Re: using "grey" water in the garden
Shelley, I also live in NSW - in the Hawkesbury district and use my grey
water in the garden - with no ill effects. (By the way did you realise that
this practice is illegal in NSW - we are the only state in Aust. I think
where this is the case, my council have spoken to me about it and I have a
water scientist prepared to say that I am not doing any environmental harm
because of the "method" I use, am on 10acres (tank water only for house) in
a rain shadow area where water is at premium - admittedly we've just had 12
inches of rain this year, but until mid January the place was brown and
crunchy and it is likely that rain might be fairly sparse again for the next
little while).
Would suggest that you don't consider the tank idea as even using friendly
soaps detergents etc, the odour alone is seriously foul (a friend has this
system on her property and it is not good) In my case I have had the bath
line diverted to a tap with a normal sized hose and this water goes to a
shade garden under an Ulmus parvifolia where it supports a range of plants
including species geranium, hellebores, hydrangeas, a dwarf acer, lamium
maculatum, dianella variegata, anenome hybrids & neomarica's. None seem
upset by my soap or shampoo.
The bathroom basin and kitchen water go into the septic system - not
advisable to keep too much water away from that....
The washing machine water is diverted to a tap with a one inch hose
attached - this goes to my "bog garden" which includes zantedeschia,
Louisiana Iris, 2 x willows - (none of them seem to mind "Omo" - am afraid
that the "most" environmentally friendly soap powder only moved the dirt
around on my clothes.
Jane - Kurrajong, NW of Sydney, warm - hot moderately humid summers - cool
winters (normally no frosts)
----- Original Message -----
From: "Shelley Harvey" <sharvey@metz.une.edu.au>
To: <medit-plants@ucdavis.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, February 27, 2001 11:53 AM
Subject: using "grey" water in the garden
>
> I don't know whether this is appropriate for the medit-plant list, but I
> would really appreciate comments/advice from people who use or have used
> household "grey" water (unfiltered) in the garden. This water would only
> be used on the general garden, definitely not on the vegetable garden.
>
> I live in the bush and the only water I have for the general garden is
from
> one of the farm dams. The water I am considering collecting and using is
> from the household bathrooms (showers and basins) and the washing machine
> because currently it goes to waste, and it would be relatively simple to
> collect in a tank and gravity feed to various parts of the garden. I
> realise it would be necessary to use the most environmentally friendly
soap
> and washing powder I can find. In previous droughts I have collected this
> water and carted it by bucket, but it is very time consuming. My concerns
> relate to whether plants (or which plants?) could tolerate this type of
> water on a regular basis?
>
> Any experience people have had would be most welcome.
>
> Shelley
>
>
> Shelley Harvey
> New England Tablelands
> Northern New South Wales
> Australia
