Garden Watering

[buzzbee]

As we are now on a water meter I am carrying the bath water to a water butt, then using it on the garden plants.
I am wondering if this is safe for them considering the water may contain bath salts, foam bath, bath oil etc.
Is this harmful? And is there anything I can add to neutralise the water before use?

[Ethel]

Yes, it is perfectly fine and it was done a lot during the drought of the 70s.

This is an American site but is still useful:
http://home.howstuffworks.com/home-improvement /energy-efficiency/gray-water.htm/printable

You can even buy a syphon pump for that express purpose:

http://www.reuk.co.uk/Watergreen-Syphon-Pump-R ecycle-Bath-Water.htm

No need to add anything to the water first.

Another good use for your bath water is to use it to flush the loo - put it in the cisterns.

[queen 1954]

i use it for the garden in summer too, has never done any harm although i dont use oil in the bath.

[jamesnan]

I also pump the water from my washing machine into a large bucket and pour that on the garden (I collect this straight from the pipe in the garden) - we have done this for the last couple of years and not had a problem, but I do not use biological washing liquid.

[Ethel]

That's a great idea, jamesnan.

Talking of conserving water, I can't understand why a toilet hasn't been developed with a hand wash basin as part of the cistern lid. It could drain directly in to the cistern and be used to help flush the loo.

Oh! A quick google shows I'm too late to make my millions with the patent

http://www.digsdigs.com/toilet-with-integrated -hand-basin/