There are several articles and resources that discuss the pros and cons of either combining soil and waste pipes, or separating them. This is not one of those pieces.

A compact waste treatment unit employing bioreactor technology.

Soil water is any such waste water that carries fecal matter and or urine, while waste water is generally the water from wash basins, sinks, and floor drains. Traditionally, we refer to soil water as black water and waste water as grey water.

We worry about separating or combining wastes generally because we worry about what to do with the waste water. If we wanted to recycle or reuse the water for instance, we may have to consider how much work needs to be done to get the water to reuse standards. If we wanted to use the water for irrigation, waste/grey water may not even require any specialized treatment before use. Soil/black water on the other hand, would require at least two levels of treatment before it can be considered for reuse.

At Morks Reid, our first instinct is sustainability. Black or grey water is therefore considered a resource. We also assume that all waste water, including those from wash basins and floor drains, should be treated before reuse. There is always use for treated waste water. From irrigation to flushing of toilets or even created wetlands, water reuse is core to our sustainability agenda.

The question of combining or separating waste water streams becomes one of reuse capacity, rather than anything else. Consider speaking to us about what is possible in your facility.