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Greywater Use at Home

Greywater is wastewater from baths, basins, laundries and showers. It does not include water from kitchen sinks, which must be discharged into the sewerage system.

Can I reuse greywater?

Yes, greywater can be reused on gardens if it complies with the Queensland Plumbing and Wastewater Code. Here’s how you can divert greywater from laundries and bathrooms: 

  • Manually remove greywater using a bucket (not kitchen greywater). 
  • Attach a flexible hose to your washing machine outlet. 
  • Install a greywater diversion device or greywater treatment plant—this must be done by a licensed plumber and approved by Council. 

Using untreated greywater safely

Untreated greywater can be reused, but it must not cause: 

  • Ponding or surface run-off 
  • Odours 
  • Health hazards or nuisance to neighbours 

Tip: Subsurface (below ground) irrigation is preferred—it reduces risks and can be tailored to your soil and garden. 

Greywater diversion devices

These devices safely redirect greywater to your garden and switch it back to the sewer during heavy rain or if your system is overloaded. They must: 

  • Have a coarse filter to remove solids 
  • Be switchable to irrigation or sewer 
  • Automatically divert flow to the sewer if the device fails 
  • Be WaterMark-certified and installed by a licensed plumber 

Greywater treatment plants

These systems collect, treat, and disinfect greywater for reuse. They: 

  1. Filter and store wastewater from your home 
  2. Treat it using biological processes and filtering membranes 
  3. Disinfect it for safe reuse—such as for irrigation or toilet flushing 

Greywater application areas

This is the part of your yard where greywater is dispersed. It can use subsurface or surface irrigation. 

Make sure to maintain safe distances from: 

  • Neighbouring boundaries 
  • Waterways 
  • Stormwater drains 
  • Swimming pools 

Safe greywater reuse – checklist

  • Only divert water from baths, showers, hand basins, and laundries 
  • Use signs to indicate greywater use (e.g. “Do Not Drink”) 
  • Avoid odours, surface ponding, or runoff 
  • Keep children and pets away from irrigation areas 
  • Use low-phosphorus, low-sodium detergents 
  • Don’t apply too much water to one area—spread it out 
  • Avoid using greywater on edible parts of fruits and vegetables 
  • Prevent greywater from entering pools or neighbouring properties 

Plumbing