Grey water

[undyingking]

Has anyone got experience of, or knowledge about, collecting grey water for garden use?

My current plan is to attach a water butt to the external downpipe from our shower, like the one that collects rainwater on the guttering downpipe. What do I need to consider?

For example, does gribble collect in the butt, that might need clearing out or treatment? What's the pH of the collected water going to be like? Do you need to let it stand before using it on the garden? And other such things that I haven't thought of.

Comments

[mrsdanvers63.livejournal.com]

My neighbour two doors down siphons bath water into a water butt for use on her garden; straight out of the bath, out the juliet window and into the butt.
As for it's efficacy - her garden flourishes.

I think the impact of any chemicals would be mitigated by surrounding gardens in an urban situation. My neighbour uses chemicals; I don't. Birds and insects flourish in my garden and pollinate hers.

[undyingking.livejournal.com]

We generally don't use chemicals in the garden, so it seems a shame to compromise that with our grey water. Although maybe saving the water is more important. Difficult to evaluate some of this eco stuff!

My hope was that someone would post here saying something like "That's OK, sitting in the butt for a few days will allow all the harmful chemicals to break down / settle / etc, or you can put barley straw or something in the butt that will have the same effect" but no joy yet...