AbleSkills is one training trade skill centre that is taking the water efficiency and conservation message very much on board as an integral part of trade skills training for all their trainee students. Nowhere is this more important than undertaking one of the many City & Guild courses for training to be a plumber!Grey water recycling has arrived ! As a result of the recent downturn in the economy and the big drive for efficient waterusage and conservation, it looks to becoming very quickly, the 'must do' recycling habit! Several types of system are now available for use in both our homes and work places.Most recycling systems collect and treat wastewater from showers, baths and wash basins and treat it before re-use in situations that do not require drinking water quality. Grey water is any washwater that has been used in the home, except water from toilets. However, grey water can be used to flush toilets and sometimes, also to feed washing machines.Dish, shower, sink, and laundry water comprise 50-80% of residential "waste" water. This may be reused for other purposes, such as washing the car, watering domestic gardens or landscape irrigation.It's worth mentioning that plants thrive on used water containing small bits of compost. Unlike many current water efficiency ideas, grey water reuse is a part of the fundamental solution to many ecological problems and will probably remain essentially unchanged in the distant future.The benefits of grey water recycling include:Lower fresh water useLess strain on failing septic tank or treatment plantLess energy and chemical useGroundwater rechargeReclamation of otherwise wasted nutrientsIncreased awareness of and sensitivity to natural cyclesGreywater recycling systems can be installed in new or existing buildings and have the potential to meet a significant proportion of domestic demand for water. In the building of new homes, where Part G of the Building Regulations becomes a lawful requirement on 1st October 2009, grey water recycling will help both plumber and builder, to achieve the required level of water consumption. It will also help them to gain points towards the Code for Sustainable Homes scheme.In addition to being able to take courses in energy assessment and efficiency, including new ground and air source heating, AbleSkills students on City & Guilds NVQ plumbing courses will also gain valuable knowledge of the key water efficiency and conservation issues and how their own future work as plumbers is affected. After all, it will be plumbers who will be responsible for installing the latest water efficient appliances and be no doubt asked for advice by the householder!