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

I get the frustration, but I’ve actually had better luck with a more “hands-off” approach - at least for rentals. I stick to basic leaf guards and schedule quarterly checks. Not perfect, but tenants aren’t calling me every week about clogs or leaks. Less fancy gear means less that can go wrong, in my experience. Still, I’d never call it maintenance-free... just less headache than some of those high-tech setups.

Less fancy gear means less that can go wrong, in my experience. Still, I’d never call it maintenance-free... just less headache than some of those high-tech setups.

Yeah, I get where you’re coming from. I’ve tried a couple of those “smart” water-saving gadgets and honestly, they’re more trouble than they’re worth for me. The upfront cost is one thing, but then you’ve got sensors or filters that need replacing, and if something glitches, it’s not always easy (or cheap) to fix. I’m all for saving water, but if the system’s too complicated, it ends up costing more in the long run.

I do like the idea of rainwater toilets and greywater showers - seems smart on paper. But when you factor in installation and ongoing upkeep, it adds up fast. For rentals especially, I’d rather keep things simple. Tenants don’t always treat stuff with the same care as owners do, so basic setups just make sense.

I stick to regular checks too - nothing fancy. Just making sure gutters aren’t blocked and the basic plumbing’s working. It’s not glamorous but it works. Sometimes I wonder if these new city initiatives are really aimed at folks like us or more at new builds with bigger budgets.

Curious if anyone’s actually saved money long-term with these systems? Or is it mostly about feeling good for doing your part? I’m all for conservation, but not if it means breaking the bank every year just to keep things running.

I hear you on the “smart” gadgets. I tried one of those fancy leak detectors once - ended up spending more time resetting it than actually fixing leaks. Honestly, a flashlight and a bit of patience have saved me more money than any high-tech setup so far. Maybe I’m just old school, but simple usually wins out for my wallet.

Honestly, a flashlight and a bit of patience have saved me more money than any high-tech setup so far.

I totally get where you're coming from. I just bought my first place last year and every time I see some new gadget that promises to “make life easier,” I get a little suspicious. My neighbor tried installing one of those smart water sensors and it started sending him alerts in the middle of the night about “phantom leaks.” He ended up just turning it off after a week.

That said, with all this talk about rainwater toilets and greywater showers, I’m kinda torn. On one hand, the idea of saving water is great, but on the other... what if something goes wrong? I’m already paranoid about regular leaks - can’t imagine adding extra pipes and tanks into the mix. Maybe I’m just overly cautious, but sometimes I feel like keeping things simple is safer (and less likely to flood my basement).

I guess there’s always a balance between being eco-friendly and not giving myself a heart attack over potential plumbing disasters.

Maybe I’m just overly cautious, but sometimes I feel like keeping things simple is safer (and less likely to flood my basement).

Honestly, I’m right there with you. I tried adding a rain barrel setup last summer, thinking it’d be an easy win for the garden. Ended up spending more time double-checking for leaks than actually using the water. The idea of extra tanks and pipes running through the house makes me sweat a little. I love the concept, but man, one wrong valve and suddenly you’re mopping at 2am. Sometimes low-tech just feels more... predictable?

I get the worry about leaks, but honestly, once I got my system dialed in, it’s been pretty much hands-off. There was a learning curve (and yeah, a wet floor once), but now it’s just saving water quietly in the background. Sometimes the “complicated” stuff pays off if you stick with it.

I get where you’re coming from, but I’ve seen a lot of these setups go sideways after a year or two. Even if things run smooth at first, seals and valves on greywater systems can get gunked up or start leaking without much warning. It’s not just about dialing it in once - regular checks are key, especially with city water pressure fluctuating. Had a client who thought their system was “hands-off” too, until a slow leak ruined their subfloor. Just saying, a little routine maintenance goes a long way with these.

It’s not just about dialing it in once - regular checks are key, especially with city water pressure fluctuating.

I get what you’re saying about leaks and maintenance, but I wonder if newer systems are getting better at this. Some of the latest greywater setups use self-cleaning filters and pressure regulators - maybe that helps with the “gunked up” seals? I’ve seen a couple in action for three years now, no major issues yet. Maybe it’s more about the install quality than the concept itself...

I’ve worked on a few of these newer setups - those self-cleaning filters are definitely a step up from the old mesh screens that clogged every other month. But honestly, even with the latest gear, I’ve seen leaks pop up when folks cut corners during install or skip maintenance. Had a job last winter where a fancy system was leaking behind the wall after only two years... Turned out, installer never checked the pressure regulator settings. The tech’s getting better, but you still can’t ignore the basics.

I get what you’re saying about not skipping the basics, but I actually think these new systems are a bit more forgiving than the old ones. When I put in my rainwater setup, I messed up the filter orientation at first - caught it during the first flush, fixed it, and it’s been solid since. Maybe the tech’s not perfect, but it does seem to help folks like me who aren’t pros. Still, I double-check everything now, just in case...

Yeah, I’ve noticed the newer systems are a bit more “idiot-proof” compared to the setups from even five years ago. The color-coded connectors on my greywater diverter made installation way less stressful. Still, I’m with you - double-checking is key. Have you had any issues with sediment buildup in your rainwater tank? I’m still figuring out the best maintenance schedule for mine... seems like every house is a little different.

Yeah, those color-coded connectors are a lifesaver - wish more stuff was that straightforward. About the sediment, I’ve noticed it builds up way faster than I expected, especially after a heavy rain. I ended up adding a simple leaf filter at the gutter and it helped a lot, but I still have to flush the bottom every couple months. It’s not glamorous, but better than dealing with clogged pipes down the line. Every setup seems to have its own quirks... trial and error, I guess.

I ended up adding a simple leaf filter at the gutter and it helped a lot, but I still have to flush the bottom every couple months.

That’s pretty much my experience too - those filters catch the big stuff, but fine grit still sneaks through. I tried swapping out for a finer mesh once, but then it clogged up way faster than I expected, especially after storms. Have you messed around with first-flush diverters at all? Curious if they make much difference with the sediment issue or just add more maintenance.

Have you messed around with first-flush diverters at all? Curious if they make much difference with the sediment issue or just add more maintenance.

Tried one last year, actually. The idea sounded great - let the first dirty water go, then collect the rest. In practice, it did cut down on the fine grit, but honestly, it was another thing to clean out. After a couple heavy rains, the diverter chamber filled up with all sorts of gunk and I had to pull it apart more often than I liked. Maybe it’s just my roof or the amount of tree debris around here, but it felt like trading one chore for another.

I get what you mean about the finer mesh too. I swapped in a super fine screen once and it clogged up so fast during pollen season I was out there every week. Ended up going back to the basic leaf filter and just living with a bit of sediment. For toilets and garden use, it hasn’t been a big deal. If you’re running it into showers though, might be worth the hassle to keep things cleaner... but yeah, more maintenance either way.

In practice, it did cut down on the fine grit, but honestly, it was another thing to clean out.

That’s been my experience too. I put in a first-flush diverter thinking it’d be a game-changer, but between the pine needles and random roof crud, it just became another spot for stuff to pile up. I actually found myself missing the “set it and forget it” simplicity of the old setup. For garden water, a little sediment never bothered me much - plants don’t care. Showers though... yeah, that’s a different story.

Yeah, I get what you mean. I tried a similar setup a couple years back - thought I’d be clever and add all the bells and whistles. In the end, it was just more stuff to keep an eye on, and honestly, I’m not a fan of crawling around the tank every couple weeks. Like you said, for the garden, a bit of grit or leaf bits isn’t a big deal. Nature’s compost, right? But when it comes to anything that touches the house plumbing or showers, I get way pickier.

I guess it’s always a trade-off between convenience and how clean you want your water. Sometimes, the simple way just works better, especially if maintenance isn’t your thing. Still, kinda cool to see cities experimenting with these systems - maybe they’ll figure out a low-maintenance version that actually works for regular folks. Till then, I’m sticking with the basics for the garden and letting the plants enjoy whatever comes down the pipe.

I guess it’s always a trade-off between convenience and how clean you want your water.

That’s exactly it. I tried a rainwater flush system in one of my rentals - looked great on paper, but tenants weren’t thrilled about the extra filters and the occasional weird smell if someone forgot to clean the tank. For gardens, I’m with you: let the leaves and bits do their thing. But for anything indoors, especially showers, I just can’t justify the hassle. Maybe if they come up with something that doesn’t need constant fiddling, I’d reconsider. Until then, I’ll keep it simple and avoid the maintenance headaches.

Honestly, I get the maintenance headache - nobody wants to be the person scrubbing out a slimy tank on a Saturday. But I’ve been testing out one of those newer “plug-and-play” greywater kits in my place, and it’s not as bad as I expected:

- The filter swap is about as hard as changing a vacuum bag (which, okay, I also forget sometimes).
- Haven’t noticed any weird smells yet, but maybe that’s beginner’s luck.
- My water bill dropped enough that I could justify an extra pizza night last month.

I do wonder if some of these systems are just getting better? Or maybe I’m still in the honeymoon phase and haven’t hit the gross part yet... Either way, it’s kind of fun feeling like I’m running a tiny water treatment plant in my basement. Not for everyone, but it hasn’t been a total pain so far.

I’ve been following these greywater setups for a couple years, and I agree - it’s not as intimidating as it sounds, especially with the newer kits. The filter swap thing is a huge improvement over the old-school systems that needed constant tinkering and, yeah, a willingness to get your hands gross. I used to help a friend with his DIY rig, and honestly, that was a pain: lots of gunk, and the “occasional” mystery smell.

The tech really is getting better. Manufacturers seem to realize nobody wants a second job as a plumber. I will say, the honeymoon phase is real - my setup was fine for the first six months, then I got lazy and skipped a filter change, and that’s when things got a little... swampy. Staying on top of the schedule makes all the difference.

The water bill drop is legit, though. I tracked mine for a year and saved enough to cover the initial kit cost. Not a bad trade-off for a bit of routine maintenance. If the city keeps pushing these incentives, I can see more people jumping in. Not sure I’ll ever get used to calling myself a “basement water engineer,” but hey, it works.

Yeah, the filter swap is a game changer. I remember my neighbor’s old setup - he basically had to babysit it or risk that “swamp thing” smell you mentioned. I’m with you on the maintenance, though. It’s not hard, but if you slack off, you’ll know pretty quick. Still, I think people overestimate how much work these systems are now. The savings are real, and honestly, it feels good knowing I’m not flushing perfectly good water down the drain. Wish the city would make the incentives more obvious, though... half my block still has no clue they exist.