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The Water-Wise Home: How to Conserve, Capture, and Reuse Water in Your Home and Landscape
Are you looking for ways to save water -- or money? This accessible guide by Laura Allen, founder of Greywater Action, explains how to use water smartly and efficiently, increasing supply, saving money, reducing wear on your septic system, and filling your home and garden needs. She describes proven conservation techniques, explains how to create a water-wise landscape, and provides illustrated, step-by-step instructions for setting up a waterless composting toilet as well as systems to reuse greywater, harvest rainwater, and more.
256 pages, Paperback
First published January 27, 2015
26 people are currently reading
298 people want to read
About the author
Laura Allen
2 books5 followersLaura Allen is a founding member of Greywater Action and has spent the past 15 years exploring low-tech, urban,sustainable water solutions. She is the lead author of the San Francisco Graywater Design Guidelines for Outdoor Irrigation, and authored The Water-Wise Home: How to Conserve and Reuse Water in Your Home and Landscape (Storey Press, 2015). She has a BA in environmental science, a teaching credential, and a master’s degree in education. Laura leads classes and workshops on rainwater harvesting, greywater reuse, and composting toilets. Laura has presented widely on greywater reuse, including at the Water Smart Innovations Conference, Bioneers, California Environmental Health Association conference, and California Landscape Contractors Association conference. She’s participated in state greywater code developments in California and Washington State and was on a committee to write a draft composting toilet code for IAPMO. Laura was featured in an Ask This Old House episode on greywater and was the 2014 recipient of the Silicon Valley Water Conservation Award of Water Champion.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
February 19, 2015
A thorough, balanced, informative and educational book about reducing water consumption, reusing "clean" water (aka greywater) and the importance of conserving waterways... and best of all, this is for your average person. We use potable (drinkable) water for everything from flushing toilets to watering plants - and then treat it all the same as sewage, resulting in overuse of chemicals and general water waste. Does anyone see a problem with this? The author did. Part I of this book (the first 3 chapters) explains the "why", while Part II explains the "how", for catching, harvesting and storing both greywater and rainwater, including how to create raingardens and install irrigation systems.
You're not expected to know anything about this topic at the beginning, so definitions, examples and explanations are provided in an easy-to-read and memorable format, completed with clear and annotated illustrations, before/after examples and inset tips. If, for instance, you're more interested in different types of toilet than in the problems caused by dams, you can quickly find the sections most relevant to you.
The facts of our American water usage may be surprising or even shocking to you, and some of the methods to reduce wastage are shocking in their simplicity. (You may also be reading it thinking, "People have to be told to do that?" but you'll still find points of interest and easy-to-implement ideas, though you may need to compromise on some if you share your space, and others may make you back away slowly.) Tips are often grouped and graded for ease of implementation as well as cost, making comparison and decision-making a breeze, and she recommends some good places to begin.
This book seems to cover everything you need to know, including some side notes and relevant conversions for those who live in colder climates or who can't easily think in gallons per week. It's not heavy on science/math, but includes enough to be of interest and to help you calculate your water and watering needs while planning any changes. It even includes tools and parts lists and "been there done that" advice to smooth your path and prevent mishaps during installation, along with case studies to show real life applications.
The author is aware that greywater systems may be illegal in your state (and indeed had to work to change the laws in her own), so do check the laws in your area and be mindful when making changes!
The substantial "Resources" list at the end of the book gives plenty of websites and books for every topic mentioned, including some beginner's guides on landscaping and plumbing to get your skills up to par if you're not as handy as you'd like. The Water-Wise Home can provide you with reference material and projects for many years, as you gradually make changes and improvements to your house and landscaping. It's going on my to-buy list.
Recommended for the environmentally-conscious, conservationists, people who want to know more about the workings of their home, those trying to reduce their dependence on the existing water/sewer system, and people seeking to reduce their water bills.
Disclaimer: I received a free ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
You're not expected to know anything about this topic at the beginning, so definitions, examples and explanations are provided in an easy-to-read and memorable format, completed with clear and annotated illustrations, before/after examples and inset tips. If, for instance, you're more interested in different types of toilet than in the problems caused by dams, you can quickly find the sections most relevant to you.
The facts of our American water usage may be surprising or even shocking to you, and some of the methods to reduce wastage are shocking in their simplicity. (You may also be reading it thinking, "People have to be told to do that?" but you'll still find points of interest and easy-to-implement ideas, though you may need to compromise on some if you share your space, and others may make you back away slowly.) Tips are often grouped and graded for ease of implementation as well as cost, making comparison and decision-making a breeze, and she recommends some good places to begin.
This book seems to cover everything you need to know, including some side notes and relevant conversions for those who live in colder climates or who can't easily think in gallons per week. It's not heavy on science/math, but includes enough to be of interest and to help you calculate your water and watering needs while planning any changes. It even includes tools and parts lists and "been there done that" advice to smooth your path and prevent mishaps during installation, along with case studies to show real life applications.
The author is aware that greywater systems may be illegal in your state (and indeed had to work to change the laws in her own), so do check the laws in your area and be mindful when making changes!
The substantial "Resources" list at the end of the book gives plenty of websites and books for every topic mentioned, including some beginner's guides on landscaping and plumbing to get your skills up to par if you're not as handy as you'd like. The Water-Wise Home can provide you with reference material and projects for many years, as you gradually make changes and improvements to your house and landscaping. It's going on my to-buy list.
Recommended for the environmentally-conscious, conservationists, people who want to know more about the workings of their home, those trying to reduce their dependence on the existing water/sewer system, and people seeking to reduce their water bills.
Disclaimer: I received a free ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
December 9, 2014
At first glance, I thought this might be another DIY book on frugal and sustainable ways to save some water. We already have the low-flow toilets, harvest rainwater, and try to plant it places to best use the natural terrain and conserve.
What I wasn't expecting, and what is hidden in the title, is becoming Water-Wise. Not just for your home, but everyone in your home becoming wise about the water table and system in your area.
This is a wonderful, cause-effect-solution book that is easy to read, well illustrated and extremely informative.
You won't find a list of ten projects to save you some water. But you will find a detailed complete home and landscape walk-through that will help you prepare, establish, and implement ways to get the whole family on board saving water.
This isn't just about cutting your water bill, this is about sustainability and environmental impact and change that we can all take part in.
What I wasn't expecting, and what is hidden in the title, is becoming Water-Wise. Not just for your home, but everyone in your home becoming wise about the water table and system in your area.
This is a wonderful, cause-effect-solution book that is easy to read, well illustrated and extremely informative.
You won't find a list of ten projects to save you some water. But you will find a detailed complete home and landscape walk-through that will help you prepare, establish, and implement ways to get the whole family on board saving water.
This isn't just about cutting your water bill, this is about sustainability and environmental impact and change that we can all take part in.
June 1, 2015
For people who are already sure they can and should do more about water than turning off the tap while they brush. Laura Allen is one of the original Greywater Guerrillas and their early publications were galvanizing and energetic--but also a zine-mare of missing pages and cut-off photocopies. inspired action, but not confidence. here, though, we have all the diagrams and formulae you can shake a pipefitting wrench at, along with the calm, accepting tone of people who have dealt with major diy and lived to tell about it. Very sensible section on rain-barrel design.
April 14, 2019
This is written in the style of 1990s diy bootstrapping home improvement books. I enjoyed it immensely, though I still live in terror of composting toilets!
August 9, 2019
Great resource for anyone wanting to make even a minimal change in their water use. And if you want to REALLY commit, the author has information on composting toilets and urine-saving techniques. Ewwww! There are discussions pro and con on all the different systems as well as drawings and graphics to help you set-up and get on board. She has the experience and authority to write about this topic and can call on the authority of other experts in this new field of water conservation.
December 30, 2023
Did not finish but impacted my life
October 31, 2014
The Water-Wise Home is the most thorough, yet readable resource for people interested in conserving water at home. Ms. Allen show all of the currently available options, including DIY options, for greywater systems, low water use appliances and toilets, rainwater reclamation, and composting toilets. There is a large section on water conscious landscaping with and without using greywater. Though readers can tell that most of the information is aimed toward those living on the West Coast, it is certainly applicable to anywhere in the US.
May 8, 2015
Awesome resource - make someday happen TODAY!
Great book full of practical questions answered: when, where, how, why, what, who, which -- EVERYTHING. Includes legal stuff and more. If you are to get one book on this topic at all, I highly recommend this one! Oh, and there are diagrams, too, for the visually inclined. So no excuses, if you've always thought that someday you might just want to do all this. Someday is today. Get it. NOW.
Great book full of practical questions answered: when, where, how, why, what, who, which -- EVERYTHING. Includes legal stuff and more. If you are to get one book on this topic at all, I highly recommend this one! Oh, and there are diagrams, too, for the visually inclined. So no excuses, if you've always thought that someday you might just want to do all this. Someday is today. Get it. NOW.
January 2, 2016
This is a really great resource for learning about water use in your home and how to use less or use smarter. The author really knows what she is talking about. There is something for everyone to think about in this book from someone just wanting to save a little money and use less water to someone ready to go all out and make major changes to their home. It was an interesting read.
I received a free copy of this book through a Goodreads giveaway.
I received a free copy of this book through a Goodreads giveaway.
August 28, 2016
A lot of useful information. Unfortunately, the greywater system would never pass code where I live. I will pickup a copy of this book again once I purchase property and can plan the system from the start.
February 29, 2016
I got this book from goodreads fist reads. It is a wonderful resource if you own a home but if you rent, live in a condo/apartment/etc or have no yard most of this book cannot be used. One of the nice things is that this is just about as self contained a resource as you can possibly get.
July 24, 2015
So inspiring! Accessible ways to conserve and reuse water in the home.
Read
August 27, 2015I didn't finish the book. Will re-approach when I am ready to start the project.
Great resource though.
Great resource though.
September 15, 2016
Nuts and bolts information and plans for adding rainwater and greywater harvesting to your home, with great information about blackwater alternatives. A great reference!
April 27, 2017
Absolutly the number one between my non-fiction books I have read in 2016.
This book has several tops:
1) Ebook - I never saw e-book technically well organized like this. It is so structured and well designed, it was a pleasure to read it on the e-book device. Hyperlinks, references, fonts, illustrations, paragraphs. Very, very nice. This book is definitely not only quick conversion from its paper version.
2) Content - this book is full of knowledge, practice. You are not the plumber? So far. Never mind, you will be, the book will teach you. Author has a deep knowledge from real installations and the book proof it. Many tips like "do not do it this way as in few years the pipe will broke"...
3) Illustrations - never saw so beautiful hand-made illustrations in non-fiction book.
The author maybe could not imagine, this book will read by people around the whole world, not only in USA. Sometimes she talks a little bit about different weather zones (freeze, snow, too hot), but the problem NO 1 is called "units". If I am reading about yards, feet and gallons, I can make some approx. conversion in my head to meters and liters. But if the author is using sophisticated equations for water supply of your tree, where you put several input values, it uses some operators and constants and you get the water amount... The only solution is rewrite whole equations into meters, liters - and use new constants. Also thanks to units being out of my comfort zone I read this book several months instead of several weeks. Maybe in next version of this nice book - I prefer both units, e.g "5 inches (12.7 cm)".
This book has several tops:
1) Ebook - I never saw e-book technically well organized like this. It is so structured and well designed, it was a pleasure to read it on the e-book device. Hyperlinks, references, fonts, illustrations, paragraphs. Very, very nice. This book is definitely not only quick conversion from its paper version.
2) Content - this book is full of knowledge, practice. You are not the plumber? So far. Never mind, you will be, the book will teach you. Author has a deep knowledge from real installations and the book proof it. Many tips like "do not do it this way as in few years the pipe will broke"...
3) Illustrations - never saw so beautiful hand-made illustrations in non-fiction book.
As you will see, some people live modern and comfortable lifestyles relying on a mere 8 inches of annual rainfall.
The author maybe could not imagine, this book will read by people around the whole world, not only in USA. Sometimes she talks a little bit about different weather zones (freeze, snow, too hot), but the problem NO 1 is called "units". If I am reading about yards, feet and gallons, I can make some approx. conversion in my head to meters and liters. But if the author is using sophisticated equations for water supply of your tree, where you put several input values, it uses some operators and constants and you get the water amount... The only solution is rewrite whole equations into meters, liters - and use new constants. Also thanks to units being out of my comfort zone I read this book several months instead of several weeks. Maybe in next version of this nice book - I prefer both units, e.g "5 inches (12.7 cm)".
October 13, 2017
Very informative.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews