Had a similar experience myself, but with rainwater harvesting. Installed a huge tank thinking I'd cover all my garden and toilet flushing needs. Turns out, during dry spells, it sat empty half the time, and in rainy seasons it overflowed constantly—total waste. Ended up downsizing to a smaller tank and adding a simple overflow system. Way more practical and still cut down my water bill noticeably. Definitely agree simpler setups usually win out in real-world use...
Sounds like you found a pretty solid solution with the smaller tank and overflow setup. One thing I'd suggest, if you haven't already, is making sure your overflow system directs water safely away from your home foundation to avoid potential damage. Seen a few setups where overflow pooling caused unexpected basement moisture issues down the line... Curious though, anyone tried combining greywater recycling with rainwater harvesting? Wondering if that balances out the dry and wet spells better.
Definitely agree about directing overflow properly—seen too many setups cause foundation headaches down the road. As for combining greywater and rainwater systems, I've experimented a bit myself. Greywater recycling is steady and reliable, especially during droughts, but rainwater harvesting can fluctuate wildly depending on weather patterns. Integrating both can smooth out supply issues nicely, but it does complicate your plumbing layout—extra filters, diverters, and storage tanks to consider. Worth it in my opinion, just factor in some extra planning and maintenance time...
Good points all around. I've been down the greywater road myself—works like a charm for laundry and shower runoff, especially in dry summers. Rainwater harvesting though... bit trickier. Had a property where I installed a sizeable rain tank thinking it'd cover irrigation easily. Worked great at first, but then we hit a long dry spell—empty tank, thirsty plants, and me back to square one running hoses everywhere.
Ended up retrofitting greywater into the system later, and honestly wished I'd done it sooner. The plumbing was definitely more involved than I anticipated (extra valves, diverters, filters), but once dialed in, it was pretty reliable. Only real headache was maintenance—filters clogging quicker than expected and occasional pump hiccups. Still beats watching your landscaping wilt...
Bottom line for me: if you're serious about consistent water supply, combining the two is worth the hassle—but plan carefully and factor in regular upkeep.
Totally agree on the greywater maintenance headaches—those filters can be a pain. Couple quick tips from my own trial-and-error adventures:
- DIY pre-filter from old pantyhose or mesh bags saves cash and hassle.
- Skip fancy pumps if possible; gravity-fed setups are cheaper and fewer breakdowns.
- Rain barrels are great but don't rely on them alone... learned that the hard way myself.
Still, beats paying through the nose for city water every summer, right?
