I am searching for sources of information on using recycled water from washing machines (even showers) to water gardens. I have a vision that if you can attach a drip irrigation hose to the outlet of your washing machine, use "green" detergent that produces only potash, and use the rinse water only, you'd have a great source of water in a desert region. Anyone ever try this? Or can you point me to a source of information about this or similar techniques?

I seem to recall a letter in OG quite some time ago about somebody who re-piped (at least)his kitchen sink to his garden. It was in the Gardener to Gardener section. I think he had some sort of diverter so could switch from septic tank to garden irrigation. Since moving to the drought plagued South I've thought of this often as I catch water in a pitcher while waiting for the hot water to get to the sink, and listen to the washer dump gallons of water into the septic tank/leach field. What a bonanza that would be for my garden and my aching back! With any kind of gray water irrigation system, you might want to check on the legalities in your area.

For die hard gardeners who have the space in your yard you can build a small catch basin that you devert all tub, sink, shower, and washing machine water too. The basin must be plastic lined to prevent loosing water. Eight or ten square feet and two feet deep. About 1 foot pea gravel on the bottom and 1 foot washed sand. Water must flow in from the top and exit from the bottom under natural gravity. Water caught can then be stored in a holding tank to feed your drip system. This is an easy system that works just like mother nature. And the fun part is growing water loving plants in the sand of the catch basin that add to your yard. For more info email me at grichins@idacom.net

We do recycle our washing machine water. What we did was to buy a sump pump that you attach a hose. Our washer is in the basement, so the water is pumped into a holding sink and then through the pump to our yard. I have to move the end of the hose to each plant, there wasn't enough pressure in the pump to run the length of either the drip irrigation hose or the soaker hose. It works great for the trees and shrubs because they should ideally have 20 gals of water at a time and most washers use about that each cycle.

I only use the Sun and Earth detergent, no bleach. I also only use half the amt of detergent recommended.

we used all of our shower/tub water last year by just attaching a hose to a small sump pump and runnig it out our bathroom window to water raspberries, rhubarb, grapes and some shrubbery. worked great and we didn't watch our money just run down the drain!

I've never heard of Sun and Earth detergent but am curious to know what to watch out for in the way of ingredients in detergent if we were to use it to water our garden ...or would it be better to use washing machine water to water yard but not garden?