Customer Reviews

Create an Oasis With Greywater: Your Complete Guide to Choosing, Building and Using Greywater Systems [superseded by new edition]

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

A good friend owns a cabing in the mountains, but not enough land and too close to the river for a septic leach field. Her holding tank was costing her dearly to empty. I bought this book, and helped her install a grey water leach field that has worked great and saved her TONS of money each year!!! While she used to pump her 1000 gal holding tank every couple months at a cost of $500-600, she now pumps about once a year! No more pumping shower and sink water with the sewage!!!!

The info on testing soil porosity was a great help!

While the book is not a complete resource, it is close to it, and will definately get you started (I knew zip about grey-water systems when I bought it).

A couple suggestions I would add:

I used inverted, old 5-gallon buckets for "leach pots". They are dirt cheap (free, actually - just ask around and keep your eyes open) compared to purchased plastic pots, and have way more capacity.

To prevent possible smell from returning via the main line, I installed a trap and vented the above pots with much smaller sprinkler hose, which I returned to the house (in the same ditch) before venting to atmosphere.

Overall, I highly recommend this book.

I have recently purchased two of the brillant publications on grewater recyling by Oasis Design books; Create an Oasis with Greywater and Branched Drain Greywater Systems. Art Ludwig has created in both books a clear, but completely detailed, explanation of the benefits and ease of setup of a more sustainable and logical recycling system for domestic, public and commercial greywater to suit every budget and dwelling. Both books are rich with diagrams and explain without unnecessarily complicated detail how the average building can be turned, with ease, from a water wasting design into a more logical, sustainable setup ideal for those wanting to see better use of our valuable water resources. Myths about hygiene, design and cost of convertion are debunked. Water wasted is money down the drain but with greywater recycling, as described so perfectly in these publications, we can all get true value and a greener garden from every drop. Both books are a must for every household.

We came to most of Art's conclusions the hard way. If we had read his book four years ago we would have been spared several embarrassing moments. Like the day the empty surge tank popped up out of the ground after a heavy rain and cleaning the bilge pump so often before discovering the "panty hose filter system". These are issues that most authors don't care to become famous for writing about, but when you save your shallow well from the drought and discover the joy of having used your water twice, you come to believe that Art Ludwig deserves a special blessing for all of his hard work. A must read for everyone working to become independent from the ways of this present destructive world...In appreciation, ........ElectricSunDog

Not only should you get this book: you should get your neighbors to get a copy too. Actually, I recommend that you also get the 2 companion books to "Create an Oasis": "Branched Drain Greywater Systems" and "Builder's Greywater Guide".

Art Ludwig obviously has both extensive knowledge of and experience with greywater systems. The substance of these volumes far surpasses anything that I've seen available in books or on the Internet. In fact, his presentation of greywater processing has made me reconsider the blackwater treatment system that I'm planning for a new house. I expect to save money that I would have spent on a post-treatment, aerobic unit that would seemingly have been ecologically responsible; but because of the technological overkill, ultimately that system would have defeated my altruistic environmental concerns.

At first, I was surprised at the short length of each of these books: about 50 pages each; but the sheer volume of information in each one puts other sources to shame. Each volume is very well written, being clear, amusing, and concise. I can't imagine improving these books, other than keeping the information updated with future editions.

I do hope that Art Ludwig writes at least one more book on the subject of greywater: one that is a direct argument to present to government regulators. Don't get me wrong; all of the information for addressing the concerns of regulators is contained in these books. I just don't believe that most regulators would take the time to sit down and examine the data and issues that Ludwig raises, so I'd love to see a book dedicated to the professional regulators. Then I'd buy a few copies to submit to them.

Excellent, real-world book on how to water a bunch of plants by recycling your own used water. I built this into my own home, and it works wonderfully well. We use only a few gallons of fresh water every month for watering, and we own an acre, much of which is planted in trees and shrubs! This trick works, and the book should be required reading for anyone living in the desert. It is literally all you need to set up a good, working grey water system for no more money than a typical wasteful system costs.

Art Ludwig has produced an easy-to-follow and extremely slim book (on recycled paper, of course!). The diagrams and hints are clear enough that even a mechanical dolt like me can get the gist of how to get things done.

When buying this book be careful, as the author has used the same ISBN for at least two earlier editions of this book.

This book is amazing! I can't believe how much information is presented so clearly with so little paper. It is packed with advice and tips for every possible situation, easy-to-read graphs, photos, and a full list of references. Ludwig writes in a clear, conversational style that makes even the most complicated projects seem fun and non-intimidating. It's obvious that Ludwig is an expert in the field, but "Create an Oasis" shows that he is also an excellent teacher.

The title says it all. I got very little out of the book, certainly not worth the time to read or what I paid.