UK gardening - Grey Water for Garden?

Author

Grey Water for Garden?

TheScullster

2005-07-25, 1:21 pm

Hi all

Is grey water from shower suitable for watering?
This will be loaded with conditioner/shampoo/contents of Boots pharmacy, as
it used by wife and daughter primarily. But the outlet to the stack is
handy for water butt location!

TIA

Phil

Mike Lyle

2005-07-25, 1:21 pm

TheScullster wrote:
> Hi all
>
> Is grey water from shower suitable for watering?
> This will be loaded with conditioner/shampoo/contents of Boots
> pharmacy, as it used by wife and daughter primarily. But the
outlet
> to the stack is handy for water butt location!
>

I don't think it would do any harm at all: most of those products
would do no more than act as wetting agents, which could be an
advantage.

--
Mike.

Mike

2005-07-25, 2:21 pm

Pam Moore

2005-07-25, 2:21 pm

Mike

2005-07-25, 2:21 pm

He suggested connecting a hose to the outlet and
> putting the end in a different part of the garden each day. Makes
> some sense I think.
>
> Pam in Bristol

That is what we did :-))

JennyC

2005-07-25, 2:21 pm

michael adams

2005-07-25, 3:21 pm

"TheScullster" <phil@dropthespam.com> wrote in message
news:IMmdnborbIa0l3jfSa8jmw@karoo.co.uk...
> Hi all
>
> Is grey water from shower suitable for watering?
> This will be loaded with conditioner/shampoo/contents of Boots pharmacy,
as
> it used by wife and daughter primarily. But the outlet to the stack is
> handy for water butt location!
>
> TIA
>
> Phil
>
>

Normal soap and shampoo contain phosphate which is a
plant nutrient which is essential for photosynthesis.
You can tell this, as eco-friendly versions are marketed
as being phosphate-free. As too much phosphate in the water
table can cause problems. Using bath water in the garden
where any phosphates will be taken up directly by plants
therefore is a good idea. Provided the water is
distributed around the garden at least.

<quote>

" Phosphate is termed a "pollutant" and is primarily used in
soaps, detergents, shampoos and even soda pop. Other phosphate
sources include fertilizers, organic debris such as leaves
and bark, and some pool chemicals. Phosphate pollution in
lakes and streams is caused mainly by overdevelopment, which
causes extreme amounts of byproduct waste to end up in natural
water systems.

http://www.focuspools.com/poolcare/Phosphates.asp

michael adams

....

Chris Hogg

2005-07-26, 8:21 am

On Mon, 25 Jul 2005 16:54:57 +0100, "TheScullster"
<phil@dropthespam.com> wrote:

>Hi all
>
>Is grey water from shower suitable for watering?
>This will be loaded with conditioner/shampoo/contents of Boots pharmacy, as
>it used by wife and daughter primarily. But the outlet to the stack is
>handy for water butt location!
>
>TIA
>
>Phil
>
I'd agree with what the other posters have said, in general the
detergents don't do any harm and may even be beneficial, with two
exceptions. Most detergents are alkaline. Repeated application of grey
water to the soil will eventually make it alkaline as well. So you
don't want to apply it too often to acid-loving plants such as
rhododendrons, camellias and some heathers, although the occasional
watering won't do any harm, especially if it's that or let the plant
die. The other, and I must admit pretty rare occasion, is when
applying grey water to plants that are poisoned by phosphate, i.e.
protaceae. I doubt if many urglers grow them, but some may grow the
Chilean Fire Tree, Embothrium coccinium, which is a member of that
family. But again, the occasional watering won't make much difference.

--
Chris

E-mail: christopher[dot]hogg[at]virgin[dot]net

Rod Craddock

2005-07-26, 3:21 pm

"Chris Hogg" <me@privacy.net> wrote in message
news:854ce19g599s7ekh7upc8a3tdgkc3l3n0n@4ax.com...
> I'd agree with what the other posters have said, in general the
> detergents don't do any harm and may even be beneficial, with two
> exceptions. Most detergents are alkaline. Repeated application of grey
> water to the soil will eventually make it alkaline as well. So you
> don't want to apply it too often to acid-loving plants such as
> rhododendrons, camellias and some heathers, although the occasional
> watering won't do any harm, especially if it's that or let the plant
> die. The other, and I must admit pretty rare occasion, is when
> applying grey water to plants that are poisoned by phosphate, i.e.
> protaceae. I doubt if many urglers grow them, but some may grow the
> Chilean Fire Tree, Embothrium coccinium, which is a member of that
> family. But again, the occasional watering won't make much difference.

Agreed with everybody, when push come to shove and things are really
suffering - then almost any water is better than no water - even to the
extent of occasional alkaline water to lime haters.

Can't do much about veg crops - if what you are growing needs water, then
it's got to have it.

For ornamentals - better get used to the idea of growing subjects with a
lower water requirement.

--
Rod

My real address is rodtheweedygardeneratmyweedyisp
Just remove the weedy bits
and transplant the appropriate symbol at.

Jaques d'Alltrades

2005-07-26, 4:21 pm

The message <3kklonFusl3oU1@individual.net>
from "michael adams" <mjadams28@onetel.com> contains these words:

> Normal soap and shampoo contain phosphate which is a
> plant nutrient which is essential for photosynthesis.
> You can tell this, as eco-friendly versions are marketed
> as being phosphate-free. As too much phosphate in the water
> table can cause problems. Using bath water in the garden
> where any phosphates will be taken up directly by plants
> therefore is a good idea. Provided the water is
> distributed around the garden at least.

My grape vines get my bathwater, but in 10 gallon batches, siphoned
through a skinny tube.

--
Rusty
Emus to: horrid dot squeak snailything zetnet point co full-stop uk
http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/hi-fi/

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