Did this in '76. Mum's washing machine emptied into the bath then syphoned out through the window into another old tin bath. We didn't die.....

However, here in Scotland - really isn't an issue

CAT have, or had, a good tip-sheet on grey-water use, incl sand filters, if I remember rightly. The gist, I think, was use soon, and not too much as to leave a scum of soap and bits of skin all over your flowers ( was going to say veg patch, but can't remember what they said re edibles).

In '76 my dad watered the garden in part from a syphon from our baths. Didn't kill us either, and the second and third heads we grew are now very fashionable... B^>

More seriously: the veg garden was a long way from the house, so I suspect that much of that grey water went on non-edibles.

Rgds

Damon

Has anyone cleaned a trap from a basin or shower?, the gunk in one of these smells foul. I wonder how any pipework used in a greywater system would fare and how long before it blocked up completely?. Its this reason why I have never considered a shower heat recovery system.

I quoted the trap as something most people will have had to deal with, as a kitchen and bathroom fitter I have had to replace lots of waste pipework that has been almost full of this gunk, and also been called out because of pipe blockages. Its just that I see any form of storage or small pipework for waste water being more trouble than its worth. I would prefer to harvest rainwater.

Worth bearing in mind that grey water from a bathroom will almost certainly contain tiny trace amounts of faecal matter, which is most probably why it's often suggested you don't put it on your vegetable patch without treatment.

I have plumbed a run of waste pipes for bath and shower waste only and was hoping to use the Kinspan Ezy-Filter before dropping it into our rainwater tank but it seems too easy! Does anyone know anything about this product, I have seen all these complex systems with tanks etc so wondering why this product is not more talked about, maybe it doesn't clean it enough for a rainwater tank:

http://www.kingspan.com/kingspangroup/products_solutions/by_sector/self_build_housing/environmental/

Found a better link for the Ezy Filter product:
http://www.wateractive.co.uk/products/new_greywater_recycling_filter_from_klargester

It states "The Ezy-Filter converts soap, detergents and other impurities from bath, shower or basin water into clear water. The water can then be stored in a water butt, or passed into a rainwater harvesting tank."

Posted By: SteamyTea

Posted By: Phil.Chaddah-Dukestored in a water butt, or passed into a rainwater harvesting tank.

Is there a difference

Only in the amount you pay.

David

Spoke to Kingspan, seems this product is no longer available, obviously not as ezy as they thought!

Reading around, especially one below, there is no simple answer to filtering/storing grey water apart from limited immediate use. Shame seems such a waste.

http://www.oasisdesign.net/greywater/misinfo/index.htm

Posted By: fostertomPity, as I frequently put 1kg of Epsom salts (MgSO4.7H2O) in a bath full, luxurious and also the only effective way of absorbing magnesium which we're all short of, causing calcium imbalance, frozen shoulder, macular degeneration, you name it. The water is brim full of magnesium which is the prime deficient element in topsoils nowadays (not fixed by adding compost, as nowadays the veg matter is also short of magnesium).

Magnesium is the key atom in chlorophyll, which is what makes plants green. If a plant has a magnesium deficiency, it turns yellow. So as long as your plants are not turning yellow, don't worry about them. And to avoid a magnesium deficiency yourself, eat your greens.

Posted By: fostertom.......Is that the one and only symptom of magnesium deficiency in plants?
Is a plant 100% content with 'just enough' or does it like to have an abundance of nutrients available? Would abundance result in better-formed plants, more full of vitality?


Zinc is another well documented micronutrient deficiency in crops.

Posted By: fostertomWould abundance result in better-formed plants, more full of vitality?

Disclaimer: I am no biologist and I'm sure there are special cases. However, as a general rule when it comes to nutrients biological system don't store any excess, it just gets excreted. So as long as there's enough then adding more does nothing.

Not a fact that Holland & Barrett will be advertising any time soon.

Posted By: Seretbiological system don't store any excess, it just gets excreted

that wd be once it's in the animal/plant. I was on about nutrient abundance within the source (food/soil) the animal/plant has to extract it from, so it doesn't have to work so hard getting it, and doesn't have to settle for substitutes.

E.g. grabbing too much calcium to sort-of balance up a magnesium shortage.
Magnesium shortage in the source does result in xs calcium take-up, which the body then dumps into soft tissue e.g. granular deposits causing the agony of frozen shoulder, also sclerosis in blood vessels, macular degeneration and lots more.

Since the advent of chemical farming, soils all over the world, especially in horticulture, have become depleted in abundant magnesium, compared to pre-1940s.

People take calcium supplements, drink milk etc etc - but what they need to get their calcium into order is not more of the same, but more of the regulator of calcium - magnesium - best absorbed as an Epsom salts bath - 1kg in a bathfull (costs less than £1 in 25kg sacks from eBay)- then what do you do with the water? Wd be nice to be allowed to put it on the garden.