| Wastewater
coming from the house can be separated into two waste streams:
blackwater and greywater. Wastewater from toilets
is always considered blackwater and, depending on local guidelines,
may also include wastewater from kitchen sinks. Greywater is
the wastewater generated from other plumbing fixtures in the
house, such as showers, bathtubs, dishwashers, washing machines,
and bathroom sinks.
Removing
toilet wastewater from the waste stream can reduce wastewater
flows anywhere from 30% to 40%. Blackwater can be treated
by a number of different methods, ranging from a composting
toilet to a septic tank-soil absorption system. Greywater
treatment systems (such as a septic tank with a drainfield;
a septic tank, sand filter, and soil absorption system; or
an ATU with disinfection) treat the wastewater for final subsurface
dispersal or reuse. Effluent can be reused to flush toilets
or irrigate lawns/landscape. The level of treatment required
depends on the final use of the effluent. Disinfection is
required when the effluent may come into contact with people
(usually through surface irrigation or in-house reuse).
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