Courtesy: David Shankbone
One way to work towards making your garden green, both in terms of color and the environment, is to reuse water from other sources to feed the plants. This can be particularly necessary in times of drought, where there is little rainwater falling. As highlighted in this article at Treehugger, the usage of grey water in the lawn and garden can be beneficial to your climate, your lawn, and your wallet.
Derek Markham discusses methods for all stages and levels of grey water usage. It can be difficult to get started on, but can be an incredibly effective way to conserve water while still making sure your lawn gets enough.
The key to grey water is to eliminate as much organic matter and soap residue from the water as possible. This is why the bathroom tends to be the best place to get grey water from.
One of the best way to get “grey” water, and one that we have found to be incredibly easy for anyone to do, is to capture “warm-up” water for later use. This is the water you will let run down the drain while you’re waiting for your shower or sink tap water to warm up or cool down. Simply capture this water in a container and set it aside so that it can warm or cool to room temperature. This won’t need any filtration or any treatment for later use, and avoids any potential legal issues regarding grey water use, as it is untainted water that is not technically being reused.
So take some of Derek’s hints, tips, and ideas and see if you can put them to use in your own home and garden. You may find that you will be able to reduce your water bill for the summer, plus eliminate some of the time you spend during your watering tasks.
