Grey Water Systems - Are You Throwing Away A Precious Resource?

GREY WATER SYSTEMS

Recent drought conditions and water restrictions are causing many families to look at different options for making the most of the water they use.

One marvellous way to recycle your water is to install a grey water collection system.

With households producing about 350-450 litres of grey water each day, reuse of this water can lead to substantial savings, in both water and money.

INSTALLING GREY WATER SYSTEMS 

Make sure that you only install an approved grey water system, or it could be costly both money-wise and health-wise. You will probably find that some of the work will need to be done by licensed plumbers, as it involves work on sewer pipes. Grey water storage tanks can be installed underground, under your house in certain situations, or as an outdoor tank. Some grey water systems are gravity fed, and others use pump systems.

This involves collecting grey water from household use, such as washing machines, hand basins, baths and showers- use of dish washing water is not recommended because of the food and grease particles it contains.

The grey water is usually put through a filtration or treatment system, and then reused on the garden, or rerouted back into the house to use for flushing toilets.

Families deciding to recycle grey water need to be aware of what they put into this water. Suitable detergents and personal cleaning products need to be used, as too much of the wrong chemicals can damage plants and contaminate soils.


Germs can survive in gray water, so water used for washing soiled nappies, or while family members are ill, should not be reused. The same goes for showers/baths for little children who might not understand they should not urinate in water that is to be recycled.

Garden watering systems using grey water should ideally be delivered directly to the roots, with underground weeping or dripper systems. Grey water should not be sprayed on the surface of plants, in case of contamination and drifting of water to other areas, and on to people or pets.

It is not recommended that grey water (possibly with the exception of certain treated grey waters) is used on plants that will be eaten, such as fruits and veggies and herbs. Fruit trees are fine, as long as the water doesn't contact the fruit itself. Animals, or children, should not have access to greywater.

You should always contact your local council and state water body, to find out what rules and legislation your area has in regard to installation and use of grey water systems. 

Depending on which type of system you choose, the regulations will be different.

Types of Domestic Grey Water Recycling Systems:

Diversion Only Systems
These are the simplest and easiest to install grey water system. However, as they are not filtered or treated at all they may pose greater hazards, both to health risks and blockage of garden watering systems.

Usually operated as a gravity flow grey water system, they collect household water and flow it directly onto the garden. Diversion only systems will usually require less "red tape".

Diversion and Filtration Systems
These systems strain the household water, filtering hair or other particles. The grey water is then less likely to block garden watering systems. The filter does need cleaning or replacing at times, and they will cost more to install than diversion only systems, but are less likely to cause annoying problems with your garden pipes so may be worth considering. They are also more heavily regulated. 

Diversion and Treatment Systems
The best quality, and least hazardous, grey water is produced by a diversion and treatment system. These use various different methods, such as sand filters or aeration, to treat the water and cut down germs and solid particles.

This water can be used in more direct irrigation systems and also for flushing toilets. Installing one of these systems is much more expensive, and there are ongoing expenses and maintenance. Once again, there is much greater regulation for this type of system.

Installing a grey water collection system would make a great "eco friendly" family DIY project for the handy person and enthusiastic helpers. Just make sure you comply with any regulations and get professional help where required.

The internet is the ideal place to find lots of information, useful tips and product details for the various grey water systems on offer. It also gives easy access to a variety of suppliers, so that you can compare prices and other details, so that you can get the best system and price for your specific needs.

Happy Watering! 

Thinking Green - Our Homes & Beyond

There are a lot of environmentally friendly, or green issues, relating to products used in around the family home, or in our lives further afield.  Here are some things to think about to help you make 'green' decisions and changes!

Cleaning

There are a lot of issues relating to environmentally friendly cleaning around the house, here are a few to consider:
 

Do you know all of the ingredients in your cleaners ? What is the active ingredient in your cleaner ? Does your cleaner cause breathing, eye or skin irritation ? Is your cleaner made from natural ingredients ? What does toxic mean ? Is your cleaner considered a poison ? What are environmentally friendly cleaning products ?

Energy

Energy bills are a concern for any household, therefore the incentive to go for green energy must include a reduction in cost at some point. Not just in green energy or more sustainable energy but in energy usage.

Here are some considerations in relation to reducing energy use as well as using green energy: 

Why do you see more and more solar cells on household roofs ? Is solar power cheaper for my household ? How much does solar power costs to install ? Is solar power affordable ? What is wind power ? Can I power my house with a wind generator ? Is solar power effective ? Can I make money back with solar power ? How much are solar batteries ? Are compact fluorescent lights cheaper to run ? Why can we no longer buy household filament globes in Australia ? How much power is used when a machine is on standby ? What is the household cost of all the items that are on standby for a year ? What energy using devices in your house are on all-the-time ? What are energy star ratings ? How could you more efficiently use a fridge, an oven, a pool ? What situations involve the use of a number of electronic devices at once (video games / dvd ) ? What is the most economical way to run a reverse cycle air conditioner ? What is the most energy efficient way to heat your house, and cool your house ? Does insulation make my home more energy efficient ? What is the energy star rating system ? Can I monitor my electricity use with a meter ? How do roller shutters reduce energy use ? Can heavy curtains reduce my energy use ? Can carpet reduce my heating costs ? Can roof air vents (whirlybirds) reduce my home energy costs ? How do skylights reduce my lighting energy costs ? What are the best practices for an energy efficient home ?

Food

There's a number of green issues that we can take a look at in regards to food. Here are a few to get you started:

What are the most energy efficient ways to heat food ? What are the most energy efficient ways to keep food cold ? Is it better to buy from a supermarket or a fruit and veg store ? How far has your food you buy travelled (what are food miles) ? Are there environmental animal issues with certain foods ? Is is more energy efficient for the family to all eat together ? Do you sit in front of the TV when you eat ? Is your food wrapped in plastic wrap or in a plastic container ? What do the recycle numbers on plastic containers mean ? How do microwave ovens effect your food ? What do your pets eat (if you have any) ? How much rubbish is created by food packaging, bones, other waste ? What are the advantages of being vegan or vegetarian ? Are hormones or antibiotics absorbed through your food ? How much food does not get used and wasted ? Do you compost organic materials ? What is your weekly household food bill ? Do you grow any of your own food ?

Water

Water is the lifeblood of pretty much all living creatures. Water seems abundant, but is clean fresh water available everywhere and to everyone? How do we maintain clean water, and how do we reduce our water usage?

How much water does your household use ? What is the cost of your household water usage ? What are the 3 primary water uses in your house ? Do you recycle any water ? What is grey water ? Can I use grey water at my house ? How much does it cost to set up a grey water system ? How can I save water when showering or bathing ? How can I save water with my pool ? Is water from plastic bottles safe to drink ? How far has your bottled water travelled ? What are low flow water saving devices ? What products are grey water safe ? What type of garden is most water efficient ? Does maintaining a lawn use a lot of water ? What is the most efficient way to water lawn or plants ? How can I harvest rain water ? How much is a rain water tank ? What size rain water tank do I need ? Could I have a dam on my property ? When is the best time to water lawn or plants ? What is the most water efficient way to wash my car ? What are the best dual flush toilet systems ? What are the different solar hot water systems ?

Garden

Having a garden is common to most homes. What are some of the issues we might take into consideration to make these gardens areas more eco friendly or sustainable?

Is lawn the best use of an area ? What is drought resistant lawn ? Do trees need a lot of water ? Are flowers a good use of water ? Does effective use of shade save water ? Can I plant plants in a way that is more efficient ? Can I grow my own food ? What fruit trees should I grow ? What vegetables should I grow ? What is a food forest ? What are the best plants for my region ? What are worm farms ? What is garden mulch ? What are the best drip irrigation systems ? Can I use solar lighting outdoors ?

Technology

Technology can play a part in sometimes making our lives easier. They also play a big part in our energy use.

What can we consider in making our use of technology more environmentally friendly?

How many gadgets do you use everyday ? How many gadgets do you own ? Is a mobile phone really necessary ? How many of your devices contain plastic ? How many of your devices seem outdated after only a year or two ? Are your devices using earth resources that are depleting (touchscreens) ? How many devices require power to operate ? How many devices are on standby ? How many TV's do you have in your house ? Is my fridge and freezer energy efficient ? Does microwaving save more energy than a stove? How many computers are operational in your house, how many devices attached ? Can I print on recycled paper ? Can I use a dimmer switch ? Can a timer save me energy? Should I use electric of gas heating ? Are LCD TV's more energy efficient than CRT TV's ?

Clothing

Your families clothing can also take on environmental friendly considerations. Here are just a few things to consider:

Can I put more clothes on instead of turning on the heating ? Is my clothing made of animal products ? Is my clothing going to last a long time ? Does my clothing contain leather ? What are some of the reasons leather might be a concern ? Can I wash my clothing in cold water ? What is the best way to dry my clothes ? What happens to the water after I clean my clothes ? What is the active ingredient in clothes washing products ? What is environmentally friendly stain removal ? Is it better to buy locally made clothes ? Could I make some of my own clothes ?

Waste

Household waste is always a growing concern with more and more rubbish being generated every day, week, month, year. This of course has a huge environmental impact as it has to be dumped somewhere.
Here are some things to consider in relation to household waste:

How much rubbish does my household put in the bin each week ? Where does that rubbish go ? Do I have a recycling bin ? What goes in the recycling bin ? What contains more, the recycling bin or the waste bin ? What do they do at recycling plants ? Are some plastic drinking bottles toxic when re-used ? If you had to keep all of your own rubbish on your own property, would you create less ? What is the 'Great Pacific Garbage Patch' ? How long does it take for plastics to break down ?

Travel

Does travel effect the environment? Are there greener ways to travel? Of course, let's ask ourselves some questions about the effects of travel:

On average how many people travel in your car ? What is the shortest distance you will travel by car ? Can cars run on energy other than oil based fuels ? What is peak oil ? Does transporting food from another country add to the cost ? How much carbon emission is jet plane responsible for ? Which is more green, electric trains or diesel ? What are food miles ? What is a hybrid car ? What is an electric car ? How efficient is an electric car ? How much do hybrid cars cost ? How much do electric cars cost ? Does your city or region support bike tracks and lanes ? How might we travel in the future when oil becomes to expensive ?

Business

Many of the ways business can go green are the same ways household can go green, however here are some issues to think about relating to business:

Can my business be green and profitable ? Does my business generate excessive amounts of carbon ? What are carbon trading schemes ? Does your business use excessive amounts of energy (power, oil) ? How can I offset my flight ? Is the business generating excessive amounts of waste ? Is my business sustainable into the future ? How does my business effect the environment ? What can a business do to enhance the environment ? Does your business support environmental projects ? How can your business use recycled paper ? Can your business use solar power ? How can your business reduce its lighting ? Can my business use electric vehicles ? What is my businesses carbon footprint ?

A Lens on Nature

Photographic Projects Capturing The Wonders of Nature


Nature makes a marvellous photography subject, so here are a few ideas for going out and capturing the natural world with your camera.


Spirit of Endurance

A famous photographer, Harold Cazneaux, once took a photograph of a huge old gum tree in Australia, that had battled on and survived through fires, drought, the coming of white man and no doubt much more. 

He called it “The Spirit of Endurance.”

It won the photographic competition he entered it in and brought him much acclaim.

If you ever get a chance, you can still visit this magnificent gum tree, with a display containing a copy of his photograph and some information.  It is located in the Flinders Ranges, just outside of Wilpena SA. 

It is your task to make a display of photographs showing things in nature which display “The Spirit of Endurance”. Things that have survived against odds… things that are fighting for survival. 

This could be photos of plants that are growing in amazing places… where you wouldn’t think they could grow… or at incredible angles out of cliffs etc.

Maybe photos of insects or animals surviving in harsh or polluted environments.

Perhaps photos of very elderly people, or people who have survived through immense trauma or difficulties.

Photograph whatever you can think of to fit the theme.

When you have your photos selected and printed, create your “The Spirit of Endurance” display.

It may be in a scrapbook, a collage of photos on a poster or several individually framed pictures.

You could even display the photos on your computer, using a program such as PowerPoint.

Label each picture with its location and how it gives you the impression of having “The Spirit of Endurance.”

Infinite Diversity

Within one type of thing, there is incredible variety! 

Choose a theme to delve into, and take photos to represent the amazing diversity within the theme. 

Your theme should relate to nature... for example, don’t choose cars.

Your theme should ideally be one thing, or collective things that make up a particular theme.

Some suggestions:

• Trees
• Rocks
• Wetlands or Rivers
• Mountains
• Flowers
• Leaves
• Creature homes
• Webs
• Clouds
• Sunsets
• Moon scenes
• Cats or another specific animal



You can choose to work on more than one theme if you like.

After you have printed your chosen photos, display them.

You may choose to make a poster type collage of pictures, or individually framed photos. Or maybe a display folder or scrapbook.

You could even use a display on your computer, using a program such as PowerPoint.

Label your photos, including location, and some comments on the diversity you have found.

Hidden Beauty 

Things of great beauty can be hidden where they are not immediately obvious. Just like a pearl in an oyster, you can find amazing things under, inside or otherwise obscured from immediate view.  

Your task is to take photos of some of the hidden beauties and wonders you can find.

• Photos of things growing in hidden spots, inside logs, in rock crevices etc.
• Things growing inside something, like a sprout inside its seed.
• Or a butterfly in its chrysalis… Don’t open! Just the outer view is fine.
  Though if you can also get it emerging later, great!
• Photograph things under something… like a beautiful beetle or tiny skink.
  Take care when looking under things… Spiders or even snakes could live there!
• Photos of a fascinating or very pretty rock, hidden under a coating of soil, or crystals hidden on the inside of a plain looking rock.
• Photos of underground wonders, such as caves.

No doubt you will come up with many other ideas you have for suitable photos.

Once you have printed your chosen photos, create your display.

This might be a scrapbook, poster type collage of photos, or maybe individually framed pictures.

You could even use a display on your computer, using a program such as Microsoft PowerPoint.

Label your photos with location and any relative details.

Sunrise, Sunset

 Sunrises and sunsets are magical! 

Make a series of sunrise photos, and a series of sunset photos. 

Do it each day, if possible, for several days, from the same location.

Display your photos, with information including:

• Whether it is a sunrise or sunset photo
•  Time each photo was taken
• Location of photo
•  Weather conditions
  

Record your thoughts on the differences in appearance between sunrises and sunsets. Which do you like best?  Why? 

What effect does the weather have on sunrises and sunsets?

You could also do a photographic record of sunrises and sunsets as above, but using a different location for each.

Natures Magic: A Different Light

Many good photographs use light as an important feature.

Your task is to take a selection of photos of nature, enhanced by light.

You may like to choose one scene and photograph it at different times of day to show the changing light, or on days where the light is different because of sun, clouds, mist etc.

You may like to do a series of sunset or sunrise photos.

You might choose to photograph reflection off water.

Or the sun glinting off water or other shiny surfaces.

This can also be made interesting by the use of a photographic star filter, if you have one.

You may like to do a series of photographs of different coloured light reflecting off the clouds.

Or maybe photos using moonlight.

Or the light from stars “star trails” with time lapse photography.

The possibilities are many.

Once you have printed out your chosen photos, make up your display.

Maybe a scrapbook, a poster type collage of photos, or individually framed photos.

You could even use a display your photos on your computer, using a program such as PowerPoint.

Label your photos with the location, relevant facts such as time of day, weather conditions etc., and what the “feel” of the photo is to you.

Colours of the Earth 

When looking at the Earth you may just think that it is brown… or green if covered with vegetation… but there is actually an immense variety of hues if you look for them. 

Your task is to take photos showing this great variation. 

Find areas where there are different soil colours, or the vegetation gives a different coloured impression. 

You might find colours varying from white sand, pebbles, red earth, yellowish earth, brown or almost black earth, and all kinds in between.  Take photos showing this variety.

  
Plants may give a pale or dark green impression, silvery or white, or blue or olive green and many other shades.

A very mossy area, or bright orange lichen, will colour an area.

If there’s a mass of flowers or coloured leaves they will dominate the scene.  Photograph this amazing kaleidoscope of colour!

Once you have chosen and printed your photos, create your display.

It may be in a scrapbook, a collage of photos on a poster or several individually framed pictures.

You could even display your photos on your computer, using a program such as PowerPoint.

Label your photos with location, the predominate colouring shown and any other details you would like to include.

An idea to add something a bit extra to your display, is to collect a sample of each coloured soil, and to display these with the photos, or even create a frame by gluing the soil onto a card border for each photo.

You could take leaf samples from the vegetation areas (if allowed) and press these, or microwave dry them (this often retains colour better) and use these in your photo display too.

Colour My World 

The world around us is made up of a myriad of different colours and hues, some of them obvious and in-your-face, others more subtle or almost unnoticed amongst stronger colours. 

Choose a colour and create a photographic display to represent it. Get out and about with your camera! Try to get all kinds of variations of the colour, both in different shades and different intensities and textures.

Here's a few simple suggestions to get you started:

GREEN
Leaves, Lichen, Moss, Water, Hills, Enviro Bags, Tree Frogs, Lorikeet

BLUE
Water, Sky, Blue Loo Toilet Cleaner, Budgie, Azurite, Ford Logo, Eyes

RED
Fire Engine, Post Box, Car, Robin, Hibiscus, Holden Blimp, Rose, Traffic Light

ORANGE
Sunset, Fire, Marigold, Monarch Butterfly, An Orange, Glowing Cliffs, Autumn leaves

YELLOW
Sunflower, Duckling, Custard, A Lemon, A Crayon, Daisies, Cheese 

WHITE
Clouds, Shell, Rabbit, Lily, Snow, Rice, Flour, Cottage Cheese

BLACK
Night Sky, Cat, Desk Chair, Licorice,  Leather,  Paint,  T-shirt, Beetle

Be creative and imaginative... use something a bit different, something unexpected.

Make a collage poster, or a PowerPoint presentation, or whatever you feel is the best way to display your work.

You could then try the process again with a different colour. This could even develop into an ongoing project to cover as many colours as possible. Don't be afraid to add photographs to each display if you find something that fits in nicely, at a later stage.

The Advantages Of Good Garden Mulch

MULCH FOR YOUR GARDEN - NATURE'S BLANKET 

Mulch is a very important component of a healthy garden, and particular important in our harsh Australian climate, especially in times of drought and summer months.

Mulch has numerous benefits to your garden

• Helps retain moisture, prevents evaporation.

• Stops soil from blowing, or washing, away.

• Organic mulch adds necessary soil components as it decomposes.

• Cuts down weeds, by blocking light needed for weed seeds to germinate- this also applies to seeds you wish to plant, so don't mulch heavily until plant seeds have well and truly sprouted.

• Weeds also pull up out of soft mulch much more easily than soil, especially if it becomes compacted.

• Keeps soil temperature more consistent- insulates against cold and heat.

• Helps lessen soil borne fungal diseases reaching plants.

• Keeps garden beds looking neater and natural.
  
  
  
  Garden Mulching Tips

• Weed area first.

• Don't mulch too close to tree trunks or plant stems, or they may rot.

• Don't mulch heavily where you have planted seeds or tiny seedlings.

Types of garden mulches:

Organic Mulches

Made of natural, organic materials, organic mulches add nutrients to the soil as they decompose.


COMPOST - Compost is like food for the soil! Making your own compost is a great use for vegetable and garden scraps.

It can also be covered with another form of mulch for a more attractive appearance, if desired.

LAWN CLIPPINGS - These can be added to the compost making process, or used as mulch as is. High in nitrogen, so great for veggie patches. Allow to dry first and don't apply to thickly. Don't use lawn clippings which have been sprayed with any type of poison, and be careful not to include any runners from running grasses, or these will often take root and grow in your garden.

LEAVES - Once again, these can be pre-composted, or used as mulch as is. Partially decomposed or crumpled leaves are best, as they don't blow away as easily or mat. Pine needles can be used for the right kind of plants. some gardeners find that they help discourage slugs, as the little creatures don't find crawling over the spiky needles pleasant- makes sense!

SAWDUST - Older sawdust is best for garden mulch. If plants show signs of nitrogen lack, add a nitrogen rich fertilisers.

WOOD CHIPS - Very attractive mulch. Once again, aged chips are better, to safeguard from toxins and fungal contamination.

BARK - Another eye pleasing and long lasting mulch. Eucalyptus and pine bark are commonly used.

STRAW/PEA STRAW- Probably best used as mulch in veggie gardens and similar planting situations. Adds good nutrients to the soil as it decomposes rather quickly.

TOPSOIL - Good topsoil sold at garden centres etc can be an excellent addition, as it contains lots of organic matter which helps insulate, retain moisture, and provide nutrients as it decomposes- everything you want in a mulch. However, make sure that you are buying good quality topsoil!

MANURE - Dry, well rotted manure is a good addition. If it is at the right stage, smell should not be a problem. You can add it to your compost or use as is. Cover with another more attractive mulch if the sight does not appeal.

NEWSPAPER - Sheets or shredded newspaper (uncoloured ink), which is, of course, made from wood, can be very useful in the garden, especially under other more attractive mulch. Great for cutting down weed growth. Ideal for veggie gardens too.

Inorganic Mulches (man-made)

Made from man-made materials, these work well at their mulching job, are long lasting (sometimes almost forever), but do not add anything useful to the soil.

RECYCLED RUBBER - Made from 100% recycled rubber, this is safe long-lasting and natural-looking. Rubber mulch helps retain moisture, controls weeds, moderates soil temperature. Available in various natural shades, to imitate the appearance of bark. Doesn't blow away easily, and works efficiently so a lesser depth is needed.

PLASTIC SHEET - warms the soil, which accelerates plant growth. Stops water escaping and weeds from growing. As it is waterproof, irrigation needs to be done from underneath. Can overheat roots, or retain too much moisture, so caution is required. Plastic is well suited for use in vegetable gardens.

SCORIA/STONES/GRAVEL - Neat, but less natural appearance. Good mulch for a specific landscaping style. Very long lasting mulch. Be careful that pieces don't get into your lawn, or they can be a danger in lawn mowing. Offers a neat appearance but may not blend with every landscape design. They offer some weed control.

WEED MAT - Good for controlling weed growth. Allows moisture and air to reach plant roots. Can be covered with bark or scoria etc for appearance.


LIVING SOILS - The Key to abundant plant growth!