Balancing the water consumption By 1996 the average consumption per person/per day reached 130 liters. This consumption is reduced with the help of graywater recycling to 85 liters, resulting in a savings of 45 liters.

High rate of consumption The annual household and small business use of potable water in Germany amounts to approx. 4 billion cubic meters. A small portion is reserved for human consumption, whereas one third is wasted in the transport of feces. Rising water prices The considerable municipal expenditure for the provision of drinking water and disposing of wastewater are reflected in the rise in water and wastewater charges of up to 12% a year. Fees as high as 15.00 - 16.00 DM per cubic meter water/ wastewater are presently to be found in areas of dense population (Darmstadt).

The solution For uses other than human consumption, water of a lesser quality can be used. For example: 1. toilet flushing 2. domestic cleaning 3. garden use Graywater, the available resource The mildly polluted wastewater from the shower/bath, washbasin and washing machine = graywater is utilized as an internal household water resource after undergoing the appropriate treatment. Savings In private sector housing, savings of 45 liters of drinking and wastewater per person / per day are possible, and these can rise above 60 liters per guest / per day in hotels. Economic viability The reuse of already used water reduces the costs of water supply and wastewater treatment. The graywater recycling plant pays for itself within a few years. This double use of valuable water conserves the ground-water resources and reduces the wastewater load.