Abstract:
The invention relates to a grey water reclamation system and methods therefor. Grey water is captured from a source, such as a sink, and stored in a main body containing a pump. The grey water is transported to a flush tank for use with a toilet. The system provides for use of a mixture of fresh water and grey water without interrupting the service to the user. Usage of grey water is maximized without completely eliminating the fresh water as a component that ensures service when grey water is unavailable.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/414,386, filed Nov. 16, 2010, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to the field of water conservation. More specifically, the present invention relates to a system and method for collection and distribution of grey water. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Water consumption has become an issue in many areas of the world. As such, increasing attention has been paid to how fresh potable water is used. One type of technology that has developed is grey water treatment systems. Grey water treatment systems reuse a portion of the water that would otherwise have gone directly into the waste water collection system. Grey water is generally water that is no longer potable (typically referred to as “white water”) due to usage, but which is not yet so contaminated that it is considered “black water”, which is generally polluted with biological or chemical hazardous materials. Grey water typically is generated by the bath/shower, bathroom sinks, and washing machines. Although they may produce grey water at times, generally kitchen sinks and dishwashers are considered to generate black water, due to the high level of food particulates and the possibility of contamination. In addition, it should be appreciated that certain activities may result in the generation of black water in an area that otherwise may typically generate grey water, such as the washing of dirty diapers in a washing machine. 
     Systems have been provided to collect and distribute grey water in a residential environment. However, current residential grey water systems often ineffectively use the grey water resulting in a lower savings in potable water than ideal. Prior inventions have adopted varying complexity of harvesting residential wastewater (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,112,497, 4,162,218, 5,084,920, 5,201,082, 5,251,446, 5,243,719, 5,303,728, 5,319,766, 5,341,529, 5,406,657, 5,498,330, 5,937,455, 6,276,005, 6,328,882, 7,121,292, and current U.S. application 20060144769) and reusing that water for other uses such as flushing toilets. In all prior art, the inventors have been preoccupied with maximizing the harvesting aspects of the water from all practical available sources. This has caused the various inventions to be overly complex and complicated to deploy and maintain. More complicated systems with multiple storage reservoirs to anticipate all possible volumes of storage have the problems of more complexity. Prior art overly complicates the collection system aspects of a small grey water reuse system. Prior art also treats each drop of the grey water as if it needs to be harvested and used totally thus overcomplicating the system. Prior art does not make use of any electronic control points in order to allow monitoring and safeguarding of the system. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,276,005 issued to Sanders describes one such concept but with some shortcomings. The determination of grey water addition to the gravity fixture is accomplished by some simple water level logic switches and mechanical levers pivoting within the gravity tank. The microswitch is also very sensitive to small adjustments and can be overly difficult to adjust for the maximum flow of grey water into the gravity tank. The microswitch within the gravity tank can become problematic because of the high humidity environment it operates within. With high chlorinated water (chlorinated by design of the invention) the switch will become corroded and inoperable. The mechanical translation of pivoting levers in the tank can become stuck because of biological growth on them from the water they are floating in. 
     There is a need for a grey water system that is compact, easy to install, allows for monitoring logic with simple signals, and is low maintenance. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a grey water reclamation system that is easily retrofitted to a residential gravity toilet and sink vanity in a normal toilet room layout. The invention allows capturing quantities of sink basin water, channeling that captured water through some filtering mechanisms, transporting that filtered water to a nearby gravity toilet, and maximizing the use of the grey water while minimizing fresh water in the flushing operation of the gravity tank fixture. In today&#39;s world many good intentioned water conservationists want to quantify the amount of water they saved by using supplemental grey water to flush gravity toilets. 
     Further, the invention contemplates affordable small scale grey water collection, treatment, and reuse within a small envelope of a few dozen feet. This invention also is directed to compactness of the retrofit installation by designing novel water passages that overcome tight installations. This invention improves upon prior art deficiencies and adds logic of system dynamics and system effectiveness by processing simple signals within the system to report or alarm system elements. 
     Additional features, advantages, and embodiments of the present disclosure may be set forth from consideration of the following detailed description, drawings, and claims. Moreover, it is to be understood that both the foregoing summary of the present disclosure and the following detailed description are exemplary and intended to provide further explanation without further limiting the scope of the present disclosure claimed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The foregoing and other objects, aspects, features, and advantages of the disclosure will become more apparent and better understood by referring to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates one embodiment of a grey water system installed in a typical residential restroom. 
         FIG. 2A  illustrates an exploded view of one embodiment of the main assembly of a grey water system;  FIG. 2B  illustrates the main assembly of  FIG. 2A  in perspective view. 
         FIG. 3A  illustrates an exploded view of one embodiment of the main assembly and components engaging therewith of a grey water system;  FIG. 3B  illustrates the main assembly and components of  FIG. 3A  in perspective view. 
         FIG. 4A  is a top perspective view of a tank tray;  FIG. 4B  is a bottom perspective view of the tank tray of  FIG. 4A ;  FIG. 4C  is a cross sectional view of the tank tray of  FIG. 4A  along line  4 C- 4 C ( FIG. 4A ). 
         FIG. 5  illustrates the attachment plumbing for one embodiment of the invention. and 
         FIG. 6  illustrates one embodiment of a lid inlet assembly. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates the lid inlet assembly and the toilet tank water level sensor assembly positioned on a gravity tank. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. In the drawings, similar symbols typically identify similar components, unless context dictates otherwise. The illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description, drawings, and claims are not meant to be limiting. Other embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made, without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter presented here. It will be readily understood that the aspects of the present disclosure, as generally described herein, and illustrated in the figures, can be arranged, substituted, combined, and designed in a wide variety of different configurations, all of which are explicitly contemplated and made part of this disclosure. 
     This present invention relates to a grey water system. In one embodiment, the grey water system has a form factor sufficient to fit the bulk of the system below an average sized washroom vanity  10  as might be found in a typical residential or small business location. As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the system  1  includes a main assembly  100 , a grey water transport system  200 , and a grey water fill system  300 . In one embodiment, the integrated mechanical components and electronics are contained in a singular device, main assembly  100 , which acts as the reservoir  130 , diverter (baffle  189 ) (to the normal waste drain), electronics and pump  143 . In one embodiment, the main assembly  100  is positionable below the sink vanity  10  and has top mounted access areas for periodic servicing and for diagnostic viewing. The invention&#39;s control and fill devices have compact design so as to fit in a conventional gravity tank fixture  20  without being obtrusive. These components may be located remote from the main body  1 , but in certain embodiments comprise a part of the grey water system  1 . 
     In one embodiment, the present invention anticipates maximizing the available collection of grey water to a fixed amount per gravity water closet flush cycle while insuring no pump failure because of an empty grey water reservoir supply. The grey water system  1  provides for collection of grey water via main assembly  100 , storage of the grey water via the main assembly  100 , transportation of the grey water via the transport system  200  to a fixture filling end including the grey water fill system  300 . The invention insures that at either end of the system, collection end (generally near a grey water source such as a sink vanity  10 ) or fixture tank filling end (generally near a gravity tank fixture  20 ), if extremes exist with the available supply of grey water (too much or too little), the system  1  will operate with no interruption to the normal operation of the integrated plumbing devices (sink lavatory  10  or gravity tank fixture  20 ) by utilizing a larger or smaller amount of fresh water to effectuate a flush (or to fill the flush reservoir). This invention incorporates novel mechanical design to make the installation truly flexible and low maintenance. 
     The balance between grey water and fresh water is dynamically adjusted depending on the availability of grey water while grey water storage is monitored based on the available capacity of the grey water storage reservoir  130 . In one embodiment, electronic components, further described below, are provided that guard against modifying the system to using no grey water but actually only having the appearance of using grey water. Preferably, when periodic service is required, no residual inconvenience is experienced such as water overflow or pressure build-up in the reservoir. In one embodiment, the components that house the water treatment consumable are designed to extend the life of the consumable as well as offer some tamper proof mechanisms to thwart unintentional removal. In one embodiment, the invention uses a series of float switches which can supply input back to the electronics for decisions on the part of the system to maximize operation or alarm for needed service. 
       FIGS. 2A and 2B  illustrate a housing  110  of the main assembly  100 . The housing  110  provides a volume within which the grey water may be stored, such as in a grey water storage reservoir  130 . The housing  110  may comprise an upper housing portion  111  engagable with a lower housing portion  112 . A gasket  113  or other aid to sealing the interface between the upper housing portion  111  and the lower housing portion  112  may be provided. 
     The collection, filtering, and treatment main assembly  100  has, in one embodiment, a low profile to allow its integration into existing plumbing schemes such as below a washroom sink vanity  10 . The main assembly  100  consists of subassemblies, including but not limited to a grey water storage reservoir  130 , a pump cartridge assembly  140 , and a consumable assembly  150  integrated into its space, along with attachment plumbing  180  ( FIG. 5 ) that allows retrofitting to the existing waste piping. In one embodiment, the upper housing portion  111  includes a water storage intake  131 , a pump cartridge opening  141 , and a consumable assembly opening  151 . The main assembly  100  may further include a filter  160 , the upper housing portion  111 , and a filter opening  161 . In one embodiment, the main assembly  100  also forms the reservoir  130  for the storage of grey water. In an alternative embodiment, the grey water reservoir  130  is a subassembly disposed within the main assembly  100 . 
     In one embodiment, one component within the main assembly is a pump cartridge assembly  140  which houses the electronic circuit board  142 , the pump assembly  143 , the reservoir float level sensor  144 , and the pump outlet tube  145 . The float level sensor  144  may be a traditional “float” type sensor used in tanks to determine the water level in the reservoir  130 . Also included in main assembly  100  are routine serviceable components such as basket screen access cap  169 , basket screen  163 , consumable (such as a chlorine tablet) access cap  159 . In certain embodiments, an overflow sensor  192  is located on the top of the main assembly  100 . The power adapter  146  connects to the printed circuit board  118  which powers the pump and electronics. The main assembly  100  has an adaptable pump cartridge assembly  140  which allows the outlet water tube and wiring to be routed in four directions by simply removing the cover screws  105 , rotating the pump cartridge assembly  140  and channeling the tubing and wires through either of the two molded channel ways  148  in the upper housing portion  111  or in the opposite direction. A pump cap  114  may be provided. In one embodiment, the pump cap  114  fits over the pump assembly  140  and allows the pump outlet tube  145  and power adapter  146  wires to extend from the pump assembly  140 . 
     In a preferred embodiment, the function of the user sink  11  is not interrupted by the system of the present invention and the collection point of the system interposes itself into the sink drain line  13 . The water from the sink  11  is diverted to fill the gravity tank  21  if it is not already full or the water will enter the main assembly for storage. If the main assembly  100  is at capacity (or at a predetermined capacity), grey water from the storage reservoir  130  exits via a waste drain. Thus, to the user of the sink, the presence of the system  1  does not appreciably impact the use of the sink  11 . 
     As best shown in  FIG. 5 , system inlet piping  181  interposes the main assembly  100  between the sink drain tailpiece  13  and the waste drain tailpiece  188  which connects to the baffle tee  189 . Also included with this system inlet piping is the baffle tee  189  that diverts water between the reservoir  130  and the waste drain line (not shown) through the wall. 
     The transport system  200  comprises a mechanism, such as conventional pipes, tubing, hoses, or the like, to connect the main assembly  100  with the fill system  300 . 
     The gravity tank assembly  310 , positioned remote from the main assembly  100  in one embodiment, mounts into the inside of tank  21  of the gravity fixture  20 . As best shown in  FIG. 6 , the gravity tank assembly  310  consists, in one embodiment, of a lid water inlet assembly  320 , toilet tank water level sensor switch assembly  340  ( FIG. 7 ), and flow regulator  350  ( FIG. 1 ). It should be appreciated that many gravity fixture installations have clearance between a wall and a rear outside of the tank  21  of less than a fraction of an inch. Conventional diameter tubes can not fit within this space and can become constricted when trying to bend them over the top of the gravity tank. The lid inlet assembly  320  is designed with two main flat hollow portions  321 ,  322  parallel to each other and connected into a lid portion  325  with a gap distance between the hollow portions  321 ,  322  designed to straddle common residential grade gravity fixture thicknesses  23 . The first flat hollow portion  321  extends from the inlet connection  323 , or from an adaptor  324  configured to transition from the inlet connection  323  to the first flat hollow portion  321 , to the lid portion  325  up the outside of the tank  21  between the tank and wall, in one embodiment. The first flat hollow portion  321  connects to the lid portion  325  which is in communication with the second flat hollow portion  322 , which is directed into the tank  21 . Thus, the main assembly  100  is in fluid communication with the tank  21 . 
     The lid inlet assembly  320  has a standard round threaded inlet connection  323  on the outside of it down below the bottom of the tank  21 . This round inlet quickly transitions into a slim square channel defined by the first flat hollow portion  321  so the water inlet can flow up the rear of the gravity tank  21  to the lid  325 . The lid  325  may comprise a top plate  326  and a bottom plate  329 , the plates  326 ,  329  engagable to form a chamber therebetween. The bottom plate  329  may have a first protrusion  327  for engaging the first flat hollow portion  321  and a second protrusion  328  for engaging the second flat hollow portion. In one embodiment, a refill tube  330  is provided, such as for engaging with a refill protrusion  331  on the bottom plate  329 . The first protrusion, second protrusion, and refill protrusion  331  being in fluid communication with the chamber defined by the upper plate  326  and the lower plate  329 . It should be appreciated that although the lid inlet assembly  320  is described as separate components, it could be a single unitary component without departing from the scope of the invention. The water transitions from the inlet connection  323  outside the gravity tank  21  over the top and down inside the tank  21 . The water inlet  323  also allows for compact insertion into the gravity tank bowl  21  and flat portions  321 ,  322  to anchor onto the rear of the tank bowl. This flat construction for channeling the water allows for easy installation between small clearances of the water tank and finished walls. Preferably, the top of the lid inlet assembly  320  is a minimal flatness to allow minimal rocking of tank covers when placed over the tank in the normal operating manner. In one embodiment, the present invention also allows all tubing to be concealed so as to be transparent from the conventional gravity toilet without a grey water recycling system. 
     The flow regulator  350  is mounted onto the inlet fitting of the fresh water line in order to control the water flow at a known restriction. This also allows more water from the grey water reservoir to be used every cycle. The flow regulator  350  reduces the fill rate of the fresh water allowing the grey water to provide a larger percentage of the water used to fill the tank  21  than would be present if no flow restriction was applied. 
     Along with the grey water supply hose  201 , provided therewith may be leads from the gravity tank water level sensor  340 . The wire leads from the gravity tank water level sensor have a quick disconnect just outside the gravity tank  21  for repair ease of the component. The transport system  200  places the gravity tank water level sensor  340  in communication with the main assembly  100 . The gravity tank water level sensor  340  transmits its state to the main assembly  100 . It should be appreciated, such transmission may also be wireless. In one embodiment, the toilet tank water level sensor switch assembly  340  has a mounting that allows the sensor to be adjusted to the top level of the water in the tank at which level the switch is caused to be closed. In one embodiment, a tank lid support (not shown) may be provided to support the tank lid in a manner similar to the lid  325  of the lid inlet assembly  320 . 
     In a normal operation of using the gravity water closet  20  with the grey water recycling system installed, a user would evacuate the gravity water closet  20  as normal. When the gravity fixture  20  is flushed the water level in the tank  21  lowers, opening switch assembly  340  which transmits a signal to the main assembly  100 . In response to the signal, the main assembly sends grey water, via the transport system  200 , to the lid inlet assembly  320  and into the tank  21 . If available, the water is pumped from the main reservoir  130  through transport system  200  into the gravity tank water inlet assembly  320 . This pumped grey water from the reservoir  130  supplements the fresh water mechanically filling the tank  21  through the flow regulator  350  into the gravity fixture  21 . The gravity fixture  20  may include a traditional flush valve which shuts off, such as via a mechanical float as conventional gravity toilets  20  operate in the art. 
     In one embodiment, the flow regulator  350  is sized such that if there is ample grey water supply in the reservoir, approximately 60% of the flushing water is grey water and 40% is fresh water when supply is available. It should be appreciated that the relative amount of grey water to fresh water may be varied. Further, the flow regulator  350  may be provided with a variable aperture allowing a user to alter the flow rate (and thus the percentage of fresh water used) without the need for new hardware or removal of the flow regulator  350  from the water line. Flow regulator  350  can be sized to allow any practical combination of maximum grey water and minimum fresh water. The logic of the electronics on board the main housing determines if the pump should pump, (1) if the gravity fixture is calling for grey water, or (2) if the reservoir is overfilled with grey water supply. The matrix found in table 1 shows one embodiment of sensor (in this embodiment, switches) possibilities versus the logic of the system to determine the state condition. 
     
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Level 
                 Grey Water 
                 Grey Water 
                   
               
               
                 Sensor 
                 Float Sensor 
                 Overflow 
               
               
                 340 
                 144 
                 Sensor 192 
                 State Condition 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 High 
                 Low 
                 Low 
                 #1 No water closet flush, no water in reservoir. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 With overflow sensor 192 open water is in upper 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 chamber, possible clog to flow in filter. 
               
               
                 Low 
                 High 
                 Low 
                 #2 water closet has flushed, pumping grey water 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 to gravity tank, overflow sensor 192 is seeing 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 water entering reservoir from sink. 
               
               
                 Low 
                 Low 
                 High 
                 #3 water closet has flushed, no grey water to 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 pump as there is no grey water available in the 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 reservoir. 
               
               
                 High 
                 Low 
                 High 
                 #4 water closet has not flushed, no grey water to 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 pump as there is no grey water available in the 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 reservoir. 
               
               
                 High 
                 High 
                 Low 
                 #5 Water closet has not flushed, enough grey 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 water in reservoir for a flush. With overflow 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 sensor 192 too much water in reservoir will turn 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 pump on until overflow sensor 192 goes high. 
               
               
                 Low 
                 High 
                 High 
                 #6 Water closet has flushed, enough water in 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 reservoir so pump will turn on. 
               
               
                 Low 
                 Low 
                 Low 
                 #7 Water closet has flushed, no grey water 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 supply in reservoir, therefore no pump turns on. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 With overflow sensor 192 open water is in upper 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 chamber, possible clog to flow in filter. 
               
               
                 High 
                 High 
                 High 
                 #8 Water closet has not flushed, there is grey 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 water in reservoir, no water in upper chamber. 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 *High is closed switch, Low is open switch for embodiments where the sensors are switches. 
               
             
          
         
       
     
     The drain water from above the sink  11  is captured within the grey water storage reservoir  130 . The connection point from the sink drain tailpiece  188  into the tank inlet is located at the baffle tee  189 . The grey water from the sink  11  enters the reservoir  130  through the inlet  131 . If the reservoir  130  is full, the baffle  189  operates to divert unneeded drain water from the sink  11  into waste drain tail piece  188  and into the waste line. The baffle tee  189  allows for some sink drain water to pass through the waste drain out through the drain line and for some of the water to pass into the system reservoir  130 . Should the system reservoir ever fill up because of failure of any of the system components, the baffle tee  189  will allow water to flow out into the waste system drain just as if the grey system was not attached. In one embodiment, a reservoir overflow sensor  192  is provided. The overflow sensor  192  senses if the reservoir  130  fills up to a predetermined level, such as the position of the fill sensor at the top of reservoir  130 . When the overflow sensor  192  senses that the reservoir  130  is full, a pump assembly  143  is turned on to pump water out of the reservoir  130  through the transport system  200  to the gravity fixture tank  21 . This embodiment insures that if the sink  11  is used more often than the water closet  20  and the reservoir  130  becomes overfilled, the water level in the reservoir  130  will never overflow even if the main assembly is exposed, such as by removal of a pump cartridge assembly  140 , a consumable assembly opening access cap  159  for servicing or a filter cartridge cover  169 . The overflow sensor  192  is located below the cover openings  169  and  159 . The overflow sensor  192  is mounted at an angle through the cover housing in order for the paddle on the switch to float. 
     In one embodiment, the present invention utilizes as a consumable a disinfectant, for example chlorine tablets, to treat the water in the grey water reservoir  130 . The present invention addresses deficiencies in prior art designs that use consumable chlorine tablets as a disinfecting means. 
       FIGS. 4A-4C  illustrate a main assembly tray  170 . The main assembly tray  170  forms, along with the interior surface (not shown) of the upper housing portion  111 , a channel  178  for the grey water to enter the storage reservoir  130 . In the embodiment of  FIGS. 4A-4C , the tray  170  is coupled to the upper housing portion  111  and disposed within the main assembly. The tray includes a grey water inlet  171 , which is positioned below the water storage inlet  131 . A consumable portion  172  is provided that allows for the flow of water through the tray  170  to pass over the consumable, such as a chlorine tablet. In one embodiment, the consumable portion  172  includes a raised portion  174  and/or recessed portions  175  to provide a platform  173  on which the consumable may be set. The consumable portion  172  is disposed beneath the consumable assembly opening  151 , thus the consumable may be inserted into the main assembly  100  by insertion into the tray  170 , on the platform  173 , through the consumable assembly opening. In one embodiment, a consumable holder  155  is provided for insertion into the tray  170  to assist in retaining consumables, such as a stack of chlorine tablets. Rather than simply allowing the chlorine tablets to lie in the water path of incoming sink drain water, in this embodiment the platform  173  keeps the solid tablets from sitting in residual water following intake of grey water thus reducing the service life between changes. The tray  170  further includes a filter opening  176 . The filter  160  is insertable through the tray filter opening  176 . The filter  160  is positioned to receive grey water from the channel defined by the tray  170  and the upper housing portion  111 . The grey water travels into the channel  178  over the consumables and into the filter  160  and then to the storage reservoir  130 . 
     In one embodiment, the present invention also provides cap latches  197  integral to basket screen cap  169  and chlorine tablet access cap  159 . These cap latches  197  cause the cap  169 / 159  to be difficult to remove for the unacquainted or small children tampering with the device. The cap latch  197  must be depressed during the unscrewing operation of removing the access caps. Failure to depress them causes the protruding latch to interfere with the multiple locking ribs located laterally on the respective access holes. The ribs are purposely located to interfere with the protruding latch as it revolves about the threads. The protruding latch geometry has a slight cam on the opposite side so that when the cap is tightened, the protruding latch “cams” over the locking ribs so the release button need not be depressed. 
     The above-described system allows for a diagnostics method for managing the grey water usage. By using the a flow restrictor, sensor information and some timing tables based upon a known flow control connected to the fresh water supply, the amount of grey water used can be maximized without interrupting the service provided to a user. Knowing the pump  143  capacity and transport system diameter, a logical table can be constructed within the logic program to determine several key elements as would be understood by one of ordinary skill. 
     In one embodiment, the system can detect if the flow regulator  350  is missing from the system. For example, in one embodiment, if the flow regulator  350  is installed it should take over 20 seconds to fill a 1.3 gpf toilet. If the flow restrictor  350  is disabled or removed the toilet tank will be refilled in under 20 seconds. Logic and the water level sensors can be used in the following way to make such a determination. If the tank water level sensor switch  340  detects a flush (i.e., water level goes down below sensor) and the reservoir float level sensor  144  shows there is reservoir grey water (table 1 state condition #2 or #6) then time how long the tank water level sensor switch  340  takes to reset (total time tank water level sensor switch  340  is low). If the time is under 15 seconds (15 second time is an example only) then the flow regulator  350  may be missing or disabled. 
     In one embodiment, the system can detect if the toilet is leaking. A leaky toilet will leak at a constant rate. When enough water has leaked out the storage reservoir  130  will be called on to fill the gravity tank  21  back up. The logic can register a flush and time how long it is until the next flush. If the electronics registers the time between flushes and tells, over a period of time, that the time between flush signals is the same +/−%, then it is likely that the system is detecting a leaky toilet. Normal toilet use would not be cyclically repeatable. 
     In another embodiment, the invention provides the ability to “grade” the effectiveness of the gray water system. In accordance with one embodiment, it will be known:
         i. when a flush happens,   ii. if the refill of the flush is 0% grey water (no grey water in reservoir or state condition #7 in table 1),   iii. if the refill is 60-70%% grey water, then Grey water was available in the tank and pumped during the entire flush, state condition #2 and #6 in table 1, with the combination of the flow restrictor the refill percentage is 60%-70%,   iv. if the refill is some percentage of the refill-grey water was in the reservoir and pumped for the start of the refill but the grey water ran out before the gravity tank was refilled. The timing of the pump shut off because float sensor  144  went low (opened) before tank water level sensor switch  340  went high (closed).
 
Using this refill data based on the 2 level data of float sensor  144  and tank water level sensor switch  340 , the flow rate of the pump, and the flow regulator  350 , systems of the present invention can, in one embodiment, indicate on a graded scale how effective the system is at reducing fresh water in the flush.
       

     In one embodiment, it can be determined if the pump or pump line is clogging. Filling the toilet tank with grey water should take approximately 1/3 of the time it takes to refill the toilet when there is no grey water. If this time ratio becomes 1/2 or 2/3 we can assume that the pumping system is ineffective for some reason. This also tells us if the grey water ratio, which should be between 60%-70%, is being compromised. 
     In one embodiment, the specific grey water to fresh water ratio for each installation can be determined. The electronics can time how long it takes for the toilet tank to be refilled when only fresh water is used (it will know when no grey water is available). The system can also time how long it takes to refill the toilet when grey water is pumped during the entire refill cycle. These 2 times should return a grey water refill percentage. 
     It should be appreciated that the principles of the present invention may be applied to systems having a water source for filling a tank. The toilet tank water level sensor  340  may be used to close a valve or a solenoid or other control mechanism to cease the supply of water to the tank  21 . 
     Any of these combinations of alarms or alerts can be translated into multiple color LED or audible sounds from the main assembly electronics. In another embodiment, the signals can be input into a larger monitoring system and broadcast to interested parties wanting to know each system&#39;s reuse factor or when some routine maintenance may be needed. 
     The foregoing description of illustrative embodiments has been presented for purposes of illustration and of description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or limiting with respect to the precise form disclosed, and modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings or may be acquired from practice of the disclosed embodiments. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto and their equivalents.