Gray Water Recycling

What is gray water? Any water that has been used in the hotel, except water from toilets, is called gray water. Shower, sink, dish, and laundry water typically comprise 50-80% of "waste" water. This may be reused, in some locations, for other purposes, especially landscape irrigation.

The importance of using gray water is that it reduces the amount of treated water that should be saved for drinking and bathing, rather than for irrigating your landscape. The benefits of gray water recycling include:

Gray water purification isn't legal everywhere, so research it as an option before planning on it. With time and education, politicians will change laws prohibiting gray water recycling, but for now, it's not always an option. Visit the Gray Water Policy Center to learn more about policy in your area.