A Kokiville Greywater Journey
When we first started planning Kokiville Homestead, we knew we wanted to create a sustainable space. Our vision was to live in harmony with nature, and a greywater system seemed like the perfect fit. It offers us a way to conserve water and at the same time, it creates a thriving ecosystem. We envisioned a paradise teeming with wildlife, all thanks to the magic of recycled water.
In this blog post, we’ll be sharing our greywater journey with you. Our goal is to inspire you to take on this rewarding project in your own backyard, and create your own sustainable oasis. It’s not as hard as you think!
Before we share our experience, here is our biggest and most important tips. Remember these when you are ready to start planning your oasis:
- Choose durable materials: Cement is a great option for a reed bed and pond.
- Pay attention to the reed bed size: Make sure it’s large enough to accommodate the growing reeds. You need to easily lift them and cut them back as they grow.
- Regulate water flow: Use rocks and stones to slow down the water for better filtration.
- Consider the ecological benefits: If you’re doing it anyway, why not turn it into a thriving habitat for wildlife?
Our initial design involved a plastic liner for the reed bed. However, the harsh South African sun quickly proved its limitations, causing even the UV protected plastic to degrade. Undeterred, we switched to cement, which proved to be a much more durable and long-lasting option.
Constructing the system was a rewarding DIY project, we learned valuable lessons, such as the importance of adequate reed bed size. Remember that as your water filtrates, your reeds are fed and watered and will soon double in size. Your reeds will have to be lifted and cut back. Small reed beds make this hard! We also found that the more rocks and stones we added to the channel, the clearer our water filtrated. Think of them as speed bumps for your water.
One of the greatest outcomes of our greywater system has been its positive impact on the local ecosystem. Our system includes a few ponds and the filtered water from the reed beds have allowed these ponds to really thrive, attracting a diverse range of wildlife. It’s like we’ve created a little nature reserve. Frogs, fish, and very wide variety of birds have made our ponds their home, adding a touch of natural magic to Kokiville.
To further enhance biodiversity, we added logs and rock piles to the ponds. These features provide hiding places for fish and frogs. By placing logs over the ponds, we also attracted foam nest frogs, a fascinating species that lays their eggs in foam nests hanging over bodies of water. When the tadpoles hatch, they fall right into the pond.
Beyond the ecological advantages, our greywater system has amazing practical benefits. By definition, a greywater system collects, filters, and reuses wastewater for non-drinking purposes like irrigation. This is exactly what ours does and in a big way too! We collect wastewater from all the basins and showers as well as rainwater from every roof at Kokiville. This has been a lifesaver during recent dry spells since we manage to collect around 400,000 liters of rainwater annually. As a bed and breakfast, we generate a significant amount of laundry and even this water is efficiently recycled and used to irrigate our food garden, particularly our fruit trees during the dry season.
Our journey with our greywater system has been a rewarding one, filled with lessons and a newfound appreciation for the power of sustainable living. We encourage you to explore the possibilities of a greywater system in your own backyard and experience the joy of creating a harmonious and eco-friendly space.
