Grey Water Recycling with Nature Based Solutions

A single household could recycle its own shower and sink water to irrigate the garden, using a system built from plants and soil rather than chemical treatment plants. Most homes send lightly used "grey water" from baths, sinks, and washing machines straight into the sewer, wasting a resource that could keep gardens green during droughts. Existing recycling systems are often energy-intensive or chemically complex, making them impractical for individual homes. This project tackles that gap by designing a nature-based system (NbS) that uses plant roots and soil microbes to filter and clean the water naturally. The researchers will study how different plants interact with grey water pollutants, then build a prototype for a single household and a scaled-up design for larger gardens. If the prototype works, it could give households a low-cost, low-energy way to reuse water without relying on municipal treatment infrastructure. For water-stressed regions, widespread adoption could reduce demand on mains supplies and keep gardens productive during dry spells. The project is applied from the start, with a clear path to a working system.