The Greywater Guerrillas
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Other Projects

Direct Greywater:

Branched Drain to Bamboo in Berkeley, CA.

Washing machine to large yard in Arcata, CA

Outdoor pedal-powered washer in Oakland, CA.

How to do drip irrigation with greywater.

Constructed Wetlands:

Tiered wetland -- greywater passed through three wetlands, in Austin, TX.

Small wetland to filter shower and grow cattails for use in Oakland, CA

Pretty wetland and wash water in Oakland CA

Bathtub wetlands -- to treat shower water, in Oakland, CA.

Kitchen sink water garden -- in Los Angeles, CA.

Shower water -- another shower system in Seattle, WA with a surge tank.

Composting Toilets:

The prettiest composting toilet in Oakland, CA.

Elevated indoor composting toilet in Oakland, CA

Rainwater Harvesting:

Desert Pond with Wetland Plants

Constructed 2001, Rhizome Collective: Austin, TX

  • Goals: To grow beautiful wetland and pond plants without using fresh water.
  • Site description: A converted warehouse that houses seven people plus a theater, prison book project, and bicycle workshop. Other infrastructure projects include rainwater harvesting and aquatic agriculture systems; solar, wind and bioremediation projects.
  • Fixtures and output: One washing machine. 4 loads/ week, approximately 200 gallons/week
  • Cost:$100

Water flow:

1. The washing machine's internal pump pumps greywater into an elevated surge tank (not shown).  

2. The water flows by gravity through the tubs.

3. Water flows via moveable hose out in to the garden.  Plants include bulrush, taro, cattail, papyrus, swamp hibiscus, canna lilly and Phragmites reeds.

 When the water leaves it is clear and odorless and is used to surface irrigate plants.

bathtub tower
  • Specifications and Notes: In this hot environment the wetland plants use up a lot of the water. If the goal of the greywater system were to have lots of water to irrigate trees, bushes, or other plants, wetland plants would not be used to filter the greywater.
  • The stacked tubs allow a high level of treatment while conserving limited garden space. The sturdy frame, made from 4x4 posts and 2x4 lumber bolted together, elevates the three tubs to make use of the washing machine's pumping power, and to deliver irrigation water by gravity.  
  • Maintenance and trouble shooting: Occasional weeding of the wetland.  
  • For more information: http://www.rhizomecollective.org/