It reduces wastewater going to the sewer or septic system. · Greywater mulch basins improve soil bioactivity and decompaction. |
· Accessing greywater may be challenging, depending on how your house and landscape are designed. · Requires use of “plant-friendly” products in the house. · Small plants, or plants spread out over a large area, are more difficult to irrigate with the simplest systems, though pumped and filtered systems will work.
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