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You are here: Home / Garden / All About Gray Water | What Is Gray Water and How to Use It

All About Gray Water | What Is Gray Water and How to Use It

Reading Time: 2 minutes

March 8, 2023 By Riley E. Carlson 9 Comments

Ever heard of gray water? If you haven't, then I think it's probably time you know what it is and what wonders it can do for your home.

All About Gray Water

All About Gray Water

You may be surprised, but there are certain water classifications: clear water, gray water and black water. I'm sure you know about clear water and probably have an idea with what black water is, but what is gray water? Well to give you a quick definition, gray water is the waste that comes from your sinks, showers, washing machines, and the like.

So what does it have to do with your home? Knowing how to properly utilize this waste and repurpose it can actually save you a lot of money. If you want to find out more about how it works, just check out this infographic!

 

All About Gray Water

via Fix.com

Making Use of Gray Water In Your Home

Know Your Water

Clear Water

Clear Water

  • Faucet/Tap

Gray Water

  • Baths
  • Bathroom sinks
  • Washing machines

Black Water

 Black Water

  • Toilet
  • Dishwashers
  • Kitchen drains

Life Cycle of Properly Utilized Gray Water

 

How Thirsty is Your Garden?

Calculate the long-term savings you could make by installing a gray-water system in your home.

Formula:

 

Land x Water x Weeks x Cost = Money Saved!

  • Land – Your land in square feet
  • Water – Gallons of water needed to water each square foot
  • Weeks – Weeks you water your land per year
  • Cost – Cost per gallon of water on electric bill

Is Gray Water Right For Your Plants?

Plants best suited for gray water irrigation:

Roses
Rose
  • Oaks
  • Honeysuckle
  • Roses
  • Juniper
  • Bearded iris

Plants not suited for gray water irrigation:

Foxglove
Foxglove
  • Foxgloves
  • Primrose
  • Deodar cedar
  • Bleeding hearts
  • Ferns

 

Good to know right? I'm sure that will make you rethink about all the water the goes down your drain. It's not suited for all kinds of plants but at least now you have a quick guide you can refer to anytime. Let us know what you think below in the comments section. 🙂

If you like this, you’ll love this DIY Rainwater Collection System!

DIY Rainwater Collection System

Filed Under: Garden, Garden & Outdoor, How To, Self Sufficiency, Water Power Tagged With: water

Comments

  1. Lynne says

    January 2, 2023 at 12:17 PM

    If the water from the washing machine is Gray water, why isn’t the water from the kitchen sink and the dishwasher? I would think that the food particles in that water would provide more nutrients for the plants.

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. How to Conserve Water | Sustainable Living for the Homestead says:
    March 22, 2016 at 10:06 AM

    […] a greywater system. Greywater is runoff from your gently used water, and repurposed on the plants. Please note, gently used water […]

    Reply
  2. DIY Rainwater Collection System for Homesteaders says:
    April 4, 2016 at 6:01 PM

    […] DIY Rainwater Collection System […]

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  3. Happy World Water Day | 25 Ways To Conserve Water – Homestead Survivalism says:
    September 5, 2019 at 11:27 PM

    […] a greywater system. Greywater is runoff from your gently used water, and repurposed on the plants. Please note, gently used water […]

    Reply
  4. Self-Sustaining Ideas For Living The Homesteader’s Dream – Valerian's Realm says:
    October 24, 2019 at 3:32 PM

    […] 11. Using Gray Water […]

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  5. 15 Practical Gardening Ideas On A Budget | Smart Homesteading Tips - Your Bushcraft Store says:
    November 14, 2019 at 11:45 PM

    […] Are you knowledgeable about gray water? You can utilize this type of water on some plants and will eventually assist you on conserving a number of dollars on your water expense. Read more about gray water here . […]

    Reply
  6. 7 Effective Soil And Water Conservation Tips For Homesteading – Homestead Survivalism says:
    April 20, 2020 at 8:34 AM

    […] All About Gray Water | What Is Gray Water and How to Use It […]

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  7. The Agricultural & Water Conservation Dialog – ADVICE TIPS says:
    September 22, 2021 at 7:58 PM

    […] All About Grey Water | What Is Grey Water and The right way to Use It […]

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    March 8, 2023 at 11:00 AM

    […] Read the full article here […]

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