GRAY WATER

WHERE THE WATER FLOWS

It only takes a moment. We wash our hands, the water is gone and we don’t think about it again. But where is it now? Where does its journey end? Surely it doesn’t magically disappear, but the destination remains mysterious.

That ‘used water’, also known as gray water, actually begins its journey through the mazes of pipes and waterworks to be combined with sewage, where it is rendered toxic. Any previous benefits are then lost.

CERTIFIED PRODUCTS

GRAY WATER SAFE

BIODEGRADABLE

Or so they were, before the advent of gray water reuse projects.

The first U.S. soil-biocompatible laundry detergent was developed in 1989 and the legalization of gray water in Santa Barbara shortly followed, igniting the trend to conserve water and reuse it in everything from public parks to personal gardens. And by May of 1991, five other Californian cities legalized the recycling of gray water, further popularizing the innovative idea of wastewater reuse1 .

What did these cities see in gray water? A vision of green lawns and parks without wasting much-needed fresh water. The possibility of reduced water bills and less wastewater entering sewers2. And ultimately, an essential path to a better future for the environment.

Companies have caught wind of this growing environmental trend as well, and have begun producing whole product lines that are gray water certified. At Modere, we are proud to be leading this movement with our gray water and biodegradable household product line. We’ve specifically formulated Multi-Surface Cleaner, Dishwasher Gel, Dish Wash, Laundry Detergent and Fabric Softener without the harsh agents and residues that similar products tend to include. The result? All of these products have been verified as readily biodegradable3 and gray water safe4. Each has been tested through third-party verification and shown to reach full mineralization (meaning they fully broke down) in only 3 weeks, providing customers the opportunity to help preserve perfectly useful water with every product use.

So, where does the water’s journey ultimately lead? In the end, it’s up to us. It can go on to be lost amid the presence of pollutants, residual botanical nutrients wasted away. Or, we can purposefully reuse this water as a resource for beneficial future possibilities.

1. 2.

3. 4. Oasis Design. Gray Water History. oasisdesign.net Sustainable Earth Technologies. Gray Water Treatment. sustainable.com.au Biodegradability testing according to OECD 310D protocol. Gray water testing according to OECD 208.