Gardenarian
2-12-13, 2:57pm
If you don't want to set up a whole gray water system, there are still lots of ways that you can re-use the water in your house.
My favorite is to keep a bucket in the kitchen sink and use that water for the yard and garden.
Rule #1 - everyone must use the kitchen sink and wash their hands over the bucket. (We use Dr. Bronner's soap in foaming containers - will not harm plants.) We wash fruits and vegetables over the bucket. I empty tea and coffee cups into it, and rinse dishes over it. I soak dirty dishes in the bucket (not really greasy ones, tho' a little bit of grease or oil is okay) I use a 2 gallon bucket, the kind they use for paint. You can also use water used for cooking (for example, if you are changing the water after soaking beans) and throw that in. Don't worry about the little bits of food that might get in the bucket - the residue from a cereal bowl or coffee dregs - these are just instant compost, and will break down and feed your soil very quickly.
Do not use water that you have salted. (Use salted cooking water, as from pasta, to run the disposal.)
You'll be surprised how often you fill that bucket every day! You can just carry the bucket outside and empty it on any plants, containers, or areas of your garden that need water. This is a great chore for kids. (I wipe the bottom of the bucket with a towel so I don't go dripping through the house.)
Note: I use a dishwasher. You can probably save even more if you do dishes by hand.
If you want to get fancier, I have a five gallon bucket with a hose hooked up outside the kitchen door. This has a soaker hose attached to it. I just move the soaker hose around the yard - one day on the plum, next day on the roses. My kitchen door is about 12 feet above grade, so it flows well. (It's easy to put a spigot on a bucket - ask for the parts at a your local hardware store. I also keep a bucket with a hose attached under our main gutter pipe, so the rain water is directed to our garden or pond, as needed.)
Another idea - keep a 5 gallon bucket in the shower and use that to collect the water while waiting for it to warm up.
Benefits: You'll keep water from going back into the treatment system, save money on water, have a healthier garden, keep things green during droughts, get a little exercise, and lesson in how much water you use everyday. It's also less stress on your septic system, if you have one.
My favorite is to keep a bucket in the kitchen sink and use that water for the yard and garden.
Rule #1 - everyone must use the kitchen sink and wash their hands over the bucket. (We use Dr. Bronner's soap in foaming containers - will not harm plants.) We wash fruits and vegetables over the bucket. I empty tea and coffee cups into it, and rinse dishes over it. I soak dirty dishes in the bucket (not really greasy ones, tho' a little bit of grease or oil is okay) I use a 2 gallon bucket, the kind they use for paint. You can also use water used for cooking (for example, if you are changing the water after soaking beans) and throw that in. Don't worry about the little bits of food that might get in the bucket - the residue from a cereal bowl or coffee dregs - these are just instant compost, and will break down and feed your soil very quickly.
Do not use water that you have salted. (Use salted cooking water, as from pasta, to run the disposal.)
You'll be surprised how often you fill that bucket every day! You can just carry the bucket outside and empty it on any plants, containers, or areas of your garden that need water. This is a great chore for kids. (I wipe the bottom of the bucket with a towel so I don't go dripping through the house.)
Note: I use a dishwasher. You can probably save even more if you do dishes by hand.
If you want to get fancier, I have a five gallon bucket with a hose hooked up outside the kitchen door. This has a soaker hose attached to it. I just move the soaker hose around the yard - one day on the plum, next day on the roses. My kitchen door is about 12 feet above grade, so it flows well. (It's easy to put a spigot on a bucket - ask for the parts at a your local hardware store. I also keep a bucket with a hose attached under our main gutter pipe, so the rain water is directed to our garden or pond, as needed.)
Another idea - keep a 5 gallon bucket in the shower and use that to collect the water while waiting for it to warm up.
Benefits: You'll keep water from going back into the treatment system, save money on water, have a healthier garden, keep things green during droughts, get a little exercise, and lesson in how much water you use everyday. It's also less stress on your septic system, if you have one.