I hear you on the greywater complexity—my neighbor tried it and ended up with a flooded basement after a pump failure. Rainwater does seem simpler, but how do you handle overflow during heavy storms? I've always worried about potential flooding or erosion issues...
I've dealt with overflow issues before—key is having a solid overflow plan. Basically, install overflow pipes directing excess water safely away from foundations, ideally into a rain garden or gravel trench. Never had any flooding since setting mine up like this...
Interesting setup you've got there—overflow pipes into a rain garden sounds pretty smart. Did you find it tricky to get the slope right for proper drainage? When we installed our rain barrels, we underestimated how quickly they'd fill up during heavy storms. Ended up with a mini flood the first time around...lesson learned. Now I'm thinking about greywater recycling too, but I'm curious if anyone's had issues with soaps or detergents affecting their plants?
Your rain garden overflow setup sounds solid—getting the slope right can be a bit finicky, but once dialed in, it's pretty low-maintenance. As for greywater, stick to biodegradable soaps and dilute heavily...my plants haven't complained yet, and my wallet's happier too.
Greywater setups can be great, but I'd be careful about relying too heavily on dilution alone. Even biodegradable soaps can build up residues over time, especially if your soil doesn't drain quickly. Had a tenant once who went heavy on the "eco-friendly" detergent—ended up with some unhappy shrubs and a clogged filter. Regular checks and occasional flushing help avoid headaches down the road...just something to keep in mind.
