Water Reuse for Gardeners

Or, how I use my washing machine to water my trees.

Photo by Mohit Pareek.

Don’t let your “used” water go down the drain. With a little effort, you can reuse it on your yard, plants, and trees. Here are five alternatives to turning on the tap.

Washing Machine Wastewater

I attached a pool hose to my washing machine’s flexible drain hose to reroute the wastewater into my backyard instead of into the sewer. (Modern Farmer has a great how-to article for those who want step-by-step instructions.)

Fortunately for me, my laundry room door opens into my backyard, and I was able to run the pool hose through a hole cut in the door and out onto the ground. (I actually connected two hoses because I have a big yard.)

I use a water rotation system, giving each tree the water from one complete wash cycle. I recommend moving the hose to the next tree immediately afterward to avoid double-watering. Other household members won’t always tell you when they’re doing a load of laundry.

It’s important that you use a biodegradable detergent that’s environmentally safe. I use Trader Joe’s brand. But there are other options out there. Off-Grid Permaculture and This Old House both have in-depth articles on cleaning products that are approved for greywater systems. By the way, chlorine bleach is not.