Gray water refers to water produced by our domestic activities, such as laundry, washing dishes or showering. Unlike black water or contaminated sewage, gray water decomposes quickly, does not contain fecal bacteria, and is low in nitrogen and phosphorus. They can therefore be recycled, used for other uses and thus save water. Find out if you can reuse water from the washing machine to water your plants.
To reduce your water bill and save this vital natural resource, consider recycling gray water from your domestic activities.
Is it possible to reuse water from the washing machine to water plants?
It is possible to recover water from the washing machine to water the plants, provided you use the water from the last rinses. This contains very little soap and can be used to water potted plants. Some soaps even contain potash which helps plants grow. On the other hand, if the detergent you use is not ecological, avoid watering your plants in the ground with water from the washing machine. Also avoid watering your plants with water from the first rinses, which is still soapy.
What has been said about washing machine water also applies to shower and dishwater, as long as you only use rinse water. Note that this gray water must be kept for a maximum of 24 hours, in order to avoid the development of bacteria. Also, only use them occasionally, especially during periods of severe drought, or over a short period. Also avoid using this gray water to water edible vegetable plants, so as not to contaminate your harvest with pathogens contained in the water. That said, the water recovered from the washing machine, and gray water in general, can be used to irrigate the lawn and your ornamental garden.
What other waters can be used to water plants?
To irrigate your plants, other alternatives are available to you.
- Vegetable cooking water: after cooking your vegetables, let the cooking water cool and use it to water your plants. In addition to hydrating them, this cooking water also serves as a natural fertilizer. Rich in minerals, it gives more vigor to plants. Note that this water must not be salty and must come from organic vegetables that have not been treated. In this case, you can also use the vegetable wash water to water your plants.
Tip: to eliminate weeds, use the cooking water from the potatoes. It is in fact an effective natural weedkiller, especially when it is salty. Let the cooking water cool and pour it over the weeds you want to control.
- Rainwater: this non-calcareous water is plants’ favorite. Indeed, to successfully water your plants, choose spring water, non-calcareous and at room temperature. Water that is too cold or too hot can create thermal shock for the plant and damage its root system.
That said, recovering water from the washing machine to water plants is an ecological gesture that allows us to conserve this vital natural resource. However, be sure to only use water from the last rinse cycle, and only water plants that are not edible.
