The Difference Between a Laundry Drain & Storm Water Drain | All Storm Drains Inc. | AllStormDrains.com Long Island NY
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A dry well is a well that is used to transmit surface water underground and is deeper than its width at the surface (see image, below). Most dry wells are 30 to 70 feet deep and 3 feet wide at the surface. They are lined with perforated casings and can be filled with gravel or rock or left empty. Today, dry wells usually include some form of pretreatment to remove oil, particles, and associated contaminants, reducing the risk of clogging the wells and of transporting contaminants underground.
Dry wells can be used to reduce the adverse effects of storm water runoff on streams and rivers. Capturing urban storm water prevents the runoff from entering streams and lakes where contaminants could cause pollution and erosion could damage aquatic habitats. Dry wells can also be used to return water to aquifers: a single dry well can transmit up to 5 acre-feet of water per year to underlying aquifers, equivalent to the water needs of about 10 households. This ability to recharge local groundwater supplies can help increase water resource security by mitigating the effects of drought or excessive groundwater extraction.
Dry well use has been limited in some places by the concern that dry wells could contaminate groundwater, including drinking water, by reducing the distance contaminated storm water must travel through sediment in order to reach groundwater. Surface soil and underground sediment remove contaminants by acting as a natural filter, but dry wells allow storm water contaminants to bypass many underground layers. Groundwater contamination has occurred in the past when surface contaminant spills have entered dry wells, or when substances have been illegally dumped into open dry well. However, groundwater contamination is rare when dry wells are used as intended and when appropriate precautions are taken. Contamination risk can be reduced by using dry wells at sites where spills are unlikely or installing emergency shut-off valves to keep out contaminated water.
Dry Wells can be a safe and effective way to manage storm water and recharge groundwater as long as:
Provided you use the right ingredients in the washing machine and aren't washing diapers and other clothing or items that may contain biological contaminants, you can use the water for subsurface irrigation to water trees, shrubs and all parts of vegetable plants except the edible parts (root vegetables should not be watered with grey water). The right ingredients are natural, biodegradable soaps and detergents. Avoid bleach, dye, salts and products containing boron, which is toxic to vegetation. Instead of using a powdered detergent containing sodium, which can prevent seeds from sprouting, choose a castile soap product, which is just as effective and won't harm vegetation. Even with the right ingredients, however, you shouldn't store grey water for longer than 24 hours, or it will develop an odor.
You may choose not to recycle washing machine grey water for many reasons. If you don't, a simple way to dispose of it is to dig a dry well. However, it is also possible to install a 3-way valve to switch between a grey water system and a septic system. It's basically a hole in the ground with a covered, perforated liner made of fiberglass, plastic or concrete. You can even fill the hole with gravel, as long as you cover it. When water fills the well, it seeps through the liner or the gravel and disperses through the soil. It's essential to locate the dry well in a location with good drainage, or the grey water may form pools on the ground and create odors or nesting grounds for mosquitoes. They are also smaller in size than a storm drain and hold different materials.
- The storm water is not contaminated
- Appropriate pretreatment is used
- The dry wells are installed in suitable locations
You may choose not to recycle washing machine grey water for many reasons. If you don't, a simple way to dispose of it is to dig a dry well. However, it is also possible to install a 3-way valve to switch between a grey water system and a septic system. It's basically a hole in the ground with a covered, perforated liner made of fiberglass, plastic or concrete. You can even fill the hole with gravel, as long as you cover it. When water fills the well, it seeps through the liner or the gravel and disperses through the soil. It's essential to locate the dry well in a location with good drainage, or the grey water may form pools on the ground and create odors or nesting grounds for mosquitoes. They are also smaller in size than a storm drain and hold different materials.
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