Once measures have been taken to reduce water-use as far as possible, there are a number of more major changes that are often advocated to make buildings more water-efficient and/or to reduce pollution.
Reedbeds
Reedbeds can be installed to help filter and neutralise sewage for households using off-mains sewage systems such as septic tanks.
Rainwater/ Greywater recycling
Rainwater recycling schemes utilise rainwater gathered from the roof to help flush toilets/ for other household uses. Greywater recycling schemes collect bath water etc and use this for flushing of toilets etc. For private domestic use these more technical solutions are not always the best solution on either financial or environmental grounds. A small rainwater recycling system may, for example, have a larger environmental impact (materials, energy use for pumps, energy use by technician to maintain it) than the water use it is saving.
Compost toilets
Compost toilets avoid the use of water entirely in the disposal of human waste and are especially suitable for households that are off-mains water. Of the compost toilets available, it is generally accepted that those with ceramic pans and special-purpose compost chambers are preferable to the stand-alone plastic-moulded variety, which tend not to be as durable or easy to maintain. Compost chambers need quite a lot of space, so may not be always be suitable for conventional private homes.
At Green Building Store we believe that these systems should be specified, designed and preferably installed by specialists who can assess the individual situation and advise accordingly.
For sewage treatment, composting toilets, urinal systems, commercial low water use systems of all types, we recommend Elemental Solutions, Tel: 01981 540728, www.elementalsolutions.co.uk.
Where a rainwater recycling system is appropriate, we recommend the specialist company Rainharvesting Systems Ltd, Tel: 01452 772000, www.rainharvesting.co.uk.
