Gray water

We are thinking of catching the water for our shower, let it sit in a tank for a number of days, and then using it to water plants. Would this work? Perhaps installing a filter. I don't want to damage the plants.

Let me know what you think.

Thanks!

My bathtub and washing machine water empties out into my bog garden without sitting in a tank at all. Ssshhh. Don't tell anyone. I think it's illegal. Anyway, though, it never has hurt the plants.

Some cities/towns don't allow gray water but others do so you might not be illegal! Although the ones that allow it probably want you to pay a bundle of money to have someone come and set up the system "properly" with permits and everything. You might want to check out the Sustainable Living forum, I'm pretty sure there are some people there who have done gray water in one form or another so you'll probably get lots of great advice there.

I don't like paying for water twice, myself, and run my washing machine water outside to my garden. So I don't think it hurts your plants unless the water is too hot. Sitting in a tank and going through a filter would certainly cool it down. I guess what really matters is what is in the water, most soaps are biodegradable, at least the ones I use. Bleach doesn't appear to have hurt any of my plants. I'd say go for it. I'd do all of the showers and sinks that way if I could, too.
Don't ask the neighbors, don't tell the neighbors. Just keep it "clean". LOL!
WIB,
SW

Great idea - and one that more municipalities will have to deal with as we head into drought more and more. LADWP decided to issue rationing this summer. I am with Pasadena Water and Power, but we are under the same County Water District, and we had restricted water last summer. I never exceeded anything and even came in UNDER what my neighbors were paying by hundreds of dollars. This from an avid gardener - with a decently green lawn!

I think that gray water is supposed to be used within 24 hours, and I do believe that filtration is recommended (to keep the lines from clogging, I think?). This is an area I've recently starting researching and there's a great group (located in Berkeley, I think), which is highly thought of in the greywater community & gives great info.

http://www.greywaterguerrillas.com/greywater.html

I would be very interested in hearing from anyone, on DG, who's has experience with greywater, but ecrane's suggestion that the sustainable forum is the logical place makes sense.

Liz