Recycling Water

[phb]

@Trude

also tell us if its safe to just run a hose from the machine directly out onto lawns etc

I covered some of the issues in this post…

How To Clean a Washing Machine

The water from the rinse cycle can be used for the next wash cycle, if one has the capacity to do such…easier with a top loader where a washing machine can usually be manually filled. This can cut washing water use considerably. If this is done regularly using the wash water, one should also consider applying gypsum (calcium sulfate) in the same area as the irrigated wash water. The surfactants in washing powder and liquids contains sodium which over time can impact on the physical propertie…

Concerns in the past has related to phosphates and the impact on downstream water quality (elevated phosphorus and nitrogen can lead to algal blooms)…and impact of phosphorous on phosphorus sensitive plants…which is covered here…

Does phosphorus kill plants?

The main issue for using grey water in the garden isn’t necessarily phosphorus, but sodium. Phosphorus Phosphorus can be a concern if there is a potential for grey water to enter stormwater drains, streams and rivers. There are also a limited number of commercially available native plants which are highly sensitive to phosphorus, not the plant persay, but the mechanisms adapted by these plants growing in very low phosphorus soils (such as symbiotic relationship with mycorrhizal fungi). Kevin…

The main issue with greywater today is its alkalinity (changing or increasing soil pH which can effect nutirent availability etc) and sodium which affects soil physical characteristics. Both can be ameliorated through soil additives/conditioners…but there can be some long term impacts on the soil if continually used in the one area.