Constructed wetland

• Goals: To reuse water from the washing machine to irrigate a food garden, and to plant beautiful wetland plants.
• Site description: The washing machine is on the second floor of the house. The drain pipes are on the same side of the house as the garden.
• Fixtures and output: Top loading washing machine, 40 gallons/load 2-3 loads per week.
• Cost: used clawfoot bathtub $100, metal for stand $30, 1 1/2" - 2" 3-way valve: $50, additional pipe, adhesive, connectors $40, Gravel $40, Misc. $10 Total: $270
• Designer: Home owner

Washer to utility sinkWater from the washing machine flows into the utility sink. The outflow has a nylon sock filter to catch lint and particles. The utility sink acts as a surge tank for the greywater.

3-way valveThe drain of the utility sink has a 3-Way Jandy diverter valve. The greywater can go either to the sewer or out to the garden. The greywater pipe goes out through the house directly behind the valve (you can't see it in the picture). 

InfiltratorThe greywater pipe flows down the side of the house and into an infiltration area in the bathtub. The rest of the tub is filled with gravel and planted with wetland plants.

greywater hosesTwo greywater lines are attached to the holes in this clawfoot tub where the hot and cold water used to come in. One inch polyethylene line with no emitters takes the greywater by gravity out to the garden.

Wetland bathtub

The finished wetland!

• Specifications and Notes: The greywater provides a source of water to irrigate these beautiful water loving plants. After a few years a second greywater system was included in this systems that bypasses the wetland and irrigates a fruit tree, a few artichokes, and some flowers directly with the greywater. The wetland is still irrigated with greywater in rotation with the other plants.
• Maintenance and trouble shooting: There have been problems with the wetland overflowing. Larger rocks around the inlet may be needed and a larger diameter hose leaving the wetland.