There are several references to gray water systems in the last issue. I live in a mobile home in the country. I estimate probably 90+% of my gray water comes from the washing machine. To keep it from going into my septic tank (didn't want all that soap, dirt and bleach in it), I simply cut a 1 1/2" hole next to the wall between the washer and space for a dryer (I use a solar dryer). Went underneath and cut a hole in the insulating mesh for a length of 1 1/2" PVC pipe to come out. Attached pipe to wall with conduit clamps. I just vent the water out under the mobile home since I don't need it for plants or a garden. Something like this could be done with a home with a crawlspace with the gray water vented outside to a container of some type. During winter, just simply place the drain line from the washer back into your regular plumbing system.

-- Ken Scharabok (scharabo@aol.com), July 03, 2000

Answers

Ken, I'm not sure that all that moisture under the mobile home is good for it. My dad vented the dryer exhaust under his MH in Alaska, trying to save the heat, and we ended up having to replace a section of floor nearby. Of course the moisture was confined under the structure by the insulated skirting, but it still doesn't seem like a good long-term solution, when you consider that the subfloor is probably only particle board.

-- Kathleen Sanderson (stonycft@worldpath.net), July 03, 2000.

I'm not really worried about moisture, but understand the point. The skirting is ventilated, there is a vapor barrier under the trailer and the water soaks in the ground quickly. It is always damp underneath anyway.

-- Ken Scharabok (scharabo@aol.com), July 04, 2000.