Win a Sloan AQUS Grey Water System!
Saving water is one of the most important things we can do to ensure environmental and social sustainability for generations to come – but while many of us try to be conscious of our water use, we flush thousands of gallons of water down the drain each year due to inefficient toilets and sinks. To help cut down on this inefficient use of a vital resource, we’ve teamed up with Sloan Valve Company to give away FIVE AQUS water reclamation systems (Worth $189 each)! This awesome system is a simple DIY setup that takes your bathroom’s sink water and recycles it for flushing in your toilet – and it could save you up to 6,000 gallons of water each year. It’s easy to enter – just follow the steps below and tell us your top tip for conserving water!
TO ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY:
1. SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER HERE > We’ll be announcing the winners in our weekly newsletter, so if you want to find out who won, you’ll need to receive it!
2. BECOME A FAN OF INHABITAT ON FACEBOOK Just visit our page and click on the “Like” button at the top.
3. LEAVE A COMMENT BELOW and tell us your top tip for conserving water. The deadline for this fabulous giveaway is Wednesday, September 28th. We’ll pick the 5 comments we like best and announce the winners in our September 29th newsletter, so make sure you’re signed up!
Sloan’s AQUS system is built around a box that rests below your sink and is capable of holding up to 5.5 gallons of reclaimed sink water. A small pump, activated by a water level sensor in the toilet tank, transfers the grey water to the toilet and fills the reservoir alongside the toilet’s water supply, off-setting 65% of the potable water needed per flush. If the Aqus runs out of water, the toilet’s regular water supply will complete the flush, and if the Aqus is full, the excess water is drained normally. The system also requires minimal maintenance – just once a year.
Each system comes as a kit that includes a hose and sensor wire, fixtures to be installed in the toilet tank, and some plumbing to connect the sink to the storage tank. The entering sink water pours through chlorine tablets, which are inserted to make sure the water is not dangerous, and a screen catches hair and other objects.
While payback depends on your location and you usage, since many municipalities charge for waste water processing, it could take just a few years for the AQUS to pay for itself. But above all, you’ll finally have peace of mind knowing you aren’t letting thousands of gallons of water go to waste!
267 Responses to “GIVEAWAY: Enter to Win a Sloan AQUS Grey Water Toilet System That Recycles Your Sink Water (Worth $189)!”
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the best tip for water conservation is simply to be conscious of your water use. Think about situations where you save water and apply them to similar situations and pass them on to others. Brush your teeth like you would at the cottage with just a cup of water, use a rain barrel for your garden, flowers and lawn. Don’t water your lawn during the head of the summer its only for vanity. There are lots of situations you come across every day where you can save just a little bit, but those little bits will all add up at the end of the month… year… lifetime
I bathe my three grandsons (3/5/7yrs) all together at the same time. Saves water and time, but you should see the bathtub ring!
Add a dual flush converter to your toilet
For $19.00 you can go to say Home Depot or other store that carries the converter. You simply remove the flapper unit, but not the base that holds the flapper and then attach the converter. Its really easy just follow the simple directions and you will have it done in 15 min.
Ideally your toilet will be a 1.6 flusher as it can effectively flush your liquids and solids on the small flush which means you can have all your flushes be less than a gallon. If you have an older toilet it will still work but the old swirly flushes are not as good so you will need to use the large flush as well.
You can also buy the cheapest toilet on the market for say $50.00 and then convert it and it will work great. What people don’t know is their is alot of waste in the way a toilet works so a 1.6 really flush 2.3, a 3 gallon really flushes more like 4.5 gallons and an old 5 gallon more like 7 gallons. This will save you the most water in your house over your showers and laundry and sink use and the most money.
Kitchen Timer! I find the shower is where I waste the most water. We leave a kitchen timer in the shower. 4 minutes for days when we don’t wash our hair and 8 minutes for days when we do. We usually come in under the timer. Just like your body get’s use to waking up at a certain time, we have found that your body gets use to the time you have allotted in the shower.
I subscribe to your email and like you on Facebook! I would love to win this! Thanks so much for the fantastic giveaway!
Renee Walters
bored2quickly@hotmail.com
My water saving tip: We have rainbarrels situated at several places around our house. We collect rainwater and use it for watering our potted plants, which consists mainly of fruit and vegetable plants.
I took my grandson on a hike when he was two years old. We tromped down to the railroad tracks and started walking along the path. About 15 minutes into the walk, he had to pee. Since we were in a remote area with no houses and no trains were anywhere in sight, I told him he could go in the bushes on the side of the tracks. “I can pee outdoors!” he exclaimed. “When no one is around, sure,” I replied. He couldn’t wait to tell his mom and dad this wonderful thing grandpa taught him. I told them it was my small contribution to water conservation.
Now, I await the results of the Gates Foundation challenge to reinvent the toilet to capture, treat, and recycle human waste (http://www.gatesfoundation.org/press-releases/Pages/safe-affordable-sanitation-110719.aspx). I know that will be a better solution than relieving oneself outside.
I use a well pump and a septic tank system. Instead of sending both water from the sink and the toliet, it makes sense to send from the sink to the toliet and then to the septic tank. Reduces the need to pump water and reduces sewage output to the septic tank.
A lot cheaper than replacing a working but old toilet is to add a completely filled and sealed 2 liter bottle of water to the tank. It will displace the volume, fooling the float valve and saving 2 liters per flush.
i keep a weighted water bottle in our toilet tanks to reduce the amount of water needed to flush the toilet.
I believe that people usually use the most water while taking a shower. So in my family we conserve on water by turning shower speed into a game. We have a small little chalk board on the inside of our bathroom closet. We have a little water proof timer that we put in the shower. When you turn on the water, you turn it on. When you turn off the water, you turn it off. Me, my wife, and our two children all have our names up there on the board and we write down our shower time for every shower that we take. At the end of the week we add up the times for each person. The winner a “no chores for the day” card, a “I choose what we have for dessert” card, and a “I choose the entertainment for tonight” card. It’s a fun game and it motivates the family to conserve water by taking quick showers.
Like the first person said – just be conscious of your use. Turn off the tap while brushing teeth or washing dishes – just run the water to rinse. Upgrade your toilet to a more efficient model. Choose plants for your landscape that don’t need a lot of extra water and when you do water, aim the hose at the base of the plants, don’t water the leaves.
i am in discussions with a plummer friend of mine about setting up a grey water system for watering our lawn and flowers. He is going to reclaim the water from our washing machine into a large storage tank outside of our house and then install a pump system to force the water from the tank to our sprinklers and drip hoses. I have also asked him to set up the system to divert rain water from the roof of the house into the collection tank.
I already receive your newsletter and am a Facebook fan. My top tip for conserving water is to collect rainwater in barrels and use it to water my garden and plants.
My wife and I are building a cob house and we plan to put in greywater systems for the toilets, sinks, showers, dishes, and cloths washer. The water will be used from the sink to flush the toilet (we’ll buy one of these systems even if we don’t win) and the water from all the other places will be used to water our greenhouse and garden as long as things are growing via a catchment system and daily waters. In the winter we’ll use limited amounts for our greenhouse but most will be sent to the city (sadly).
We use rainwater collection barrels for watering gardens, washing the car and other outdoor cleaning tasks.
Most people don’t know that dishwasher and detergent technology has advanced significantly in the last ten years. You don’t need to pre-rinse with today’s equipment and cleaners including the rinsing agent. You will use one-half or less water doing dishes in an automatic dishwasher than doing them by hand.
I save water by not having a swimming pool! I’ve decided it’s too much of a waste of water all year round for use just a few months out of the year, during which hot months the water waste is even greater because of the rate of evaporation that necessitates continual re-filling. It’s much smarter to find & use a community pool. If everyone would retire their swimming pools, for a fraction of their current personal cost we could all enjoy wonderfully maintained community pools. Basically, the biggest ways in which I save water I think involve lifestyle changes! Another example, the vegetation around my house reflects the local climate. A grass lawn is rarely a water-smart choice, but especially so in geographic locations where there is not much natural rainfall. I make sure to choose plants that are native to the geography. And in the end, this type of landscaping that takes into consideration the surrounding habitat, will always thrive & look beautiful!
We try to save in so many ways, but the one thing that probably saves the most for our family of four is “if it’s yellow, let it mellow, etc. We have no dishwasher, so we try to wash all dishes once a day in one wash tub and one rinse tub that both fit into our GIGANTIC 1940′s sink. Any water that is not consumed as well as the used dish-water will be re-used for watering indoor plants and the garden. We’ve put aerators on all faucets, we shower instead of take baths, and turn the water off when brushing our teeth. As a plantoholic, I don’t adhere to this religiously, but I try to plant a large portion of natives and drought tolerant plants, as summers here are very dry. Other gardening tricks we do is to mulch, collect rain water, and I have planted several trees to create more shade around our house. As we live in the Pacific NW, winters here are very wet, and water is currently plentiful (and tastes fantastic!), but I always have a feeling that this is a temporary thing, with extended droughts becoming more common around the globe. Good clean water truly is a luxury to be savored!
One of the biggest travesties in America is how we flush at least 1.6-gallons of perfectly clean potable water literally down the toilet each and every time we use the bathroom. In a time where the next world war could potentially be fought over drinking water, Sloan’s AQUS grey water recycling system is a great idea and product.
In 2009 we cut our mowing in half and stopped watering our lawn. The longer grass protects the lawn from burnout (it’s really green right now). Also in 2009 we installed rain barrels and only use the captured rainwater for our fruits and vegetables. If we can’t consume it, it doesn’t get watered.
We decided not to water our lawn these past two years and only the vegetables and flowers at night time. We also always wash on cold (It might not save water.. but it does save energy!) Our plan for next year is to get rain barrels!
We save all of our water used for steaming veggies, unused tea or coffee, pasta water and water our garden and pot plants – a nourishing way to save water…..
Turn off water while brushing teeth.
Run your clothes washer discharge out to a spigot and use to water your grass. Detergent helps with the insects as well.
My tip is organizing your local community to gain city dollars for installation of grey water systems throughout the community. One home at a time makes a difference, but a community of homes at a time could help resolve the issue.
I’m not big on big government, but I would feel some sense of ecological hope if people pushed for grey water legislation
while waiting for my tap water to heat, I fill a pitcher with the water rather then let it run down the drain. I use this water to water my plants and for my dogs.
swssweeps@hotmail.com
I get your newsletter. I like you on FB as Tofu Fairy. I know its not much, but after I boil something (pasta veggies etc), I save the water and once it cools I toss it into my garden. I figure that’s better than going down the drain!! Its little, but it adds up. We also catch rainwater in three different containers around our property to use to water our gardens.
If its yellow let it mellow.
My tip for using less water is to just use less water. Stop watering your lawn, guys pee outside on a tree or something, boil some chicken for dinner – then use the same water to make pasta… My monthly water bill is about $10. What’s so hard about it?
I liked you on facebook and subbed to your newletter.
Water saving tips for the toilet:
I use a water bottle filled with sand and put it in the toilet tank. This way it raises the water level in the tank therefore shutting the water off thinking it is full enough.
Water saving tips for the washer:
I use cold water only and make sure that I have a full load of laundry before I do the washing.
wow! great newsletter!
I would love to win any sweepstakes
I only do laundry twice a week to ensure that I have full loads of laundry. If there isn’t enough for a full load then it gets held back until next laundry day. For those times when a kid gets sick or there’s just something that you have to wash right away I make sure to put my washer on the lowest water setting and add some other stuff to it so that it’s a full small load. I also make sure that my kids turn the water off while they’re brushing their teeth instead of letting it run the whole time.
boylaneely at hotmail dot com
Looks like a great system that’s easy to implement. I’d love to try it out or find plans for a DIY version.
I am always looking for ways to cut down on what my family uses. This looks like a very viable option.
It has been said that over 50% of the water used in the United States is directly attributable to livestock production. One of the reasons I have been strictly vegetarian for nearly 7 years is the significant reduction of water use through my diet. My #1 tip: Reduce the amount of meat in your diet.
We cut down on waste by taking short showers rather than baths, and not leaving the sink run while we brush our teeth… stuff like that.
I’d love to win this
I’d like to use this in the basement apartment. We saved water by replacing all the 1950′s toilets in the house with dual flush and low water units.
I think a good way is to share baths with a quick shower like the Japanese do. That way you aren’t doing multiple showers or baths that use a lot of water. I also think that you filtered pitchers/containers help because they encourage us to stop buying bottled water
I love this prize…what a great idea to help save our water.
The best way my husband and I save water in our apartment is by collecting rain water on our porch, then filtering and purifying it for our water bottles. We each take a water bottle to work everyday, so this really saves a ton of water! It takes almost zero time to cleanse our rainwater – it’s amazing!
We save rainwater and use it to water plants!
The best thing for me is to time my showers, no matter how aware I try to be time still gets away from me. A simple kitchen timer helps me keep them short and simple and stop unneeded wasting.
I am a confirmed subscriber to your newsletter at supermomonwheels [at] gmail [dot] com and FB follower as Corrie Gompf.
Teach your children to turn the water off as they are brushing their teeth! no19034770 @yahoo.com
Yes, this would be awesome.
The best way that I have seen to conserve water is the “Free Spring” water system. Saves from 700 to 900 gallons per year!!
Simple, but effective: Turn off the water while brushing your teeth & don’t lounge around in the shower!
I subscribe to the newsletter & liked Inhabitat on FB as Holly Storm-Burge. Thanks!
We live in Texas, which is in the midst of the worst drought in recorded history so water has been a huge focus and concern for us. We now take 3-4 minute showers with the help of a precious little hourglass from the Surfrider Foundation– turquoise sand that lets us visibly see how much time we have left!
We’ve had to cut back on watering our veggie garden (even though just having a garden instead of getting veggies at the market saves water and fuel). And we only have cacti, succulents and native plants in the yard. We long ago had to let the grass die.
Texas really is in the worst drought of recorded history. Rain barrels would do nothing for us now since we haven’t had a good rain storm since last year, literally.
Texas has
Oops, let me edit my previous comment:
We live in Austin. Texas is in the midst of the worst drought in recorded history so water has been a huge focus and concern for us. We now take 3-4 minute showers with the help of a precious little hourglass from the Surfrider Foundation– turquoise sand that lets us visibly see how much time we have left!
We’ve had to cut back on watering our veggie garden (even though just having a garden instead of getting veggies at the market saves water and fuel). And we only have cacti, succulents and native plants in the yard. We long ago had to let the grass die.
The horrific drought here makes one aware of just how precious water is. How vital it is. Rain barrels would do nothing for us now since we haven’t had a good rain storm since last year. We’re just hoping for rain and conserving what we can!
I do different things to save water.
I put a big bottle of sand inside the toilet’s water supply, so the volume occupied by the bottle inside isn’t water and so we flush less water into the toilet.
When our shower water is warming up, we save the cold water in a container we have in the bathroom and then we use that water, for example to water the plants or even to flush the toilet (instead of pressing the button, we just throw the water into the toilet and it’s done!).
We take short showers and we don’t let the water running while we are cleaning ourselves, so the waste is minimum.
I collect the water I use when rinsing fruits vegetables and sprouts and, then reuse it to water houseplants.. it will make them soo happy!
I brush my teeth while I am in the shower so I dont use extra water afterwards by brushing my teeth in the sink.
I think the best way is to promote to everybody the “Water Conservation Culture”, make the people conscious and each one will have and tests excellents ideas. If each one of us do something local, that will be a global impact for sustaintability.
I learned to take cold showers, that represents less time for bath and use of water, you don’t have to recover water before is hot and your bathroom will be cleaner because there are no steam. Use a telephone shower with reduction for faster rinse. That is not a solution for all, but this is one of the ways I contribute. Other tip is reusing washer machine gray water for toilet, home cleaning, even car wash, because clothes liquid soap used, they are shining!
Collect as much rain water as possible. Connect water buts up to each other and purchase as many as you possibly can.
Hi Guys! I Bought a 20 gallons container, and every time i take a bath, i fill the container using the hose from the shower with the first cold water. When the water becomes warm i’ll turn it off, get the hose in the proper place, turn the hot water on, i wet myself, stop it again, i wash myself and finally turn it on again to wash the soap away! The container has a valve and every time i need to flush the toilet i use this water!
The easiest tips are the best. Turn the damn water off when you brush your teeth. Millions of gallons of wasted water every year…
Or get a Sloan AQUS Grey Water Toilet System.
We use leftover coffee and water from cooking vegetables to water our houseplants. We also use a rainbarrel to capture rain water – it’s been a real plant-saver this past summer in the drought areas of the U.S.
So along with a 2-liter bottle in the toilet tank and the two 55-gallon rain collection drums that are gravity fed to the herb garden, we (not so recently) replaced our shower head with a low flow head that also has a built-in water filter.
I bought an Incolet toilet. It uses no water. I also bought an Aqua2 Gray water system that allows me to re-use my sink, bath, and washing machine water for my plants. The water is pumped into my rain barrels and then used to water my plants. I also have sedums and other drought tolerant plants instead of grass in both the front and back yards, as well as all over my property.
I remember when I was growing up my parents would have a brick in the toilet tank to raise the water level
Thank you for hosting this giveaway
Louis
pumuckler {at} gmail {dot} com
(subscribed and liked too)
We have an older toilet that uses a LOT of water per flush, so my better half and I practice the the “if it’s yellow let it mellow rule” when it’s just us at home. Gross…some may think, eco-concious…definitely. Additionally, this year we installed a rain barrel system for watering our garden. Not only does it save us water, but it also saves us time. It’s closer distance than our water spigot, we don’t have to haul out and roll up our hose and when full, it actually dispenses water faster than our hose! Lastly, we swapped out our RO water filtration system for one that blows away the water:waste ratio of our last system. Our old system was around 1:6, whereas our new system is 1:2!
i take baths in a tub half full and wash my clothes in cold water!
I thought this was great but my toilets are further away in fact across the room. I have septic thought this would be great for people who pay for water.
so it is good to conserve and I have for nearly 40 years…but point I do not like is the chlorine tablets…they are not safe, can emit gas if you use a cleaning liquid and do if you clean your sinks. I use non toxic but chlorine is toxic, and it ruins the bacteria in your septic systems…ruins your lawns near pools…so I will see, I read about it in Mother Earth but is it eco friendly? What if you live in those Fracking Areas?
Made my day once once more, great post..two thumbs up!:)
I really don’t understand why this isn’t the standard, why flush with clean water, it has never made sense to me. I try very hard to conserve by placing a filled 2-liter and a 20oz bottle in the tank to use a bit less with every flush, and also only flushing when necessary, but this could help me to save even more!! and only $189??? if I don’t win one, I’ll start saving for one now!
can this is enough for flushing which is used in public tiolet