Hack a Toilet for free water.

Step 8 Finished

The sink is now complete.
I would recommend putting some kind of water proofing on the lid to protect the wood.
Check out the video of the sink in action.
Thanks for viewing my instructable.

Comments

[TheNoisyOyster]

I think this is super, you don't have to touch the faucet before and after washing like with a standard sink (the fatal flaw in no touch soap dispensers). Better yet, if the sink begins to run when you flush, there is no excuse not to wash. (I have a family member whose excuse is "I don't pee on my hands." As if that was all there was to that.)

I can't do this to my john now (I rent), but I will do this and some other grey water utilizing hacks as soon as I buy my own place. The main hack I had already planned was to divert waste water from the washing machine to an outdoor cistern for use in the garden. All that will take is to extend and reroute the the drain hose.

[dotancohen]

I am currently redirecting the waste water from my washing machine into the toilet, so we are no longer using any excess water to flush (water is precious in Israel). Let me tell you: the water that comes out of the washing machine is nasty. It junks up the inside of the tank and smells worse that the stuff we are flushing down.

[bennelson]

Try filtering the water before using it to flush the toilet. That will help keep the pipes, tank, bowl and everything else clean. It will not smell.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Filter-your-Laundry-Graywater-with-Marsh-Plants/

[Flyinseamnky]

The idea behind this is that you can do it to any toilet without messing up the original hardware. You just have to find a place to store the tank cover, such as under the sink, till you are ready to move out. Then simply remove the made top, reattach the original rubber tube, and put the original cover back on. Then you can use it at your new place with a little tweaking. Also, grey water from a washing machine would contain any soaps/detergents you used to wash them with. Unless you are using some super organic stuff that is tested plant safe I would not water anything with it. Talk about a quick way to kill your landscaping. = )

[TheNoisyOyster]

Its actually easy to buy detergent that wont hurt your plants, since they all have to be biodegradable. I would also be using bio-filtration, growing native duckweeed which can quickly turn the murkiest water clear while generating compostable biomass. And I'm not the only one to consider this basic idea, it was covered on the most recent episode of Ask This Old House. I can't find a link to view it online yet, but PBS always reruns everything. I'm sure anyone interested can find episode 17 of season 10 in local listings pretty soon.

links: http://video.pbs.org/program/old-house/
http://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/ask-this-old-house/episodes/194601
http://www.ovguide.com/tv_episode/ask-this-old-house-season-10-episode-17-reusing-water-from-a-washing-machine-maintaining-small-gasoline-engines-4242493

They also show a manufactured version of the toilet hack so you can wimp out and buy one. I'm sure it works fine, but its not as cool as handmade.

[theawesomeninja]

Really good idea, especially considering how we usually take less time to wash our hands than the toilet finish filling the tank.

[haakon.k]

Holy cow, that's freaking brilliant!

[djenjen]

Yes, yes it is ... esp for my future earthship! ;D

[lburrow]

I'm wondering how much soap scum builds up inside the tank...

[djenjen]

How much soap do you need?

The average humanoid needs less than a dime's worth of liquid and even less with bar soap. Water itself has cleansing beneficial bacteria and it's often chlorinated anyway. The uggy parts of your hands are really the nails so if you're thorough with the nails then the bulk of the 'germs' are eradicated during a proper wash.

So, a monthly wipe down of the inside of the tank (when emptied and water is temporarily shut off from it) with bleach or baking soda (or some other green cleaner) should suffice.

Curious tho... what are the effects on keeping a large salt tablet in the tank? That could keep the water highly alkaline so that little mildew build up occurs. But would the salt build up in the water lines?

Also, how to flush the water lines. A nice long soak of bleach or vinegar in the tank before flushing once a month should suffice in de-gunking them, yes?

:)

[t0annguy3n]

You inspired me too! :)

I followed the same idea but tried to make it look a little nicer. Got a serving bowl laying around and drilled a hole in it with a diamond bit. The copper pipe I used has a stainless steel coating and can easily be bought at Home Depot in the toilet piping section (is a water supply line pipe, "flexible copper pipe." I bent the pipe by hand little by little, just don't over bend. Drilled through the toiler lid as well lol.

Note: Bowl need to curve down all the way to the drilled hole to prevent water retention. Get a nice diamond bit ($16-24) so you don't spend more money then you have to. Also, submerge the bit in water when drilling the hole and be patient. Have fun guys :)

[theman123321]

Really good :)
im gonna do this... does the water come before or after you flushed?

[anibioman]

nope post flush.

[Kintaro Oe]

Great idea, congratulation.

[Namaste]

this is an awesome idea, though I am not sure I would want to drink from it having seen the inside of some tanks :0

[Johnbeer]

The water does not come from the tank, it comes from the fresh water supply valve.

[Amir]

This has got to be one of the best instructables that I've seen. Your idea is brilliant, simple, and noble. Your pictures and instructions are clear. I have such a small bathroom and pulling out the sink is going to give me so much more room. I'll put one together this week. Thanks, Amir

[Amir]

Sometimes I say things like "this week" when I should be saying "this year". I've gotten myself tied up with starting a local lawn service (LawnArchy.com;) and now my other projects are waiting in line. But I'll get it done some day and I'm still really looking forward to it. Thanks again for the awesome instructable, Amir

[Cartuner55]

how did it go?

[yariv_ar]

very good! liked it!

[mountainmandan]

Brilliant idea for saving water, especially since that water is going to flow anyway. It's also a no-touch system, minimizing the spread of germs. My job is making sure people are using water efficiently in their homes. Perhaps I'll mention this idea to them. Keep it up :-)