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Watson Wick
Photo Credit: Watson Wick

Firstly, you will need a three-foot deep trench that is layered with 18-24 inches of gravel or pumice covered by 6-12 inches of topsoil. The larger your family, the longer the trench will need to be. On one side of the system, you will have an infiltrator tank that is floorless in order to capture the wastewater and begin the filtering process. The trench needs to be built off contour so that the wastewater will filter through the system.

cold weather greywater
Photo Credit: The Tiny Life

Water-loving plants are then densely planted in the top soil on top of the trench. Calla lilies, horsetail, cattails, elephant ear, and scarlet swamp hibiscus are unique vegetation that thrives on large amounts of water. This unique landscaping will benefit from the excessive nutrient load and will function as a mini wetland ecosystem that will attract a diversity of wildlife near your home. Fruit trees can also be planted at the tail end of the system. Their roots will also take up the extra nutrients and there won’t be any risk of pathogen transmission as the capillary system in the tree will filter out any pathogen that might still be present in the soil.

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Article By

Tobias Roberts

Tobias runs an agroecology farm and a natural building collective in the mountains of El Salvador. He specializes in earthen construction methods and uses permaculture design methods to integrate structures into the sustainability of the landscape.

Tobias Roberts