The potential for decentralized reclamation and reuse of household greywater in peri-urban areas of Bangkok

A survey was conducted of 400 households in the peri-urban area of Bangkok to investigate typical household water consumption, daily water use activities, public perception towards wastewater reuse and detergent consumption. Four categories of greywater, including cooking, dish washing, bathing and laundry washing wastewater, their properties and potential application for reuse were examined. Average water consumption was estimated to be 208L/person/day. The wastewater was already reused in 42% of households, and that laundry wastewater was widely used for plant watering and floor washing. More than 80% of households accepted the use of treated greywater, while 50% of households did not accept the use of treated blackwater. Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD) and suspended solid (SS) were high in cooking, dish washing and laundry, and lower in bathing wastewater, while anionic surfactant were high in laundry and dish washing wastewater. The finding results clearly demonstrate the possibility of greywater reclamation and reuse in the area.