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Table of Contents

QUESTION:...................................................................................................................................................2
1. PROJECT OVERVIEW................................................................................................................................3
1.1. Project Title..................................................................................................................................3
1.2. Project background......................................................................................................................3
2. INVESTMENT GOALS............................................................................................................................4
2.1. Primary objectives.......................................................................................................................4
2.2. Measurable objectives.................................................................................................................4
3. REASONS FOR THE INVESTMENT.........................................................................................................4
3.1. Lowered costs..............................................................................................................................4
3.2. Environmental Benefits................................................................................................................4
3.3. Government Incentives and Tax Benefits.....................................................................................5
3.4. Reduced vulnerability to water price hikes..................................................................................5
4. FINANCIAL PROJECTIONS OVER 5 YEARS.............................................................................................5
4.1. Initial Investment Cost.................................................................................................................5
4.2. Annual Operating Costs...............................................................................................................5
4.3. 5-Year Savings Estimate................................................................................................................6
4.4. Cost factors..................................................................................................................................6
5. SYSTEM IMPLEMENTATION..................................................................................................................6
5.1. Quality requirements...................................................................................................................6
5.2. Technical requirements................................................................................................................7
5.3. Installation requirements.............................................................................................................8
5.4. Maintenance requirements.........................................................................................................8
6. REUSE OPTIONS FOR RECYCLED WASTE WATER..................................................................................9
7. GREYWATER TREATMENT....................................................................................................................9
8. CONCLUSION.....................................................................................................................................11
9. REFERENCES......................................................................................................................................12

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QUESTION:
Within the premise that you live, think about water supply system investment, whether it is safe
and enough to all your sized community or new project investment is required or expanded or
operative standard need to be improved- think your project for 5 years period- give the reasons.

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 1. PROJECT OVERVIEW

1.1. Project Title

IKUTI GREYWATER SYSTEM INVESTMENT (5-YEAR PLAN)

1.2. Project background

There has been a rise in water rates, which has rose the awareness of the financial impact of
water bills, many residents are looking for cost-effective alternatives. Reusing greywater for
purposes like toilet flushing and irrigation, can significantly reduce household water
consumption, leading to lower utility bills over time.

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 2. INVESTMENT GOALS

2.1. Primary objectives

i. Reduce potable water consumption for non-potable purposes (e.g., irrigation, toilet
flushing).
ii. Lower operational costs related to water use.
iii. Minimize environmental impact by reducing the demand on municipal water systems and
wastewater treatment plants.
iv. Improve sustainability credentials, particularly for businesses seeking green certifications
or homeowners aiming for eco-friendly living.

2.2. Measurable objectives

i. Achieve 60% reduction in fresh water consumption by year 5.

ii. Reuse 40,000 liters of greywater annually per person in a household.

3. REASONS FOR THE INVESTMENT

3.1. Lowered costs

Water Bill Reduction: Over a 5-year period, the reuse of greywater can substantially reduce
water bills, especially in areas where water costs are rising. For example, using recycled water
for landscaping and toilet flushing can cut down on the amount of fresh water consumed.

Maintenance and Operational Savings: Though there will be an initial setup cost, greywater
systems are relatively low-maintenance, and the reduction in water consumption will offset these
costs over time. Additionally, there are long-term savings on wastewater treatment fees if
greywater is diverted from the sewer system.

3.2. Environmental Benefits

Water Conservation: Greywater recycling directly reduces demand on potable water supplies,
contributing to broader water conservation efforts. This is particularly critical in areas facing
water scarcity or drought conditions.

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Reduced Wastewater Production: By diverting greywater from the sewage system, the system
decreases the volume of wastewater that needs to be treated at municipal plants, reducing strain
on local infrastructure and lowering overall energy usage.

Sustainability and Green Credentials: The installation of a greywater system demonstrates a

commitment to sustainable practices and can enhance the reputation of the property or business
as environmentally conscious. This can be a key selling point in the market, particularly for eco-
minded customers or tenants.

3.3. Government Incentives and Tax Benefits

In many regions, there are rebates, incentives, and tax credits available for businesses or
homeowners who install water-efficient systems, including greywater recycling. These incentives
can significantly reduce the upfront investment cost, making the system more affordable. For
example, some jurisdictions may offer financial rebates or grants for green building
improvements or water-saving installations.

3.4. Reduced vulnerability to water price hikes

With the global demand for water rising, it’s likely that water prices will continue to increase
over the next several years. Investing in a greywater system now can mitigate the impact of
future price hikes and provide predictable savings in the long term.

4. FINANCIAL PROJECTIONS OVER 5 YEARS

4.1. Initial Investment Cost

System Purchase and Installation: Tshs 27,000,000.00

The investment costs of the applied technology amount to approximately 1- 2 monthly rents for
one accommodation unit.

Permits and Fees: Tshs 100,000.00 per year

4.2. Annual Operating Costs

Maintenance: Tshs 500,000.00 per year (regular cleaning, minor repairs)

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Water Savings: Tshs 28,000.00 per head per year (reduced water bills for irrigation and toilet
flushing)

4.3. 5-Year Savings Estimate

Total Savings: Tshs 3,143,600.00 (estimated savings in water bills and wastewater treatment)

Return on Investment: Based on the savings over 5 years, the system is expected to pay for itself
within 9 years.

4.4. Cost factors

i. Dual piping system

ii. System technology
iii. Installation costs
iv. Operating costs
v. Maintenance and repair costs

5. SYSTEM IMPLEMENTATION

5.1. Quality requirements

i. Hygienic safety

Microbiological parameters for “service water” (treated greywater) in accordance with the EU-
Guidelines for Bathing Waters (2006/7/EC):

 Total coliforms: < 100/ml

 E. coli: < 10/ml
 P. aeruginosa: < 1/ml.
ii. No comfort loss

The Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) and the oxygen saturation level are the most important
quality criteria for the “storage capability” of the treated service water. Low turbidity will cause
less depositions in the service water network and a high oxygen saturation will prevent the
development of odors.
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iii. Environmental tolerance
 Low specific energy demand: ideally < 1.5 kWh/m³
 No use of chemicals
 UV disinfection instead of chlorination
iv. Economic feasibility
 Investment (including all operational costs) should pay off within a reasonable
amortization period.
 The costs for the applied recycling technology should not exceed those for the
conventional system.
 Lower operating costs can be achieved if high-quality system components are used with
low system maintenance and energy demand.

5.2. Technical requirements

i. A pre-treatment stage using self-cleaning sieves should be incorporated in all systems to

remove coarse material (hair, lint, sand, metal and plastic parts). If kitchen greywater is
included in the wastewater stream, it is recommended to install a combined grease and
sediment trap.
ii. The needed space requirement of about 0.1 square meters per person is representative for
biological systems used for greywater treatment. This is primarily dependent on the
pollution load of the greywater (greywater sources), the needed buffer for greywater and
service water peak flows as well as on the required service water quality.
iii. Systems should be installed such that access to all system parts is possible at all times for
maintenance.
iv. Installation work must be done by licensed installers/plumbers.
v. Cross connection between potable and non-potable water networks must be excluded!
Cross connections must be checked prior to commissioning (dye test).
vi. Labelling of service water (non-potable) pipe works and tapping points must be done to
distinguish them from drinking water installations.
vii. A backflow prevention arrangement which hinders the undesirable reversal flow of non-
potable water into the drinking water network (open outlet) must be installed.

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 5.3. Installation requirements

i. Greywater reuse systems must be provided with an automatic backup system, when used
inside buildings to ensure continuous supply of service water. Drinking water, rainwater
or other water source of suitable quality can be used.
ii. Energy input for the greywater recycling system should not exceed that for the
conventional wastewater treatment system. This should be less than 2 kWh for the
treatment including distribution of one cubic meter of service water.
iii. The use of chemicals for treatment, operation and maintenance should be prohibited.
iv. Low operation and low maintenance expenditure should be sought.
v. System should be robust, insusceptible to fluctuations and system components long-
lasting.
vi. Skilled knowledge is needed for the planning process as well as for installation and
maintenance of greywater recycling systems. Involving planers at the early planning
phase contributes significantly to cost savings. End users should also ask for references
and guarantees.
vii. For installations in a building, the following data is required on:
 Dimensions of the installation room
 Smallest clearance dimension (doors)
 Load-bearing capacity of the ground
 Other influencing factors, such as increased dust formation, increased room
temperature, aeration and ventilation
viii. For installations in the ground, the following data is required on:
 Built volume
 Soil conditions
 Groundwater table
 Distance to the building

5.4. Maintenance requirements

i. When high-load greywater flows (from kitchen and washing machines) are also
considered for treatment, the maintenance expenditure is expected to be slightly higher
than when only low-load greywater is reused.

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 ii. In general, automatic and periodic cleaning of sieves/filters would provide for a low-
maintenance and trouble-free operation.
iii. An internet-based control/monitoring unit helps optimize system operation and reduces
the costs for maintenance and operation.

6. REUSE OPTIONS FOR RECYCLED WASTE WATER

Indoor reuse: urinal and toilet flushing, cleaning, laundry.

Outdoor reuse: washing vehicles, irrigation of agricultural areas and groundwater recharge

N.B: Reuse option affects the choice of the treatment technology.

7. GREYWATER TREATMENT

Include physical, chemical, and biological systems. Most of these technologies are preceded by a
solid-liquid separation step as pre-treatment followed by a disinfection step as post-treatment.
Chemical treatments (e.g. coagulation, ion exchange systems, …) are usually associated with
high energy and material consumption as well as waste by products. Therefore, they are only
recommended in exceptional cases. Physical treatment: coarse sand filtration, soil filtration,

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membrane filtration (MF, UF), UV disinfection. Biological treatment: rotating biological
contactors (RBC), moving –bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) sequencing batch reactor (SBR),
constructed wetland (CW) and membrane bioreactors (MBR). A combination of physical and
biological treatment technologies is mostly applied in practice to achieve a high-water quality for
reuse.

Except for the MBR process, most of the applied biological processes are followed by a filtration
stage (e.g. sand filtration) and/or a disinfection stage to meet the non-potable reuse standards.

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 8. CONCLUSION

Investing in a greywater system over the next five years is a forward-thinking decision that will
yield both cost savings and environmental benefits. It aligns with long-term goals of
sustainability, efficiency, and water conservation. With the growing importance of resource
management, this investment will position us to not only save money but also reduce our
ecological footprint, making it a worthwhile venture both financially and ethically.

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 9. REFERENCES

Association for Rainwater Harvesting and water utilization. Grey Water. https:/programme2014-
20.interreg-central.eu/Content,Node/Digital-Learning-Resources/01-Greywater.pdf

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