Rainwater toilets and greywater showers: City tries new water-saving tricks

I get where you’re coming from - maintenance is the part that kept me on the fence for a while too. There are actually some systems now with built-in sensors that’ll send alerts to your phone if pressure drops or a pump fails, but they’re not standard on every setup and can add to the cost. As for filter cleaning, I always use gloves, especially after seeing what builds up in there... but I don’t bother with a mask unless it’s been sitting for ages or smells off. Mold and leaks are real risks if you don’t keep an eye on things, but with regular checks and a bit of tech, it’s manageable. The mop head thing? That’s just nightmare fuel - definitely worth setting up some drain screens if you’ve got tenants.

- Totally agree - maintenance is the big thing that makes or breaks these setups.
- The phone alerts are a cool upgrade, but yeah, not cheap. I looked into adding some to my system and the price tag was a bit of a shock. If you’re handy, there are some DIY sensor kits out there that cost less, but they take some tinkering and patience.

- On filter cleaning, same here with gloves. I learned the hard way after pulling out a filter that had been sitting too long... let’s just say, never again without gloves. I actually do use a mask sometimes, especially in summer when stuff gets funky fast. Maybe I’m just paranoid after dealing with a musty tank once.

- Mold is no joke. I had a slow leak under the shower tray last year and didn’t notice until the grout started turning black. Ended up having to rip out part of the floor, which was a pain. Now I do a quick check every weekend - just a flashlight and a sniff test.

- About the mop head - yikes. I’ve found all sorts of random things in the drain traps over the years (hair ties, a Lego, even a golf tee once), but nothing that bad. Drain screens are a must if you’ve got kids or renters. Saves a ton of hassle.

- One thing I’d add: don’t skip the annual flush of the whole system. I skipped it one year and got this weird algae bloom that made everything smell like pond water. A couple hours with a hose and some diluted bleach fixed it, but lesson learned.

- For anyone on the fence, it’s definitely more work than a regular setup, but once you get into a routine, it’s not overwhelming. Plus, cutting down on water bills is pretty satisfying. Just gotta be ready for the occasional gross-out moment... comes with the territory, I guess.

The annual flush thing really caught my attention - how do you know when it’s time, besides the obvious swampy smell? I’ve only been running my setup for about a year, and I’m still figuring out the rhythm. I do a monthly filter rinse, but I’m never sure if that’s overkill or not enough. Has anyone tried using vinegar instead of bleach for the flush? I’m always a little wary about chemicals leaching into the garden beds downstream. Also, curious if anyone’s had luck with natural mold preventers - tea tree oil or something? I had a patch of mildew pop up last spring and it was a pain to get rid of.

I’m in the same boat - still figuring out what’s “normal” for my system. Last time I noticed a musty smell, I realized I’d gone almost two months without a flush, so maybe my nose is my best sensor for now. I’ve tried vinegar for a quick clean, but not a full flush... didn’t see much difference, honestly, but at least it felt less harsh than bleach. For mold, I wiped down with diluted tea tree oil after rinsing and it seemed to help short term, but I’m not sure if it actually prevents anything long term. Has anyone noticed if changing the flush schedule affects how often mold pops up?

I’ve definitely noticed mold shows up faster if I slack off on flushing. Once, I got lazy and stretched it to six weeks - big mistake. The musty smell was like a haunted basement. Now I try to flush every 3-4 weeks, and it seems to keep things under control. Vinegar’s my go-to too, but I agree, it’s not a miracle worker. Tea tree oil smells nice, but I’m not convinced it does much long term either... at least it feels like I’m trying, right?