Grey-water treatment through sand and Gravel Filters

Did you know?

Sand and gravel can naturally clean water without producing CO2 emissions!

This “low tech” solution only applies for water, which is not “heavily” polluted, such as water that has been used for showering, dishwashing, hand washing etc. We call it Grey-water.

In fact, grey-water represents one of the major waste in the household. According to the manual realized by WECF (Women in Europe for a Common Future), “the grey-water amount can be approximated as 75% of the total water consumption of the household”.

But be careful, even though detergents can be cleaned out, it could be quite harmful to your environment if the concentration is too high. Thus, it is recommended to use biodegradable detergents if/when possible.

How does it work?

The grey water has to pass thought a filter called “medium”. This natural filter should be composed of sand and gravel.

According to WECF “the planting of suitable plants like reed is recommended in order to improve aeration and avoid clogging”. The roots itself are absorbing harmful agents such as nitrite and the plants are enhancing your environment, bringing fresh and clean air.

In overall, the system does not need electricity to operate, only by gravity the dusts are filtered and water cleaned.

“The main treatment process encompasses the retention of particles by the filter material and cleaning processes due to biological activity in the biofilm on the sand or gravel.”