Can anyone help with recycling household water?

Question

I want to recycle my bath water by using it to water the garden and my patio plants...will this harm the plants as there will be some residual soap and shampoo in the water after use...I am astonished to discover that I use in excess of 200 litres of water in a one bath every day !!

Answer 1

Not sure where you are, but check your local authority if they have any particular regulations for recycling household water.

Most places will allow you to reuse greywater (water from basins, showers, laundry, bath - but not toilets or kitchen sinks) on gardens and you can get greywater diverters from hardware shops that you can get plumbed in to make it easier. Not all house plumbing is suitable for this though.

Again, don't know where you live, but a lot of Australian native plants don't like the high levels of phosphorus in detergeants but most plants love it! Wouldn't put it on your lettuce or strawberries though...

Answer 2

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. I'm not sure what to do with this one.

Let me have a think and I'll get back to you.

Answer 3

Take less water for bath. Water can be used for toilet, floor cleaning etc.

Answer 4

The only way i can think of you doing this is if you syphon( I'm not sure you spell it like that) the water out of the bath by using a hose, it would be easier if you have a window in the bathroom and put the hose in a water butt.

Suck one end of the hose and the water should come out.

you can then use the water as and when you need it. ( does that make any sense at all?)

Apart from that it's buckets but that is going to take ages.

Answer 5

Get a shower

Answer 6

Yes it's safe to use in the garden I do this and my hedges shot up in no time.

I wouldn't use for roses though.

Answer 7

this water gets recycled at a water treatment plant anyway.  Yeah water costs money, but there isnt a way to transport that water to your garden except fo buckets.

Answer 8

you can divert the water to a rain water barrel any excess would flow back to waste water, plants are generally not to fussy about the water they get. one free side affect though is soap in the water will reduce bugs and slugs. sorry slug and bug lovers.......

Answer 9

You can either filter it using a mini water filteration treatment system by attaching a water filter to the bath water line, or you can use very less of the water being used.

Answer 10

Daytime of the Nighttime is right, use a syphon. Thread the hose through your bedroom window and rather than trying to suck water through (ugh), get someone to put their thumb over the open end while you fill the length of the pipe with water (bath, jug etc), then with the pipe filled, put your end into the bath and the water will syphon down, provided the bath end is kept submerged and you will successfully reuse your bathwater. The residual soap etc will not harm your plants. However, you should review your almost excessive water usage, unless you need hot baths for muscular complaints why not cut down to a shower each day and a bath a couple of times a week? Remember each time you shower you wash away the healthy bacteria from your skin as well and may also experience dry skin because of the constant removal of essential and natural oils.

Good luck with the water saving, saving or reusing 200 litres of drinking water a day is well worth doing.

Answer 11

First of all you should consider taking a shower instead of a daily bath.  You can still put a plug in to recycle the water, but there won't be so much of it - and you'd be saving on fuel to heat the water.

The bath water can be used to water the garden, better if you use environmentally friendly soap and shampoo.

Answer 12

Look at getting a "grey water system". They are basically holding tanks under/beside your tub, sink, etc- they catch the used water and hold it for you to use. You can also get this thing called and Aquos water system-- check out the link below. It takes the used water from your sink in the bathroom and puts it in your toilet tank, so you don't have to use fresh water to flush your toilet- we have one and LOVE IT.

Also if you are using the water to water a garden, try to switch to all biodegradeable soaps and cleaners- that way they will break down and not harm your plants- because the think with using recycled water for a garden you will eat from is that you are using the water to feed plants that will eventually feed YOU. So, get all natural, biodegradeable soaps, cleaners, and you should be fine. Also, if you can store the water for a few days somewhere sunny, the sun will help break down the soaps much faster, so the plants and soil don't have to work so hard to do it.

Have fun with your new eco friendly idea!!