Rain barrel with irrigation hose.
Recycling water is the process of reusing treated wastewater for beneficial purposes. Also referred to as water reclamation and water reuse, water recycling has many environmental benefits. Perhaps most importantly, by providing an extra source of water, reusing water lessens the strain on fresh sources of water and helps to alleviate drought. It can also reduce and prevent pollution and improve sensitive ecosystems. While some communities have set up their own water recycling programs, it's just as easy to recycle water in your own home. Does this Spark an idea?
Explanation
Water that has already been used is labeled "gray water." This is all the nontoilet wastewater produced in your home from things like the bathtub and washing machine. By collecting this water and applying it toward another useful purpose, you cut down on the amount of water you draw from community water supplies. Recycling water may even lead to a significant decrease in your water bill.
Sources
Besides the bathtub and washing machine, other sources for gray water include showers, sinks and dishwashers. Think of all the water that gets wasted while you're standing there waiting for the faucet to heat up or that is leftover after you boil a big pot of pasta or eggs. Outside the home, you can collect rain as a source of gray water, as well as the water that drips from your air conditioner as condensation. If you have pets, you can even use the water left in their water bowl before refreshing it.
Uses
Since gray water doesn't require extensive treatment, it is safe to use in the garden, on your lawn or to flush the toilet. You wouldn't want to drink it or use it for cooking, though, because it often contains grease, hair, detergent and other particles associated with whatever source you are collecting it from. According to the University of Massachusetts Extension Service, a square foot of garden soil can tolerate half a gallon of gray water each week, and it helps to rotate applications with fresh water to prevent the buildup of any soil contaminants.
Methods
Perhaps the quickest and easiest way to start recycling water is to invest in several large buckets and keep them in areas around the house where you notice a lot of water going to waste. You simply collect gray water in the buckets and carry them to the garden. More complex methods involve siphons or pumps that carry the water from place to place for you through a hose. For rain, you can purchase rain barrels at home and garden stores; the water that collects can then be applied to your lawn or garden.
Warnings
Regardless of how clean it may look, never consume gray water. Because it may contain disease-causing organisms, it's best to use collected water immediately and not store it for long periods of time. The University of Massachusetts also discourages the use of gray water for edible gardens due to the potential for transferring bacteria or impurities, and recommends applying the water directly to the soil rather than letting it splash off the above-ground portion of plants. You may also want to switch to biodegradable, nontoxic detergents and cleansers if you'll be reusing much washing machine or dishwasher water; boron, chlorine and bleach can be harmful to plants.
Tags: gray water, washing machine, water that, bathtub washing, bathtub washing machine