Extension ServiceIs it okay to use gray water to water my garden?
In my quest to save water because of the drought, I have begun to use dishwater to water my garden. The dishsoap I use claims to be safe for gray water use and I use the water within 24 hours. Are there any tips or concerns I should be keeping in mind?
I'm attaching an article "Using household waste water on plants" that tells a lot about that subject, or you could skip to the last section called "Applying water" to get the main points.
It's great that you are helping combat our drought and the main things to watch out for are:
- How your plants react to the gray water
- Awareness of other things in the water like food particles, cooking oil or chemicals from body products you might use (sunscreen!)
- Best use is on landscape and flowers saving clean water for your vegetables and fruits.
Using gray water in Oregon requires a permit from the state DEQ. Here is more information from DEQ, and here is helpful information to further understand gray water.
Thanks for helping our planet and good luck with the gray water.
