Reuse Your Greywater with the Take-Away Sink
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA 
on 09. 6.07
Jessica Nebel's Take-Away Sink is just what it sounds like -- a sink that doubles as a bucket, so you can take it away with you. This double functionality serves a double purpose: you can use your sink as a bucket (which, of course, negates the need for you to have a random bucket lying around) and it helps contextualize your water use and makes it easy to reuse your greywater. We could even see watering your houseplants with the water you collect when brushing your teeth. More pics after the jump. ::Jessica Nebel via ::Design Spotter
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Toothpaste is one of the things about grey water that's always puzzled me, actually. Most soaps and such are reasonably harmless in most cases, but I've always been told that the fluor(ide) in toothpaste is toxic. Wouldn't that either damage your plants, or end up in your body if you use it to water your vegetables?
That being said, this is by far the coolest bucket I've ever seen!
THE SINK BUCKET CAN STILL BE SOLD WITHOUT THE REST OF THE SINK EQUIPMENT, TO BE USED WITH THE EXISTING EQUIPMENT
Concercering fluoride, it sure is toxic.
2 things:
-Your concern (re: it ending up in your vegetables) is valid, take the next step and imagine where the water that goes down your drain ends up.
- Using floride free toothpaste elimates both issues
I think this is a great idea- there are two simple ways it could be improved.
Might I suggest a dishpan? But really what i think would be more practical is some kind of diverter switch for under the sink that allows one to send the water either into the waste stream or into a receptacle for reuse (or directly the garden if possible).
Or you could just make a sink with two drains. Simpler than a diverter I would think.
um, did anyone consider using fluoride-free toothpaste?
this is not an advert so i won't supply the brand name i already use, but they're readily available.
tried to find the sink for sale,but after extensive googling - no such luck - not even at her own website. somewhat maddening to tantalize people with stuff that can't be purchased/installed.
any old wash tub basin IS a lower tech/older school/reused idea that i remember even my brother-in-law using in a house he lived in without plumming in wisc. at the moment, i reuse my wash-water(personal) for then washing small items of clothing, which i then line-dry. also, usually adding a bit more regular soap (not laundry detergent) and water is necessary. gross? maybe, but i'm of the mind that clothes and skin should smell just as pleasant. also the soap i use is relatively eco-friendly. the technique does involve rinsing the clothes in approx. a half sink of fresh water, but even so it does cut back on water use. also (in re. saving water), i remember a trick i learned in the u.s. navy of shuttting the water off, when showering in between wetting down and rinsing off (lathering with the water off). works just fine on dry land as well.