Make the most of water Use grey water

The WaterGreen Syphon Pump

Grey water – your used washing and bath water – can also be used in the garden. If you have an upstairs bathroom, you can collect grey water by connecting a diverter and water butt to the waste pipe. You could also attach a hose to the diverter and direct it to a water butt elsewhere in the garden.

Tips for grey water use

Grey water can contain chemicals, grease and bacteria, so here are our tips for using it:

• Use water from hand basins, showers and baths within 24 hours (to make it easier, try using a use a water syphon with hand pump such as the WaterGreen Syphon Pump)
• Don't use washing machine or dishwasher water on plants – it could contain potentially damaging levels of detergents and sodium
• Avoid using water that has been used to wash nappies or clean pets, contains bleach, disinfectants, water softeners, household cleaners other than
  washing up liquid, or is very greasy or oily
• Don't pour grey water directly onto plants – water the soil around them
• Don't let grey water come into contact with the edible parts of crops such as strawberries