TABLE 2: SYSTEM SELECTION CHART

Excerpted from Create an Oasis with Greywater, ISBN 0-9643433-0-4. Copyright Sept 2000, Oasis Design Press
5 San Marcos Trout Club, Santa Barbara, CA 93105-9726 (805) 967-9956 ❖ FAX (805) 967-3229 http://www.oasisdesign.net

c at d
ion
May be reproduced non-commercially if credit is given

pli se

n?

?
ap en u

rld
e?
mb wi ourc e

lab e

i on
o

S op

r
i

in i x t u
?
wo
u ct
m=maybe 1=Most satisfactory

u ct
um wh

ate p-s
1=Easiest

st r

al?
ing t h F
blank=no 5=Least satisfactory

3rd
S

st r
eyw e U
tim e
5=Hardest

r
n

Leg
op rad
y=yes

on
Co

se
for
Gr gat

fC

fU
y=yes, very much so.

in rall g

bly
Plu b l e
r’s

?
ble
of Irri
Maintenance

ven

eo

eo
nte

ssi

ssi
ita
System Type Required

Eas
Pro

Eas
e

Re

Po

Po
Ca
Ov

Su
Dishpan dump, Bucketing 1 y y y y y 1 5

Garden hose through the bathroom 3 y y y y 1 5

Landscape direct 1 m y y m 1-5 1

Drain to mulch basin 1 m y y 2 1

Branched drain to basins/leachfields 1 y y, evolving y 4 1

Movable drain to mulch basins 2 m m y, evolving 2 3

Gravity drum 2 y y y 2 3

Drumless laundry 2 y 3ft m y, evolving 2 3

y, but
Drum with pump, filter, hose 4 m y mixed 3 4

Drum with pump, filter, mini-leach- Yes, but

4 y mixed y 4 4
fields or distribution cones
Infiltration beds (not a complete 3 y y 4 3
system; distribution field only)

Leaching chamber, box trough (not a 3 y y 3 2

complete system; distribution field only)

Multi-mode greywater tank 1 md y New design 4 1-5d

Plants over septic tank leachfield 3 y y Mixed y 1 2

Septic tank and “eco-chambers” 2 y New design y 4 1

Septic tank, sand filtration (not a 2 y y Yes, still y 5 2

complete system; treatment only) evolving

Greywater greenhouse w/drum & Yes but

pump to infiltration bed (or split 1 m y 5 2
evolving
drain to box trough)
Constructed wetlands (NOTE: there may Yes, still y
still be treated water to get rid of) 2 y m evolving 5 2

Yes for
Automated systems 1 y m high end y 5 2
only
Changes: Leachlines under raised beds, a 20+ year old design, was moved from the roster of
system options to the list of common errors (page 44) due to chronic clogging and
distribution evenness problems. The "anti-septic tank" was deleted, the "multi-mode tank"
added. "Settling tank and leachfields" was consolidated with "plants over the septic tank
leachfield."
10
 Greywater Sources

ts lea ded on
s

= 8 n cy
g?
) $100- -$100
lab and st $5 , thi
er

ti

)
zin

0%
ity

on
ash

0
in cost a If ne ollec

rip cie
)

$50
ter

e?
0

ide G b=
tric

ati
ree

(D Effi
sh w

wa

Us
c
e
k

iltr

Gu er's d (
F
lec
wi bin ding

W
Sin
oo er,

ink

abl lack

nal
for

/hi tion
Di

ild rea
titu for

fF
ot nge

E
thr w

nS

lum clu
m

g.
t

tio
es
Ba , Sho
ry,

eo
caplet (b

ted

Ins table

Bu s to
lowrriga
e
a

o r.

)
uir
in
ch e

st R
nd

gre
ap
par

e
q
b

Pag
Lau

I
i
ll
Kit

Ad
(*N

Re
To

De
Comment

Tu

Co

Su

%
in
p
Good place to start m m y $0 30/80 None 12, 20

Good place to start y $0 10/50 None 12

Good for earthy life-style y $0-$1,000+ m 20/40c None 12, b15-16

Very simple, easy, reliable, cheap y y y $5-$10 m 10/40c None 12, 26

Simple, reliable: most recommended systeme y y y $50-$1000* m 30/60c None 13, 26,b11-14e

Simple, efficient y y y $50-$100* 10/50 None 14, 26

Simple, efficient, very popular for None to

y y $20-$100 10/50 14, 27
laundry only coarse
Simple way to water slightly uphill or on level y y $20-$40 10/50 None 14, 27

Popular, but maintenance is unpleasant, Coarse to

y y $150-$350* y 10/50 15, 16
likely to be abandoned medium
Popular, maintenance is unpleasant, likely Coarse to
y y $200-$1,300* y y 30/50c 16, 17
to be abandoned, minimum legal system medium

Uses clever method of solving root encroachment y y y $500* y y y 20/30c Medium 18

Requires batch dosing, can be gravity None to

y y y $100-$300* m y y 10/30c 19
or pumped medium
Good for serious gardeners with energy for
y y y $50-$300* m 10/80d None 20
moving GW & strictly limited water supply

Possibility of destroying leachfield scary, but Fine (by

some have worked flawlessly for decades y y y y $0 y y 10/20a,c settling) 21, 42

Septic tank Fine (by

Very promising, unproven system y y y y
+$200-$1,000 y y 20/30b,c settling) 22

Fine (by
Proven treatment technology.
y y y y $5,000-$30,000 Y y y 10/50 settling 22
How to use for irrigation?
and sand)
Best system for cold climates. An asset to a $100-$300* None or
y y y m Y y 10/70c 22, 31, 35
cold climate home in many ways + greenhouse fine
Most common in wet climates, familiar to Coarse to
y y y y $300-$15,000* Y 10/50 23
regulators, expensive fine
Elaborate mechanics soothe health officials. Very
y y y $2,000-$6,000* Y Y 60/80 24
ONLY PROVEN SAFE WAY TO WATER TURF fine
Old name > New name Notes: (a) water path unknown; (b) water path may
Drain out back > Drain to mulch basin be unknown; (c) water path cannot easily be changed;
Split drain or hard plumbing to m-l > Branched drain to mulch basins or leach chambers (d) depends on use mode; (e) see "Branched Drain
Enhanced drain out back > Movable drain to mulch basins Greywater Systems," inside back cover.
11