Why gray water in the garden?
We need to take advantage of water multiple times. Technically, we know everything we need to know to recycle gray water in an efficient, safe way. But gray-water policies vary wildly from state to state ― some have no policy, others give permits on a case-by-case basis. Culturally, we’re in the Dark Ages. Is rainwater harvesting easier than gray water? Absolutely. It’s technically feasible, and most regulators are comfortable with it. The only drawback with rainwater harvesting is that water is so cheap [0.00285 cents per gallon in Denver, for example]; it’s hard to get it to work as an investment [$1.50–$4.50 per gallon, depending on installer and whether setup is above- or belowground]. It’s for people who can afford it. Is water too cheap in the West? Tier One water, for basic needs, should be cheap. But Tier Four, for the most aggressive water uses, should have higher prices to encourage conservation. Without financial incentives to use rainwater and gray water, many people won’t.
