Quenching the Thirst of Your Thirsty Plants
If you’ve ever watched your garden struggle through a summer drought, I know the pain of seeing everything from annuals to that treasured plant passed down from grandma wilt, shrivel, and die. It’s heartbreaking, isn’t it? But you don’t have to lose any of them to the relentless heat that leaves the dirt dry as dust.
Even if soaring summer temperatures and a lack of rain lead to outdoor watering restrictions or even an outright ban, there’s still a way you can legally quench the need of thirsty plants. It’s called greywater – water from kitchen or bathroom sinks, bathtubs or washing machines that some municipalities still confuse with wastewater. But we can safely capture and re-route this resource to the landscape through manual or mechanical means. As Treehugger explains, greywater is distinctly different from blackwater, which is what gets flushed down the toilet.
Repurposing Household Water
There are two basic ways to re-use greywater in the garden. One is the tried and true do-it-yourself method of collecting indoor water in buckets, bottles, pans, cans or anything that will hold water and carrying it to the garden. The other is to find a group that will work with you or teach you how to turn your current household plumbing into a sustainable system that can provide irrigation for your landscape.
While collecting greywater in buckets isn’t the most efficient way to re-use non-potable water, it has several advantages. Anyone can do it, and it doesn’t cost anything. All you need is a bucket, a little bit of effort and a lot of determination. A dose of ingenuity can also be helpful! Treehugger offers some DIY ways to get started with this approach.
If the bucket method sounds like a lot of work, that’s because it is, but there are alternatives. For example, Greywater Action is a collaborative of educators who work with policymakers and water districts to develop codes and incentives to reduce household water use and promote a sustainable water culture. They offer simple and affordable low-tech residential systems that favor gravity over pumps to pipe greywater from the kitchen, bathroom and laundry room to the landscape. As a result, homeowners can maintain a sustainable backyard ecosystem that enhances food production and ornamental gardens, and also provides shelter for wildlife.
Choosing the Right Greywater System
Typically, the simplest greywater system involves the washing machine and doesn’t require any plumbing modifications. As Treehugger explains, “You just take the machine discharge hose and connect it to a diverter valve. One side goes to the sewer system and the other goes to an irrigation system. That system is really the easiest because you don’t have to change the plumbing.”
To figure out how much irrigation water this will put on your garden, just multiply the number of gallons of water your machine uses by the number of loads of wash you do a week. The only time this system doesn’t work very well is when the washing machine is in the middle of a home built on a slab foundation or when the yard slopes uphill.
Installing a greywater irrigation system will pay for itself over time because you’ll reduce overall water consumption. Treehugger notes that “how much time it will take to cover the cost of the system through savings on your water bill will depend on how much water you use.” Another way to look at the economics is to think of it as drought insurance for your plants. As they say, “Think about if your community was on water rationing because of a drought and you would potentially lose some plants due to them not having enough water. Your greywater system could save your plants.”
Navigating Regulations and Best Practices
It’s important to understand the code and permit requirements for a greywater system in your area. Treehugger explains that “many states and communities have not upgraded their codes to allow for professional greywater systems, and the majority of states have very restrictive codes that make it economically not feasible for the average person to be able to financially comply with them. Some states don’t have greywater codes at all, she said. In those cases, you have to apply for special permits to install a greywater system.”
The problem, they say, is that “many states still consider greywater to be same as sewage.” But they’re optimistic that “with more areas experiencing water shortages, this misperception will change.” You can check Greywater Action’s codes and policy page for more information about greywater codes in your state.
When it comes to using greywater, remember that whatever you’re putting into your water will wind up in your garden. Treehugger advises using soaps and detergents that are plant-friendly, without high levels of boron and salt, which can be harmful to plants.
The Benefits of Greywater
According to the Greywater and Wastewater Industry Group, greywater can be an effective method of reusing this used water to water trees or other landscape plants, helping to “save our potable water supplies and reduces our home water usage and costs and supports a thriving landscape.”
Greywater has a wealth of micro-nutrients that can boost plant growth and crop yields. As they explain, “one class of nutrients found in greywater is organic matter such as skin cells, phosphorous, found in most soaps and commonly used as a fertilizer. Microorganisms and bacteria in the ground feed off carbon and pathogens, leaving water, carbon dioxide and non-polluting insolubles.” The rest of the water is then absorbed by plants or seeps down to recharge the groundwater.
Using greywater can also create a cool microclimate around your home. GWIG notes that “the daily flow of water will keep your landscaping from become arid. It will also promote the rapid growth of shade trees, which lower temperatures by providing shade and through evapotranspiration, and have been found to lower air-conditioning costs in detached houses by 20-30%.”
Choosing the Right Plants
GWIG recommends several plants that thrive with greywater, including bird of paradise, melaleuca, dietes, gardenia, callistemon, conifers, liriope, yucca, hibiscus, manila grass, seashore paspalum, saltwater couch grass, St. Augustine turf, Bermuda grass, buffalo grass, and green couch.
Of course, it’s important to monitor the health of your plants and soil when using greywater. GrowVeg cautions that “greywater tends to be high in chemicals that alter the structure of the soil, and it also tends to be overused.” They recommend giving your plants a break by using rainwater (if you have a rainwater tank) or tap water every six weeks, and using compost to increase the organic content of your soil and improve its structure.
So don’t let a summer drought get you down – with a little creativity and some smart greywater strategies, you can keep your garden thriving, even in the driest conditions. And by doing so, you’ll not only save water, but you’ll also create a lush, beautiful oasis around your ABC Home in Aberdeen. It’s a win-win all around!
