#3467 · Energy & Environment Tool

Greywater Reuse Water Savings Calculator

Estimate how much potable water greywater reuse can displace over a month and a year. Enter the reuse demand, available supply, operating days, system availability, and current water-and-sewer rate. The calculator limits savings to the smaller of usable supply and demand, then reports avoided volume, cost savings, and unmet demand.

Calculator

Reuse and utility assumptions
gal/day
gal/day
days
%
$/1,000 gal

How to use this calculator

  1. Enter the design values using consistent daily-volume and cost units.
  2. Adjust efficiency, availability, operating time, or reserve assumptions to match the intended system.
  3. Select Calculate and review the main result plus the supporting metrics.
  4. Test a conservative scenario before using the estimate for equipment screening or budgeting.

Formula

Daily offset = min(demand, supply) × availability; monthly offset = daily offset × operating days

Annual cost savings equals monthly offset × 12 ÷ 1,000 × the entered utility rate.

What the result means

The main result is the annual potable-water volume displaced under the entered availability. It is capped by both source supply and non-potable demand.

This is a volume and utility-bill estimate. It excludes fixed utility charges, energy, consumables, maintenance, and rate-tier effects unless those are reflected in your entered rate.

Example calculation

Demand of 180 gal/day, supply of 150 gal/day, 30 days/month, and 95% availability gives 150 × 0.95 × 30 = 4,275 gal/month, or 51,300 gal/year.

Tips for better results

  • Use measured demand and source data when available.
  • Model the season or operating period that is most likely to constrain performance.
  • Keep physical losses separate from operational downtime.
  • Round equipment capacity upward only after checking manufacturer operating ranges.
  • Document each assumption so alternatives can be compared consistently.

Frequently asked questions

Why is the greywater reuse saving capped at demand?

Reuse cannot displace more potable water than the eligible non-potable demand.

What should I include in the utility rate?

Use the marginal combined water and sewer charge that actually changes when consumption falls.

How does system availability affect annual savings?

The calculator multiplies the smaller of supply and demand by the availability percentage before annualizing it.

Can the result include seasonal operating months?

Use the actual days for an operating month and adjust the annual figure separately if the system does not operate all year.

Why might my bill savings differ from this estimate?

Fixed charges, tiered rates, minimum bills, and changing demand can make billed savings differ from a simple volumetric estimate.

Planning input guide

Input conceptPlanning use
Volume or flowUse the same gallon basis throughout the calculation.
Efficiency or allowanceEnter percentages as displayed, from 0 to 100.
Operating conditionBase it on the intended design period, not an unrelated annual peak.

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