Recycling water/grey water

[keat63]

I'm hoping it will rain before we get a hosepipe ban, but if push comes to shove, then I've a 600 gallon hot tub on the patio, that will keep my greenhouse tomaotes going until christmas.


Provided i let the chlorine burn off.

[robbra]

Using my bath water, shower busted, and smells nice in the garden, sort of two for the price of one. A bit of a so and so going up and down the stairs with a watering can though.
Toms aren't complaining. I think they like coconut shampoo and lemon soap.
Last time I did this was 1976.
Rob

[4Shoes]

I was surprised at how much water we use.

I have diverted the pipe from bath and basin into an old cattle trough in the close (yard). It is tilted so that in the event of overflow water goes back down the drain.


Currently just emptying it by bucket. Eye opening how much water we use.

[ESBkevin]

I have started using some grey water in the flower baskets and pots. No ban here yet, but being sensible should avert that altogether. A simple scoop into a bucket, those bendy plastic tubs are good for scooping out of the bath.
Soon be time to insert half a brick in the cystern! Although the modern slim versions with dual flush action are low volume already.

[bikermike]

Well, I did it. Her ladyship had first shower and I had the second, so I showered in ankle-deep water. I reckon it's about half a bath-full between us.
The string worked (drop the string out, tie the hose to it and pull it up).
The filter (old pair of tights) possibly worked - certainly didn't fall off and seems to have stuff in it
Pump worked.

It looks pretty murky (they aren't kidding about grey water).

I am flushing the hose out after each time. I'm also going to leave a bit in the bath to make it easier to clean (otherwise I end up using more tapwater to rinse the bath).

I'm getting about 1.5 Waterbuts (120l capacity) over the weekend, which does about two-three days watering. I'm not going to try it in the week yet, as I want it to try out each time to avoid sludge build-up.

Also, my waterbuts overflow into the pond, so I've got a bung in that (old whisky cork as it happens), to avoid polluting that.

If I was doing it all the time, I'd build a separate system (so I could keep it filled, have a better filter and use chemicals to clean it), but this works well enough as a bodge

I also have an old toilet cistern knocking about, so I might try to build a sand-bed filter if I have the tme.

[roitelet]

I do use grey water but only on flowery stuff as I think it can make edibles taste a bit soapy.

[bikermike]

hmmm, I can see that risk - another benefit of only doing a few days at a time of grey water.

[Jonny.D]

We're not on a meter though I've been thinking this week about how much water goes down the drain.

Here's a few links I found interesting

Greywater Action - About Greywater Reuse

How to reuse grey water in the home and yard

RHS - Using grey water

[bikermike]

well, week 2 done. I seem to get around 150l per weekend (allowing for disasters like leaving the waterbut tap open when re-filling).
I've learned to leave a bit of water in the bath to swill round to clear all the soap residue etc.

I reckon it takes about 20 mins per day each sat/sun, so it's not onerous. it's been nice watering all the non-productives as the dry weather drags on.

I don't think I'd do it year-round, as you can smell it, but for the duration of this dry spell, I'll keep it up.

[mrsbusy]

Hi Nicos interesting article. I have looked into this before. Mainly to assuage my guilty conscience as a bath lover!! One day I thought I would measure the amount of water from my bath and reeling in shock I spent a happy hour Googling how to empty the bath. Full of enthusiasm, I had a plan. Mr Busy then threw that spanner in ref softened water. We have a water softener as we live in an extremely hard water area - nice to drink but frequent descaling required and the life of kettles and washing machines shorter. Our outside tap is not in the system and we have a drinking water tap. So more Googling and softened water got the thumbs down so reluctantly I used the shower. The other day the man down the allotment said he watered his garden with softened water because his outside tap was also softened water and his garden was fine and had been for several years. So this morning, armed with a length of hosepipe, I syphoned off the bath water. This was not a speedy process given my bathroom is on the ground floor but enough gravity to drain the bath. It took 4 minutes to fill a large watering can - time to empty one can talk to the chicks and get back to the draining hose. Fingers crossed that the water will not damage the plants - I am only putting it on shrubs and shrubby perennials. The article you flagged up did not mention using softened water.......

[Snoop Puss]

Some parts of the country have naturally soft water, so I'm not sure that it in itself would be a problem. But how do you soften the water? Are there residues left in the water?

[veggiechicken]

Two ongoing threads merged to confuse you all.

[4Shoes]

now that system has bedded in.

Each shower is approx. 36 to 48l - 3 to 4 orange B&Q pails - needs 1 bucket to run hot

I started watering the raised flower beds and pots 2 weeks ago, but now that they are all "lush" have moved onto the apple trees and cane soft fruit. Much Longer walk.

I had visitors this week, so able to verify overflow worked properly.

[DannyK]

Some parts of the country have naturally soft water, so I'm not sure that it in itself would be a problem. But how do you soften the water? Are there residues left in the water?

Naturally soft water is probably ok, but softened water usually has it's calcium replaced by sodium by the softener. This can make it bad to drink. RHS says in long term not good for plants.https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=691

I have loads of 6pt milk bottles full of hard water all over house for houseplants.