Membrane bioreactor (MBR) greywater recycling package unit

Combines biological treatment with membrane filtration in one packaged unit, producing consistently high-quality reclaimed water suitable for indoor non-potable reuse (toilet flushing) rather than only irrigation/soil discharge, a materially higher performance ceiling than a wetland or sand filter for the same greywater stream. Requires continuous power for aeration/pumping and specialist servicing; membrane fouling is the main failure mode.

Cost
High
Upkeep
Seasonal
Skill to build
Specialist
Lifespan
15-20 years for the package unit; membranes need periodic replacement (fouling is the main failure mode, per its own description)
Embodied carbon
Medium
Space / material use
Low
Output timing
Continuous process
Skill to repair
Specialist
Regulation (FR example)
On-site sanitation (assainissement non collectif): the installation must be declared to and approved by the local SPANC before work starts, and is subject to periodic inspection. Arrete du 7 septembre 2009 modifie.

Note: Cost, carbon and footprint are rated against the other options for this same need, not in absolute terms.

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Outputs

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What this page does not tell you

No sizing or quantities: how much a technique yields, and how much a household needs, both depend on the build and the people, so the catalogue compares options rather than dimensioning them. It carries no bill of materials and no build sequence, and it is written for an oceanic, clay-soil climate (Normandy, France). Regulatory notes are indicative and need confirming locally.