Re: Grey Water


Hi all,

Here in my part of southern california when we had a significant drought
lasting several years,  we were also strongly encouraged to use grey water in
our yards.  We generally dont have wells here and depend on a community water
service which was severely rationing us.  Many people rigged various systems
to collect grey water for their yards including diverting shower water in
addition to various washing machines. 

I had a primitive system that involved carrying lots of buckets around.  I
chose not to use all my grey water,  just the water used in rinse cycles. 

One of the things that many people did was to simply use fewer chemicals --
detergents,  bleach,  conditioners etc -- in their dish/clothes washing
machines because it would end up in their yards.   Too bad people dont do that
all the time because here when the grey water isnt going into our yards,  it
eventually goes into the ocean.  

Janet.  

In a message dated 3/17/99 7:38:59 AM Pacific Standard Time, edwardt@sonic.net
writes:

<< Subj:	 Re: Grey Water
 Date:	3/17/99 7:38:59 AM Pacific Standard Time
 From:	edwardt@sonic.net (Edward Tucker)
 Reply-to:	veggie-list@eskimo.com
 To:	veggie-list@eskimo.com
 
 Here in northern California we went on water rationing a few years back,
 and was encouraged to save our gray water for our outside  plants. Any one
 caught watering outside plants that didn't have a private well was fined.
 I think you will find the restrictions for storing gray water the same a
 the RV vehicles use. You can not just run it out to a  open tank and draw
 flies and other insects. I bought a small water pump that has a hose on
 both ends, and pumped my water into a 50 gal barrel from my washer tub
 next to my washing machine. When I needed water for my roses and shrubs
 this is what I used, by pumping from the barrel to the rose bushes.
 
 As for the chlorine, if it is not put in contact with you plant foliage,
 it should not be a problem. Chlorine is a product the leaves water very
 rapidly when in contact with air. As anyone who owns a swimming pool
 knows.
 
 As for being safe they have been putting chlorine in our drinking water
 for years with no bad results that I have heard about, other than taste.
 
 Ed Tucker
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