With water cuts and restrictions now routine in Johannesburg, the water running down your shower drain looks increasingly like a wasted resource. Greywater recycling puts it back to use — here's how it works and what to plan for.
What greywater is
Greywater is lightly-used water from showers, baths and basins — not toilets or kitchen sinks (that's contaminated blackwater). It can be diverted and reused for garden irrigation, cutting your municipal water use.
Is it safe?
Lightly-used greywater is generally fine for established gardens and lawns when used promptly (not stored long) and with garden-friendly, low-sodium soaps. Avoid using it on raw-eaten edibles or storing it for long periods. A correctly designed system keeps it safe and odour-free.
Does it save money?
Yes — on a metered supply, reusing shower and basin water for irrigation reduces your bill and keeps the garden alive through cuts and restrictions. The saving scales with household size and garden.
Do it properly
Basic diversion can be simple, but a safe system needs correct routing, filtering, a diverter back to the sewer for when you don't want to irrigate, and protection against contaminating your drinking supply. We design compliant greywater and pair it with backup water and filtration. Ask us about a greywater setup.