Does anyone here use the washing machine water to water their lawn? I've heard of a few people who do,but I don't know them.I want to find out what kind of pump they use to pump the water,what they use to store water,etc. The city gets on me for letting my grass turn brown. I hate having to water,especially if they keep saying we're in a drought and higher water bill.
Anyone here recycle their washing machine water?
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The detergent would probably, eventually, ruin the grass, wouldn't it? You would need a dedicated graywater recycling system to do it right.
My washing machine water goes into septic which must eventually go to the ground water.
Originally Posted By: Chris Meutsch
The detergent would probably, eventually, ruin the grass, wouldn't it? You would need a dedicated graywater recycling system to do it right.
Not at all. The phosphates make the grass grow.The grass is very green from one of the people that I was told does this.
The detergent would probably, eventually, ruin the grass, wouldn't it? You would need a dedicated graywater recycling system to do it right.
Not at all. The phosphates make the grass grow.The grass is very green from one of the people that I was told does this.
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I know of a town which waters a golf course with the liquid output from their sewer plant, AFTER treatment. I suspect the soap in grey water will at some point clog the root systems of grass and bleach can't do it much good.
Grass is supposed to go dormant when it doesn't get enough water. In LA, given your drought, wouldn't the brainless morons in city hall want to lay off wasting water on grass until the supply returns? Well, it's the left coast, I suppose.
Grass is supposed to go dormant when it doesn't get enough water. In LA, given your drought, wouldn't the brainless morons in city hall want to lay off wasting water on grass until the supply returns? Well, it's the left coast, I suppose.
Unfortunately its illegal in many places..including mine. But I used to dump it in my sump and it went in a field...so it didn't overload my septic tank.
Originally Posted By: HerrStig
In LA, given your drought, wouldn't the brainless morons in city hall want to lay off wasting water on grass until the supply returns? Well, it's the left coast, I suppose.
Yes,but you know how they think. It must look good,no matter what the cost.The bleaches water I would not use.
In LA, given your drought, wouldn't the brainless morons in city hall want to lay off wasting water on grass until the supply returns? Well, it's the left coast, I suppose.
Yes,but you know how they think. It must look good,no matter what the cost.The bleaches water I would not use.
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Originally Posted By: Al
Unfortunately its illegal in many places..including mine. But I used to dump it in my sump and it went in a field...so it didn't overload my septic tank.
It is certainly frowned upon. when i built my house the health department inspector saw my set up (PVC from laundry room above basement piped to exterior curtain drain with my water softner/acid neutralizer) and told me you can't do that....then said as an engineer it is the right thing to do and I won't make you plug it.
Not to mention fibers and powder soaps can clog up your perforated pipes over time.....
Unfortunately its illegal in many places..including mine. But I used to dump it in my sump and it went in a field...so it didn't overload my septic tank.
It is certainly frowned upon. when i built my house the health department inspector saw my set up (PVC from laundry room above basement piped to exterior curtain drain with my water softner/acid neutralizer) and told me you can't do that....then said as an engineer it is the right thing to do and I won't make you plug it.
Not to mention fibers and powder soaps can clog up your perforated pipes over time.....
I do this! I have a pipe coming out the back of the garage where the washer is and then I got a universal flexible radiator hose so I could change the direction and then I have a couple pieces of 2.5" PVC pipe that I use to put the water in different places on the lawn. Nothing fancy and it just "floods" one area and spreads out and then I can move it for the next load. The grass and plants have had no problems at all and everything is just as green as regular water. I dont do it when there is bleach used for the laundry.
My previous house had the washing machine discharge separately into the leach field. In most places grey water cannot discharge above ground.
Any above ground recycled water requires purple pipes and sprinklers to comply with code.
Any above ground recycled water requires purple pipes and sprinklers to comply with code.
Originally Posted By: daves66nova
Originally Posted By: Chris Meutsch
The detergent would probably, eventually, ruin the grass, wouldn't it? You would need a dedicated graywater recycling system to do it right.
Not at all. The phosphates make the grass grow.The grass is very green from one of the people that I was told does this.
Are phosphates still in detergent? I thought a lot of them no longer use phosphates.
(this is where I duck and cover as usually my facts are slightly off)
Originally Posted By: Chris Meutsch
The detergent would probably, eventually, ruin the grass, wouldn't it? You would need a dedicated graywater recycling system to do it right.
Not at all. The phosphates make the grass grow.The grass is very green from one of the people that I was told does this.
Are phosphates still in detergent? I thought a lot of them no longer use phosphates.
(this is where I duck and cover as usually my facts are slightly off)
JTK
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Originally Posted By: JDW
Dad used to have the washer drain to a ditch that ran to a weeping willow tree that loved it
I did the same thing at our prior home. Washer drained into a floor drain that gravity fed onto ftront lawn. Trees and lawn didnt mind, even with ocassional bleach. We were on a very old septic, which is why i ran it that way.
Dad used to have the washer drain to a ditch that ran to a weeping willow tree that loved it
I did the same thing at our prior home. Washer drained into a floor drain that gravity fed onto ftront lawn. Trees and lawn didnt mind, even with ocassional bleach. We were on a very old septic, which is why i ran it that way.
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yep water your grass!!
we have done it for over 20yrs to take the strain off of our septic system.
Our st. augustine loves it, bleech, detergent bubbles, and all!
we have done it for over 20yrs to take the strain off of our septic system.
Our st. augustine loves it, bleech, detergent bubbles, and all!
Originally Posted By: daves66nova
Originally Posted By: HerrStig
In LA, given your drought, wouldn't the brainless morons in city hall want to lay off wasting water on grass until the supply returns? Well, it's the left coast, I suppose.
Yes,but you know how they think. It must look good,no matter what the cost.The bleaches water I would not use.
There is no way that there is any measurable amount of bleach left in drain water from a washing machine. Bleach is subject to combining with every other chemical in the water, and is very short lived. The detergent might cause one problem or another........but the water you drink has more bleach in it when it leaves the water treatment plant than water from a washer does.
Originally Posted By: HerrStig
In LA, given your drought, wouldn't the brainless morons in city hall want to lay off wasting water on grass until the supply returns? Well, it's the left coast, I suppose.
Yes,but you know how they think. It must look good,no matter what the cost.The bleaches water I would not use.
There is no way that there is any measurable amount of bleach left in drain water from a washing machine. Bleach is subject to combining with every other chemical in the water, and is very short lived. The detergent might cause one problem or another........but the water you drink has more bleach in it when it leaves the water treatment plant than water from a washer does.
Originally Posted By: kozanoglu
Toilet water would be nutritious maybe but washing machine water for irrigation?
I know you're just joking but human waste has pathogens unless composted for like a year.
Cow manure is okay both because it's been composted and because it's from cows which have different digestive diseases.
Toilet water would be nutritious maybe but washing machine water for irrigation?
I know you're just joking but human waste has pathogens unless composted for like a year.
Cow manure is okay both because it's been composted and because it's from cows which have different digestive diseases.
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