Installation
How much water do I need in my cistern?
This depends on the type of toilet and cistern. Older model toilets generally require more water to flush properly than more modern ones which typically only require about 6 litres of water to flush everything away as the design of the flushing mechanism and hydraulics of the toilet bowl are more efficient. One should place the cistern float switch in a position that allows the cistern to fill to its optimum level for flushing which can be done through a bit of trial and error if necessary.
Does grey water not have a bad odour?
Yes, it can, especially if left to stand for prolonged amounts of time. This is why it is best not to use too large a sump tank to store the water – about 50 litres per shower/toilet is usually sufficient, as then the grey water gets used up reasonably quickly. The odour can typically be worse when the cistern is filling and if it proves too bothersome, a thin film of silicone placed on the join between the cistern and its lid can prevent the odours escaping – place the film on the top of the cistern and allow it to dry first before putting the lid on as otherwise it will seal the lid on the cistern. Using a toilet bowl fragrance/colouring block serves the purpose of both countering bad odours and colouring the water a more pleasing colour. The block typically lasts about 6 weeks for the average toilet and they can be purchased at most supermarkets.
Does grey water not have an unsightly colour – hence “grey” water?
Yes, and using a toilet bowl fragrance/colouring block, as in the answer above, typically colours the water so that you hardly notice the difference between grey water and municipal water in the toilet bowl.
Shouldn’t I just extract grey water from my large 500 litre holding tank for flushing my toilet?
This is possible of course, however the longer grey water stands the more odourous it can become so unless the holding tank is being emptied almost daily it, is better to cycle the grey water through smaller tanks of about 50 litres to ensure that it does get used up daily.
Can I let the overflow from the 50 litre holding tank flow out onto my flowerbeds or lawn?
Yes, this would be preferable to having it overflow to the sewer or soakaway, and by having the water cycle often by using a relatively small tank it will mostly be relatively recently produced grey water that will overflow which helps prevent it becoming too odorous.
How often do I need to clean the filters?
This depends very much on how quickly they become blocked. Typically, they will only need rinsing every 6 months but if the transfer of the grey water to the cistern slows substantially then it indicates that the pump filter needs rinsing out. Similarly, if the shower isn’t draining easily and the overflow indicator LED (light Emitting Diode) on the cistern panel isn’t on, it is likely that the main inlet overflows filter has become clogged and will need rinsing out. A quick visual inspection of this filter in the sump tank while the shower is draining will identify whether this is the problem.
How do I remove and clean the filters?
The pump filter is simply slid off the pump inlet pipe and rinsed out somewhere where the debris doesn’t get to return to the sump tank (i.e. not in the bathroom basin if it is attached to the shower drain) and the main inlet filter can easily be taken out of the filter and also rinsed to remove the debris. Both filters need to be replaced before either showering or flushing the toilet to prevent debris clogging the pump.