Episode
980: Free Water From You Home with Brad Lancaster
- Published
- Apr 17, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 2210
- Processing state
not_requested- Canonical source
- https://www.urbanfarm.org/978
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Summary
A Rosie On The House Replay This episode explores practical, low-cost strategies for reusing household gray water to irrigate landscapes. Brad Lancaster shares decades of experience designing regenerative water systems in dryland environments, emphasizing simple gravity-fed solutions over complex infrastructure. The conversation highlights how homeowners can dramatically reduce water use by “stacking functions” and capturing water already on-site. By pairing gray water with rainwater harvesting, households can meet most or all of their irrigation needs. Brad Lancaster runs a successful permaculture consulting design and education business in Tucson, Arizona. He's focused on integrated and sustainable approaches to landscape design, planning and living. Growing up in a dryland environment, water harvesting has long been one of his specialties and a true passion. He's the author of the Permaculture Bible for Water Harvesting, Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands and Beyond, Volumes One and Two. And he has just released new color versions, revised and expanded of both of them. Key Topics Gray water (definition and household sources) Difference between gray water and black water Brad Lancaster (water harvesting expert) Rainwater harvesting systems Gravity-fed irrigation design Soil as a living filtration system Mulch basins and infiltration strategies Laundry-to-landscape systems Outdoor shower gray water reuse Water conservation in dryland climates Arizona gray water regulations (13 guidelines) Soap and detergent impacts (salt vs liquid) Planting water before plants (design philosophy) Evapotranspiration and passive cooling Key Questions Answered What is gray water and how much of household water does it represent? Gray water is lightly used water from showers, sinks, bathtu…