Gray water is not all bad. Many smart-thinking communities allow it for a lot of good reasons. Backwash from water processing (softening/filtration, etc) systems is also allowed to bypass septic tanks, drain fields, and sewer systems.
Gray water is not a problem when properly processed. Many use it to irrigate gardens, flowers, lawns, etc. The biggest problem is the phosphorous and chlorine it contains. If the nutrients can be taken up by a lawn, garden, forested area, or wetland, they are good. If they flow nearly directly into a waterway or pond, they can cause excessive nutrients, causing a myriad of problems.
A simple wetland area can benefit and absorb a lot of the phosphates and other chemicals. It doesn't take a very large area of wetland plants, including various grasses, cattails, -- even flower and vegetable plants, to trap many of the so-called pollutants before they enter the pond. If it is just a damp area in the summer, squash and pumpkins will take up a lot of nutrients as they grow into trophies.
Ken
After I posted, I found this link:
Greywater Wetlands While hugging my trees, raising my fish, and preparing venison for lunch, I've practiced many similar techniques for over 40 years.
