I tried combining the two systems too, thinking it’d be more efficient. Ended up with a weird smell in the bathroom and some questionable sludge in the garden beds. Keeping rainwater and greywater totally separate has been way less stressful for me—less chance of cross-contamination, too. Sometimes simpler really is safer.
I get where you’re coming from—having a weird smell in the bathroom is never a good sign. But, I’ll be honest, I actually had the opposite experience when I set up my system last year. I kept everything super separate at first because I was worried about contamination too, but it just felt like double the work and double the maintenance. Eventually, I tried a combined setup with some extra filters and a diverter valve. Took a bit of trial and error, and yeah, I was paranoid about leaks or backups at first, but after tweaking things, it’s been pretty smooth. No weird smells or sludge so far. Maybe it comes down to the setup details or the type of greywater you’re dealing with? I’m super careful about what goes down the drains—no harsh soaps or anything. Still, I totally get why you’d want to keep things simple. Sometimes, peace of mind is worth more than saving a few extra gallons.
I totally get wanting to keep things simple, especially when it comes to plumbing. It’s easy to underestimate how much maintenance can add up with these systems. I’ve found that even with all the right filters and diverters, there’s always a bit of trial and error—sometimes more than I’d like. Honestly, if your setup is working and you’re not dealing with odors or backups, that’s a win in my book. No shame in prioritizing peace of mind over squeezing out every drop of water savings. Sometimes, less hassle is just worth it.
Honestly, I hear you on the maintenance headaches. I tried a greywater setup a couple years back—thought I was being clever, but it turned into a part-time job just keeping the lines clear and the filters from clogging. Rainwater harvesting’s been way less drama for me. Sure, you don’t get as much water savings, but at least I’m not crawling under the house every month with a wrench and a prayer. Sometimes “good enough” really is good enough, especially if it means fewer plumbing surprises.
Yeah, I get what you mean about greywater setups being a pain. I helped my uncle install one last year and honestly, it felt like we spent more time unclogging gunk than actually saving water. Rain barrels are way simpler—just clean out the leaves now and then and you’re good. Maybe not as hardcore eco-wise, but at least you’re not elbow-deep in mystery sludge every month. Sometimes simple wins.
