Use your baby's leftover bathwater to water plants.
Each day, Americans waste 33 percent of their drinking water because of inefficiency and misuse, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Much of the water used for flushing toilets and watering the lawn doesn't need to be drinkable. Scientists at the University of Georgia describe how water is classified into three categories: clean, gray and black. Water that is not sewer contaminated qualifies as gray water and is safe to reuse. Sources include sink, bath and laundry water. Black water contains sewage, such as used toilet water or a load of cloth diapers. Because of contamination, black water is unsafe to recycle in the home. Recycling water in your home requires a commitment and some basic equipment adjustments. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Purchase a laundry drum and attach it to the outgoing hose of your washing machine. Normally, during the spin cycle, water is pumped through a hose and into a nearby sink or drain. A laundry drum collects this used water and stores it in a container. Use the collected water to irrigate your lawn or indoor plants. For optimum environmental friendliness, use a laundry detergent that is free of phosphates and chemicals that can damage vegetation and mitigate vital soil-based nutrients.
2. Flush your toilet with leftover bathwater. After you take a bath, collect the remaining water in several lidded buckets and line them up next to the toilet. Flush the contents of the toilet by pouring a single bucket directly into the toilet bowel, saving the water in the back tank. Although the recycled bathwater contains shampoo and soap, it is still important to clean your toilet regularly with a basic bleach and chlorine solution.
3. Collect rain water. Cut a hole through the top of a standard barrel and place it directly under the gutter drain outside of your house. Fit the drain tightly inside the hole to prevent debris and animals from falling into the barrel. During a rainstorm, the water will run down the gutter and into the barrel. Use the collected water to irrigate shrubs, bushes and flowers.
Tags: collected water, collected water irrigate, into barrel, laundry drum, leftover bathwater, water irrigate