The barbed laundry to landscape kit includes most of the parts that are found on the following drawing - please look closely at the current kit contents before you purchase, as they have changed since this diagram was made. We are no longer able to ship the large diameter (1") polyethylene tubing, you will need to find this part locally.
This part is used in our Laundry to Landscape system to connect the 1" PVC pipe to the 1.5" We recommend using teflon thread tape at the threaded joint.
The Barbed 1" Male Hose Thread Adaptor is optionally used during the installation and maintenance of the laundry to landscape greywater system. It can be put installed just before a 1" Female Host Thread adaptor to insert a 'service connection' to a laundry system. From this connection, you can connect a garden hose to the outdoor portion of the system for calibration, testing, or clog clearing.
In some greywater plumbing systems the greywater 3-way valve may need to be installed in inaccessible location, or the user may not want to have to go outside/under the house to switch the 3-way valve. A 3-way valve actuator can be mounted on top of the 3-way valve and connected to a switch installed inside the building to control the valve. The 3-Way Valve Actuator Switch Kit includes all the items need to install a switched actuator on a 3-way valve. The kit includes:
The ABS 2"Double Ell Tapped is used to divide the flow of greywater into two equal sections in a branched drain system. The double ell should be placed on a brick or stone and leveled so its perfectly flat. To get an equal split, you need a straight run of at least 2 feet entering the fitting, if you don't have this distance the water may not be equally divided. Typically a 2" double ell is only used in the first split, 1.5" double ells are used after that since there is less water.
The ABS 1.5" Double Ell Tapped is used to divide the flow of greywater into two equal sections in a branched drain system. The double ell should be placed on a brick or stone and leveled so its perfectly flat. To get an equal split, you need a straight run of at least 2 feet entering the fitting, if you don't have this distance the water may not be equally divided. The cap can be removed for cleaning out the system in case of clogging. This fitting should be located in an accessible spot, like inside of a valve box.
The 3-Way Actuator is used to automate the switching of a 3-way valve on the greywater plumbing system. The 3-way Diverter Valve used for greywater systems is manually controlled by turning the handle on top of the valve. In some situations the 3-way valve may need to be installed in inaccessible location, or the user does not want to have to go outside/under the house to switch the valve.
Laundry to Landscape: A simple, efficient, economical, easy-to-use greywater system. by Art Ludwig.
This is a helpful resource for people building a laundry to landscape greywater system.
Note: There are a few minor design differences between the DVD and Clean Water Components recommendations.
Create an Oasis with Greywater by Art Ludwig, provides detailed information on low-tech greywater systems.
We recommend this book for all do-it-yourself installers, as well as for professionals.
Create an Oasis describes how to quickly and easily choose, build, and use a simple greywater system. Some can be completed in an afternoon for under $30.
The underground emitter box, or "mulch shield" is used to create a subsurface irrigation area, where the greywater can flow out into the mulch. The air gap between the outlet and the mulch prevents roots from growing back into the pipe and clogging the system.
You may need to drill your own hole for the greywater tube to enter the valve box. You will most often want this to be just about 2 inches below the lid to preserve the air gap for "air pruning" roots.
The ABS 2" Double Ell is used to divide the flow of greywater into two equal sections in a branched drain system. The double ell should be placed on a brick or stone and leveled so its perfectly flat. To get an equal split, you need a straight run of at least 2 feet entering the fitting, if you don't have this distance the water may not be equally divided. Typically 2" double ells are only used in the first split, after that 1.5" fittings are used.
A Hose Spigot Vacuum Breaker is required on hose spigots to prevent greywater mixing with domestic water when blowing out greywater tubing.
The Pentair 3-way valve allows you to simply change the flow of your greywater; to the greywater system OR to the sewer system. The 3-way valve can be automated or mechanized by mounting a Goldline actuator on top of the valve to allow remote switching of the greywater system. The 3-way valve accepts both 2" or 1.5" drain pipe and the 3-way valve can be plumbed with any port as the inlet.
Use small sections of Poly 1/2" Tubing, attached to Barbed 1" x 1/2" Reducing Tees to reach the plants. Specify how many feet you'll need and we'll cut it for you. Most systems only use a few feet.
Use small sections of this tubing from the reducing (1" x 1/2") tees to reach plants with greywater.
The ABS 1.5" Double Ell is used to divide the flow of greywater into two equal sections in a branched drain system. The double ell should be placed on a brick or stone and leveled so its perfectly flat. To get an equal split, you need a straight run of at least 2 feet entering the fitting, if you don't have this distance the water may not be equally divided. Typically 1.5" double ells are used in the entire branched drain system, or in all splits after the first in a system that used 2" pipe.
The Auto-vent or Air Admittance Valve allows air to enter into the laundry to landscape greywater system but doesn't allow water to exit. It is used to prevent a siphon from sucking water out of the machine as it tries to refill. To connect this piece to the rest of the system you will need a 1 1/2" threaded female adapter, and a 1 1/2" x 1" bushing.
Note: This valve is not connected to the drainage plumbing of the house, and is not being used as a vent.
The Brass 1" 3-way Valve is used in laundry to landscape greywater systems to switch between the greywater and the sewer or septic system. It is threaded with female pipe threads, and the inlet is always in the middle of the tee. We source "full-port" valves that do not constrict the flow of water through the valve.
The 3/4" Tank Adapter is used to create a water tight pipe connection to a rainwater barrel or tank. 3/4" FPT connections.
After burying the tubing stake it down with these holddowns to prevent it from surfacing. They are galvanized to prevent rust and lengthen their life. These stakes work for 3/4" or 1" tubing and are 6" long.
Note: These come in multiples of 10. Your order will be rounded up to the nearest 10.
Wrap every pipe threaded fitting with teflon tape or covered with pipe dope. Wrap 3-4 layers clockwise around the threads then connect the parts.
This is an alternative to the toxic smelling PVC cement and primer! Non flammable and virtually odorless and user-safe. This is primer and glue in one; the "greenest" PVC glue on the market.
Gorilla glue can be used from 32 to 140 degrees. After gluing joints, wipe down with a rag. This glue is purple and oozes at the fittings from the joints.
Allows a 1" PVC pipe to be disconnected after glue-up. This is very useful at tanks, pumps, filters, and any places where maintenance may be necessary to keep your system working ship-shape over the years.
The Green Back Valve Barbed 1/2" is used to adjust the flow from greywater outlets. For unfiltered greywater, this is a point of potential clogging and should be monitored. Green back valves have a larger orifice than typical ball valves and are the only brand we've found that work with the laundry to landscape system (other brands clog very quickly).
The Green Back Valve Barbed 1" is used to control the outflow of a 1 inch line, or to shut off a 1 inch branch. In a laundry to landscape system do not use these on all the ends or branches, one end must always be left unrestricted to allow for the full flow to exit the line.
In a laundry to landscape system this is used to connect to a 3/4" washing machine hose. It will also need a 3/4" by 1" threaded bushing.
In a rain barrel system this is used to connect one side of a threaded tee to 3/4" tubing.
A Hose Clamp is used to create a water tight seal between washer hose and barbed male pipe end. Can also be used outside to create water tight seals on the barbed fittings.
Used to attach a 3/4" barbed male pipe end fitting to the 3-way valve. This is only needed if you have a 3/4" inner diameter washing machine hose.
In a laundry to landscape system it is used to connect the anti-siphon (auto-vent) to the system. SxSxS (Slip by slip by slip).
The Barbed 1" Insert Adapter connects 1" PVC pipe to 1" tubing. The "insert" side of the fitting has the same outer diameter as 1" PVC pipe; It slips into 1" fittings (elbow, tees, etc) and will require a 1" PVC fitting to be connected to 1" pipe.