Safe reuse of grey waters

Baseline strategy · No score

It recovers water from showers or washbasins for permitted uses through treatment, separate networks and sanitary control.

Subject: WaterContext: Buildings · Housing · HotelsCost: highEffort: highLevel: ambitiousStage: designMaturity: context-dependent
Principle of Reutilización segura de aguas grises
Operating principle

How it works

It recovers water from showers or washbasins for permitted uses through treatment, separate networks and sanitary control.

It applies the hierarchy of understanding, avoiding, reducing, reusing and treating, always maintaining the right quality for each use and health protection.

When does it make sense?

  • With a water balance and significant uses
  • When regulation and health risk allow the solution
  • With clear inspection, treatment and maintenance officers

How to apply it

  1. 1

    Define what needs resolves "safe reuse of grey waters" and establish a starting situation.

  2. 2

    Compare alternatives and adapt design to climate, use, regulation, affected people and available resources.

  3. 3

    Apply with clear responsibilities, check the actual result and correct unwanted effects.

Potential benefits

Reduced demand for drinking water

Less spills and runoff

Increased water resilience

Limitations and precautions

  • The result depends on context, design, execution and how it is used and maintained.
  • Saving water never justifies compromising hygiene or quality.
  • Alternative systems need signage, secure networks, maintenance and risk control.

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