Greywater – The Hidden Water Reserve: A Community-Based Approach to Greywater Treatment and Reuse

Abstract

Growing demand for freshwater, driven by population growth, rapid urbanization, and rising domestic consumption, underscores the need for sustainable water conservation and reuse practices. Greywater, generated from bathing, washing, laundry, and other household activities, is a significant component of domestic wastewater and can be reused for non-potable purposes after appropriate treatment. This study assesses, treats, and reuses greywater using a simple, low-cost, filtration-based prototype developed as part of a community service internship in Kurnool. This study conducted a community survey to understand household water consumption, greywater sources, and awareness of greywater reuse. The study developed a treatment prototype consisting of a mesh screen, sand, gravel, and activated charcoal. The study evaluated water quality before and after treatment using pH, turbidity, total solids, inorganic solids, organic solids, color, electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), and settleable solids. The treatment significantly reduced turbidity, color, organic solids, total solids, and settleable solids. Turbidity decreased from 166 NTU to 9.4 NTU, while color decreased from 50 Hazen to 10 Hazen. The study demonstrates the potential of simple filtration media for community-level greywater treatment. It promotes reusing treated greywater for selected non-potable applications such as gardening, toilet flushing, and cleaning.