Initial Greywater Assessment 

The EcoSanRes Programme is currently funding an initial study on greywater assessment. Greywater, or household water that is used in bathing, washing and laundering, is becoming an important aspect of ecological sanitation because of the desire to find ways to live sustainably and to disturb the environment as little as possible. This study aims to collect and summarize existing knowledge and experiences from around the world about simple and cost-effective solutions for greywater treatment and possible reuse.

In most areas, greywater currently represents a problem because of its role in pollution and its drain on scarce freshwater resources. However, as a result of this study and similar endeavours, we hope to find ways to use greywater as a resource rather than view it as waste. The holistic view of household ecological sanitation already includes managing organic waste (for use in composting toilets and agriculture), and is starting to encompass greywater management.