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Post Info TOPIC: Is water from a washing machine "Grey water"?
iana


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Is water from a washing machine "Grey water"?
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Setting up the drain hoses on the van, the kit included a 25mm connector and a 38mm connector. Not taking too much notice of the maze of pipe work at that stage, I brought the 25mm OK, then went searching for the 38mm, and guess what the only supplier was Jayco. So $75 poorer I went to fit, but before I unwrapped the hose I traced the 38mm pipe back under the van and found it was the water drain from the washing machine. The 38mm pipe comes up and the drain for the washing machine drops into it, a kind of stand pipe. If the exterior hose got blocked or kinked, the water from the machine would over flow in the van.

The hose is going to be taken back for refund, and I will make up a balance tank to sit on the ground and run a 25mm hose from that, that will ensure that there is no chance of a back flow into the van. But why can't this water go into the grey water tank, and does anyone else have this 38mm hose set up?



-- Edited by iana on Sunday 31st of January 2016 10:17:44 AM

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03_Troopy


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Yes, it is Grey Water.

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Baz421


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03_Troopy wrote:

Yes, it is Grey Water.

Agree.

You may find that the MINIMUM hose size for the washing machine outlet is 38mm ie matched to the pump performance. 



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iana


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The outlet from the washing machine is only 1/2 inch, the 38mm pipe is a stand pipe which the wash machine outlet is dropped into. Its only a tiny wash machine. The important thing here is to avoid any chance of back flow with the stand pipe.

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Delta18


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Also a good wash-day would probably fill the GWT meaning you need to find somewhere to empty it, may as well just bypass the tank & wash where GW can be dropped on the ground or into a drain.



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Neil & Lynne

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MY23.5 Ford Wildtrak V6 Dual Cab / 21' Silverline 21-65.3

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Bruce and Bev


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Hi Ian. You've been very quiet for a while - good to see you back again :)

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iana


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I have been lurking in the back ground. Joined the "Men's Shed" forum, but there's not much action on there. I recon they need Simmo to liven things up. But thanks for the welcome. One does tend to acquire friendships, even though we don't meet. Although you are in the Perth area, I live south in Penisburn biggrinbiggrin.

We have spent the day messing around with the van, and used the washing machine for the first time. Worked out I only need the one drain hose now. And we're wondering about the idea of recycling the wash water rinses when washing the dirtier cloths.

Bad news was, with the sky overcast, the house batteries were flattened over night (only the fridge on). And didn't recharge this morning. Back on 240v its OK but brings home the limits of free camping.



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dishlicker


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Hi there, yes the water from a machine will be classed as grey, but when i wash its mainly black water cheers.

 



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PeterD


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If it's not drinkable it is grey water.

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Peter_n_Margaret


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Delta18 wrote:

Also a good wash-day would probably fill the GWT meaning you need to find somewhere to empty it, may as well just bypass the tank & wash where GW can be dropped on the ground or into a drain.

 Be aware that it is not legal anywhere to put grey water into a storm water drain (such as in the street).

 

Cheers,

Peter



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03_Troopy


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PeterD wrote:

If it's not drinkable it is grey water.

 unless of course it's black water biggrin, and you wouldn't want to be drinking that.



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Rip and Rosie


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If you can drink it, = white water
If can't drink it but could water the garden or lawn with it= grey water
If it has poo or pee in it - black water

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dorian


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Laundry water or bath water can have trace amounts of human waste. That's why some jurisdictions advise against using grey water for gardens.

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iana


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OK drain hose taken back with refund, what I am planning to do is put a small overflow tank on the outlet of the 40mm tube, have vents in the top so it can over flow if necessary, and put a 25mm fitting in it to except the drainage hose I have. When using the wash machine, I'll just close the grey water tank valve, and change over the hose to the wash machine outlet.
That little wash machine takes 70 lts of water per cycle!

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