How You Can Reuse Waste Water

Waste water is from an ordinary household can have a big impact. Paying per gallon can really add up and affect the household budget, but high water usage can have a very big environmental effect as well. Running water uses a lot of different resources, from the power it takes to come into the home, to the chemicals and power used in the treatment and reclamation of the waste water. Here are some tips that will help the environment and save money as well, giving some water double duty.

- When waiting for the shower to heat up, use a bucket or tub to catch the colder and tepid water that would normally run right down the drain. If the home is set up with the water heater very far from the shower, it can take a while for the water to heat enough for comfort, and that means quite a few gallons of water running right down the drain.

-When rinsing or washing produce, fill a couple of tubs or big bowls with clear water, and add a splash of vinegar to one. Rinse first in the vinegar water to rid the fruit or veggie of residue, oil, and wax, and then use the clean water to give a final rinse.

-Dishes can be washed in a tub as well, so the dirty dish water can be reclaimed.

-If you'd really like to reclaim large amounts of money, consider running your sink drains into barrels or bins. Of course, you should never pour dangerous or caustic materials down these drains.

All of this reclaimed water that would normally run right down the drain can be used in a number of different ways. Watering plants and gardens is the number one use for a lot of these. Be sure not to water plants with vinegar or soapy water though, since that might harm them. You can also use this water for washing down siding, or porches or driveways. It can also be used for flushing out gutters or washing your car or bike.

Caution should always be used when dealing with containers of water. Children can very easily drown, even in a few inches of water, in a container, because they can fall in headfirst and are unable to get out. Buckets and containers of water should be used promptly and kept away from pets and children. Water should also not be allowed to stand for long periods outside, since this can be a perfect breeding area for mosquitoes, which are a best a nuisance and at worst can spread dangerous diseases.