Solar Powered Greywater Recycling for Institutional Water Conservation

Purpose: This study aims to design and experimentally evaluate a solar-powered greywater recycling system suitable for institutional-scale non-potable water reuse in arid regions.Methodology: A compact solar-assisted thermal evaporation-condensation system integrated with biomassderived activated charcoal filtration was developed.Greywater collected from institutional domestic sources was treated, and key water quality parameters were analyzed and compared with international irrigation standards.Findings: The system achieved substantial reductions in total dissolved solids, turbidity, and salinity, while maintaining pH within acceptable limits.Treated water met recommended irrigation water quality guidelines, demonstrating the technical feasibility of the proposed system.Originality/value: Unlike conventional greywater systems dependent on grid electricity or chemical treatment, the proposed system uniquely integrates solar energy, thermal distillation, and natural filtration into a compact design suitable for decentralized institutional applications.Water scarcity poses a critical challenge to arid and semi-arid regions, necessitating sustainable and decentralized water management strategies.Greywater reuse represents a viable solution to reduce freshwater demand, particularly for non-potable applications such as landscape irrigation in institutional facilities.This paper presents the design, development, and performance evaluation of a compact solar-powered greywater recycling system intended for institutional-scale water reuse.The system integrates solar photovoltaic energy with a thermal evaporation-condensation process and biomass-derived activated charcoal filtration.Greywater collected from domestic sources undergoes primary filtration, solar-powered heating and evaporation, condensation on an inclined glass surface, and post-treatment filtration.Water quality parameters including pH, total dissolved solids (TDS), turbidity, and salinity were analyzed before and after treatment.Experimental results demonstrate substantial improvement in all measured parameters, with treated water meeting standard irrigation water quality guidelines.The proposed system offers a low-energy, environmentally friendly, and educationally valuable solution for water-scarce regions, aligning with sustainability goals and circular economy principles.