The secrets of greywater

Greywater is drinking water’s ugly sibling. It’s not the most troublesome of the family - that’s blackwater, or water that’s been in contact with sewage. Greywater is the relatively clean waste water from baths, sinks, washing machines and dishwashers. It’s not drinkable but there’s still loads you can do with it. This week we’re finding out how greywater could help tackle water scarcity. We’re meeting communities in the dry north of Brazil who have installed simple systems to filter water used for laundry to water their crops and save their land from desertification. In Germany we meet the company using bacteria to help magically recycle greywater on a big scale in hotels, museums and swimming pools. Plus we talk to a greywater fangirl for her top facts and tips on how you can save water the low tech way.