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#1
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Throwing out baby ...
I wonder is there any reason one shouldn't use bath/shower waste water on
the garden? Obviously the output from washing machines, dishwashers etc. is a fairly good path cleaner, but I wonder if any of the preparations, mixes and other paraphernalia found in modern bathrooms is harmful to gardens. -- William Tasso |
#2
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Throwing out baby ...
In article , William Tasso
writes I wonder is there any reason one shouldn't use bath/shower waste water on the garden? Obviously the output from washing machines, dishwashers etc. is a fairly good path cleaner, but I wonder if any of the preparations, mixes and other paraphernalia found in modern bathrooms is harmful to gardens. -- William Tasso Someone has suggested in my thread about saving water for a football pitch and a Lawn Bowls site I am making, that this 'grey' water can be used for watering. There will be water from showers in the players changing room and from the kitchen and bars, so there will be plenty for us :-)) Mike -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Forthcoming reunions. Royal Navy Social Weekend Sussex May 2nd - 5th. H.M.S.Collingwood Association Chatham May 30th - June 2nd British Pacific Fleet Hayling Island Sept 5th - 8th Castle Class Corvettes Assn. Isle of Wight. Oct 3rd - 6th. Plus many more |
#3
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Throwing out baby ...
Previously on Buffy the Vampire Slayer ^W^W^W^W uk.rec.gardening, I
heard William Tasso say... I wonder is there any reason one shouldn't use bath/shower waste water on the garden? Obviously the output from washing machines, dishwashers etc. is a fairly good path cleaner, but I wonder if any of the preparations, mixes and other paraphernalia found in modern bathrooms is harmful to gardens. No. Pa replumbed our house years ago so that all the waste water from the bath & sinks went into a barrel. In very dry summers he also diverted the dishwasher & washing machine outflows onto the grass. Made the grass go yellowish, but by the time it had run down the hill onto the beds it seemed to have no ill effect on the plants. -- Fenny Afternoon snacks have very few civil liberties. |
#5
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Throwing out baby ...
Sacha scribbled:
In the drought of 1976 people were positively encouraged to do this and many a bathroom had a hosepipe wriggling out of its window. To a lot of people's surprise, the soap in the waste water did wonders for getting rid of greenfly! I remember someone being taken to court for using a hose pipe to do just that in '76. Apparently some "do-gooder reported him to the water Auth.During a hosepipe ban the source of the water is not an issue, the use of a hosepipe is. So yes re use bath water but be careful who is watching! SR |
#6
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Throwing out baby ...
William Tasso wrote:
I wonder is there any reason one shouldn't use bath/shower waste water on the garden? Thank you one and all - that'll do it for me. The bathroom waste water will shortly be finding an alternative route to ground. Fenny:: I'm glad the washing machine water worked for you but in my experience it's a damn efficient way to clear a patch - even takes out ground elder. -- William Tasso |
#7
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Throwing out baby ...
Essjay001 wrote:
Sacha scribbled: In the drought of 1976 people were positively encouraged to do this and many a bathroom had a hosepipe wriggling out of its window. To a lot of people's surprise, the soap in the waste water did wonders for getting rid of greenfly! I remember someone being taken to court for using a hose pipe to do just that in '76. Apparently some "do-gooder reported him to the water Auth.During a hosepipe ban the source of the water is not an issue, the use of a hosepipe is. So yes re use bath water but be careful who is watching! er, no. The use of the hosepipe isn't at issue, as it were. I checked this during a hosepipe ban during the early 90s. You are perfectly entitled to use your hosepipe to carry grey wastewater to the garden. If your use of the hose is called into question, then the water company will/should inspect the hose, looking for the coating of soap scum, shed hair and other gunge that lines a hose used for this purpose (and it does, I've seen/smelt it). If the hose has the coating, they know it's been used for that purpose. If not, or perhaps if the coating is far too thin to explain a very lush garden, they may conclude you've been using it for tap water. regards sarah -- "Great is truth, but still greater, from a practical point of view, is silence about truth." Aldous Huxley |
#8
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Throwing out baby ...
William Tasso wrote:
William Tasso wrote: I wonder is there any reason one shouldn't use bath/shower waste water on the garden? Thank you one and all - that'll do it for me. The bathroom waste water will shortly be finding an alternative route to ground. Just don't try to store it for any length of time: the organic content starts to rot and the standing water stinks to high heaven. regards sarah -- "Great is truth, but still greater, from a practical point of view, is silence about truth." Aldous Huxley |
#9
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Throwing out baby ...
In article , swroot
writes Just don't try to store it for any length of time: the organic content starts to rot and the standing water stinks to high heaven. regards sarah Do you happen to know if this problem can be avoided by, A) Storage in a covered/sealed tank and/or B) Mixed in with the rainwater? My plans do have rather a lot of water from, a large roof which on the latest plan is just under 2500 sq. metres, showers in changing rooms, wash hand basin sinks, kitchen and Bar water (glass washing that is) To mix or not to mix. To cover or not to cover. Would appreciate any advice please. Mike -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Forthcoming reunions. Royal Navy Social Weekend Sussex May 2nd - 5th. H.M.S.Collingwood Association Chatham May 30th - June 2nd British Pacific Fleet Hayling Island Sept 5th - 8th Castle Class Corvettes Assn. Isle of Wight. Oct 3rd - 6th. Plus many more |
#10
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Throwing out baby ...
Mike wrote:
In article , swroot writes Just don't try to store it for any length of time: the organic content starts to rot and the standing water stinks to high heaven. Do you happen to know if this problem can be avoided by, A) Storage in a covered/sealed tank and/or B) Mixed in with the rainwater? My plans do have rather a lot of water from, a large roof which on the latest plan is just under 2500 sq. metres, showers in changing rooms, wash hand basin sinks, kitchen and Bar water (glass washing that is) To mix or not to mix. To cover or not to cover. Would appreciate any advice please. FWIW the smell was that of the finest quality rich black bottom-of-the-pond sludge. And when we washed the container out (about once each summer) that's what we found in the bottom of it: lovely black gunge. Best advice I can give is to use it as quickly as possible, or find some way of filtering the organics (soap, dead skin, hair, etc) out before you store it. I have heard/read of people who feed their grey wastewater through a reed bed purification system, then into a (presumably large!) garden pond. We stored ours *briefly* (ie overnight) in a water butt. Leave it two days and it started to smell. I can't think of any reason that storage in a sealed tank would prevent the stuff rotting, as I'd guess the process is anaerobic anyway (Nick?). A sealed tank would mean only you didn't smell it until it started flowing out onto the garden. Mixing with rainwater would dilute the nutrients a bit, but they'd still be there and the conditions would still be appropriate for rotting, so I think it would still smell. I'd keep the rainwater separate in any case, as it's useful for lime-intolerant plants and it's cleaner (so to speak) than the wastewater. regards sarah -- "Great is truth, but still greater, from a practical point of view, is silence about truth." Aldous Huxley |
#11
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Throwing out baby ...
In article , swroot
writes FWIW the smell was that of the finest quality rich black bottom-of-the-pond sludge. And when we washed the container out (about once each summer) that's what we found in the bottom of it: lovely black gunge. This was just from a household's use I assume? Best advice I can give is to use it as quickly as possible, or find some way of filtering the organics (soap, dead skin, hair, etc) out before you store it. I have heard/read of people who feed their grey wastewater through a reed bed purification system, then into a (presumably large!) garden pond. Rather a problem there, in that I am thinking the changing rooms/showers of a football club :-( I don't see the room for a reed bed or large pond! We stored ours *briefly* (ie overnight) in a water butt. Leave it two days and it started to smell. I can't think of any reason that storage in a sealed tank would prevent the stuff rotting, as I'd guess the process is anaerobic anyway (Nick?). A sealed tank would mean only you didn't smell it until it started flowing out onto the garden. On your information I think I am going to give the 'Grey Water' idea a miss, but will offer the advice to those who have the final say when it gets that far. Thanks Mixing with rainwater would dilute the nutrients a bit, but they'd still be there and the conditions would still be appropriate for rotting, so I think it would still smell. I'd keep the rainwater separate in any case, as it's useful for lime-intolerant plants and it's cleaner (so to speak) than the wastewater. I really did want to keep the rainwater on its own. Mainly for the Bowls Green, but also for the Football Pitch. The Bowls Green will of course need/get more TLC :-)) (4 people emailed me 'Do I want a Groundsman?' Not up to me but I will take names and addresses :-)) Must point out we are only just at the JCB clearing the scrub stage) regards sarah Many thanks :-)) Mike -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Forthcoming reunions. Royal Navy Social Weekend Sussex May 2nd - 5th. H.M.S.Collingwood Association Chatham May 30th - June 2nd British Pacific Fleet Hayling Island Sept 5th - 8th Castle Class Corvettes Assn. Isle of Wight. Oct 3rd - 6th. Plus many more |
#12
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Throwing out baby ...
It doesn't matter what the case was in the '90's. This happened in'76 when
things were different. I kept the cutting from our local paper. for many years. "Calling someone a liar makes your nose bleed" swroot scribbled: Essjay001 wrote: Sacha scribbled: In the drought of 1976 people were positively encouraged to do this and many a bathroom had a hosepipe wriggling out of its window. To a lot of people's surprise, the soap in the waste water did wonders for getting rid of greenfly! I remember someone being taken to court for using a hose pipe to do just that in '76. Apparently some "do-gooder reported him to the water Auth.During a hosepipe ban the source of the water is not an issue, the use of a hosepipe is. So yes re use bath water but be careful who is watching! er, no. The use of the hosepipe isn't at issue, as it were. I checked this during a hosepipe ban during the early 90s. You are perfectly entitled to use your hosepipe to carry grey wastewater to the garden. If your use of the hose is called into question, then the water company will/should inspect the hose, looking for the coating of soap scum, shed hair and other gunge that lines a hose used for this purpose (and it does, I've seen/smelt it). If the hose has the coating, they know it's been used for that purpose. If not, or perhaps if the coating is far too thin to explain a very lush garden, they may conclude you've been using it for tap water. regards sarah |
#13
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Throwing out baby ...
Mike wrote:
In article , swroot writes FWIW the smell was that of the finest quality rich black bottom-of-the-pond sludge. And when we washed the container out (about once each summer) that's what we found in the bottom of it: lovely black gunge. This was just from a household's use I assume? Yes, specifically the bath waste: two showers/day. Best advice I can give is to use it as quickly as possible, or find some way of filtering the organics (soap, dead skin, hair, etc) out before you store it. I have heard/read of people who feed their grey wastewater through a reed bed purification system, then into a (presumably large!) garden pond. Rather a problem there, in that I am thinking the changing rooms/showers of a football club :-( I don't see the room for a reed bed or large pond! I have seen tv footage of a reedbed filtrations system running through troughs attached to the exterior of building in Holland(?). But I agree it's complex. There are people who specialise in this sort of thing. Before you give up on it completely, I suggest you ask about it on uk.environment, or perhaps contact some environmental consultants. We stored ours *briefly* (ie overnight) in a water butt. Leave it two days and it started to smell. I can't think of any reason that storage in a sealed tank would prevent the stuff rotting, as I'd guess the process is anaerobic anyway (Nick?). A sealed tank would mean only you didn't smell it until it started flowing out onto the garden. On your information I think I am going to give the 'Grey Water' idea a miss, but will offer the advice to those who have the final say when it gets that far. Thanks It's not a dead loss. Perhaps. You could try to ensure that the grey waste system is plumbed in such wise that you could divert some of it directly to a hose/hoses supplying nearby flowerbeds/landscaping. It's not at all noxious when it's fresh, simply leaves a little bit of dried grey soap scum on the soil surface if you leave the hose in the same place for too long. regards sarah -- "Great is truth, but still greater, from a practical point of view, is silence about truth." Aldous Huxley |
#14
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Throwing out baby ...
In article , swroot
writes regards sarah Many thanks for your advice and help Sarah. I have now finished as far as I can go and emailed the Parish Clerk and suggested that we take this further with the Chairman, but of course it is up to the locals to tell us what to do with the site. I think that on the whole they will go along with the suggestions I have made because I have copied hat has been suggested. What we end up doing with umpteen gallons of 'Grey Water' I don't know :-)) Might be interesting :-)) My wife is very interested in the project because during the very hot summer of 1976, she 'diverted' the waste water from the washing machine and sink direct to the veg garden. We had very big gardens then so she dug channels and formed her own irrigation scheme :-)) we later learnt that we had a well in the garden :-( Got one now at this house but don't bother to use it ................ yet ;-) Not much can be done now as the 'wheels of local Gov.' turn very slowly. (Besides that I have a meeting in Birmingham on Tuesday) Many thanks also to those who emailed me with web sites for 'Cleaning Waste Water' and such. Mike -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Forthcoming reunions. Royal Navy Social Weekend Sussex May 2nd - 5th. H.M.S.Collingwood Association Chatham May 30th - June 2nd British Pacific Fleet Hayling Island Sept 5th - 8th Castle Class Corvettes Assn. Isle of Wight. Oct 3rd - 6th. Plus many more |
#15
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Throwing out baby ...
On Sat, 19 Apr 2003 15:55:41 +0100, Mike
wrote: Rather a problem there, in that I am thinking the changing rooms/showers of a football club :-( I don't see the room for a reed bed or large pond! I really can't see what there could be found on a dirty footballer except mud and skin flakes etc. and really can't imagine how these could degrade to something noxious in water. Ah ... but the soaps and all the stuff they put in them .. presumably some chemical anti bacterials to boot. You are just going to subtly put it about the football clubs that it's really macho to use soaps and shampoos made from olive oil with no additives and all those men who use poncy pongy bars and Brut shampoo are wusses. grin Huss Grow a little garden spam block - for real addy, reverse letters of second level domain. |
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