"Also, don't forget a basic filter or screen setup to catch lint and fibers—keeps your pipes clear and your plants happier."
Good tip on the lint filter... learned that one the hard way. I installed a basic diverter valve last summer but skipped the filter at first (figured it wasn't necessary). Within a couple months, my drip irrigation lines started clogging up badly. Added a simple mesh screen after that, problem solved. Curious if anyone's tried rainwater harvesting alongside greywater recycling—wondering if it's worth doing both or just sticking with one?
"Within a couple months, my drip irrigation lines started clogging up badly."
Yeah, that's a common oversight—seen that happen more times than I can count. Good catch adding the mesh screen. About your question, combining rainwater harvesting and greywater recycling can actually complement each other nicely. Rainwater's typically cleaner, making it ideal for veggies or sensitive plants, while greywater suits ornamentals and lawns better. If you've got the space and resources, doing both can significantly boost your water efficiency and sustainability.
Had the same clogging issue with my drip lines when I first started using greywater. Even with a mesh screen, tiny particles still got through and built up over time. Ended up switching to larger emitters and flushing the lines every couple months—bit of a hassle, but it worked.
Agree that rainwater is cleaner overall, but in my experience, storage can be tricky if you don't have much space. Greywater's easier to manage day-to-day since it's always available, but yeah, definitely better suited for lawns or hardy plants. If you're serious about sustainability and have room for both setups, combining them makes sense. Rainwater for veggies and delicate stuff, greywater for everything else. Just make sure your greywater system is easy to access for maintenance... learned that one the hard way!
Good call on the larger emitters—I ended up doing something similar. Those tiny screens are a pain, and honestly, greywater's always gonna have some level of gunk in it. I found that adding a simple settling tank before the filtration stage helped a lot. Basically, the heavier particles sink down, and the clearer water at the top moves on to the drip lines. It's not perfect, but it reduced my flushing maintenance from monthly to maybe twice a year.
Totally agree about the rainwater storage issue too. Unless you've got plenty of space, those tanks can feel massive. I've seen some folks bury them underground, but that's a whole other level of commitment (and expense). Greywater definitely has its limits—great for fruit trees and ornamentals, but veggies can be tricky... especially leafy greens. I tried lettuce once and... let's just say it wasn't my proudest gardening moment.
Combining both systems is probably ideal if you can swing it. Sounds like you've got a solid setup going already, though—nice job figuring out what works!
I hear ya on the leafy greens... I tried spinach once with greywater and ended up with some seriously questionable salad material. 😅 The settling tank idea sounds great though—wish I'd thought of that before I spent a weekend elbow-deep cleaning out my drip lines.
As for rainwater tanks, I briefly considered burying one underground too, but after seeing the price tag and imagining myself digging a giant hole by hand (because, let's face it, I'm stubbornly DIY), I quickly abandoned that idea. Instead, I've got two smaller tanks tucked behind the shed. Not ideal, but at least they're hidden from view and don't dominate the yard.
Honestly, if I had to pick just one, I'd probably lean toward rainwater harvesting—less hassle overall and fewer surprises in the water quality department. But combining both definitely seems like the sweet spot if you've got the patience (and space).
