"greywater setups are always a bit trial-and-error anyway."
True that...I've seen sand filters work wonders, but you're spot-on about the compaction issue. Regular checks are key—better safe than sorry with greywater systems, imo. Good luck with your setup!
I've been researching greywater setups quite a bit lately since I'm considering one myself. Sand filters do seem promising, but I've also read good things about mulch basins—apparently they're simpler to maintain and less prone to compaction issues. From what I gather, layering coarse wood chips on top helps prevent clogging and allows for easier inspection. Might be worth looking into if you're still tweaking your setup...
Interesting points about mulch basins—glad you brought that up. I've worked on a few greywater setups, and mulch basins can indeed be simpler to maintain compared to sand filters, especially for residential use. Sand filters do have their merits, particularly in situations where the water needs finer filtration before reuse, but they can become compacted or clogged if not carefully monitored.
One thing I'd suggest is keeping an eye on the wood chip size and type. Coarse chips are definitely better at preventing clogging, but some types of wood degrade faster than others, which can affect your maintenance schedule. Have you looked into hardwood chips or bark mulch specifically? They tend to last longer and break down more slowly.
Anyway, it's great you're researching thoroughly before committing—greywater systems can be fantastic when set up properly, but a bit tricky if rushed into without enough planning.
Good call on the hardwood chips—I learned that one the hard way after using pine mulch in my first setup. Let's just say it turned into compost soup pretty quick... You're definitely on the right track taking your time to research.
Hardwood chips are solid, but honestly, pine mulch isn't always the villain it's made out to be. I used it around my rain barrels last spring, and with decent drainage underneath, it held up pretty well. Sure, it can get mushy if your setup's off, but calling it compost soup might be a bit harsh... Greywater systems seem trickier overall—personally, I'd rather tweak my rainwater setup than deal with plumbing reroutes inside the house.
