1. ADOBE LOOS & WORMS
Kym Mogridge (02) 6494 1051 Ph (02) 6494 1051Fax Mobile 0427 277 249
PO Box 751, BEGA NSW 2550 www.wormsloos.com.au E-mail: info@wormsloos.com.au
The following information is credited to CHOICE magazine, April 2007 and www.choice.com.au
Making the most of used water
Saving water is important, but re-using wastewater will help too.
Greywater is the waste water from showers, baths, spas, handbasins, laundry tubs, washing machines,
dishwashers and kitchen sinks. It doesn’t include water from toilets — that’s called black water. With
water restrictions in many areas, using greywater on your garden could help save hundreds of litres of
water a day.
Washing machines account for almost a quarter of household wastewater or, depending on your machine,
about 60–180 litres per wash. So washing six times a week could send more than 1000 L down the drain
in one week alone. Add to that your dishwashing, shower and bath water, and you’re soon up to 4000 L a
week for the average family of four.
Using greywater
• Greywater can be stored and used on the garden (or even in toilets or washing machines), or else it
can be diverted to the garden with a plumbed-in diverter (with a switch so that if it’s raining, it
goes into the sewer instead). Conditions may apply in the area where you live: contact your local
council for advice on options available.
• DIY options include attaching an extra-long flexible hose from the washing machine to the garden
or using a bucket.
• Don't leave buckets lying around if you have small children because they're a drowning hazard.
• Don’t store untreated greywater for more than 24 hours: if you can’t use it (because it’s raining,
say) don’t keep it.
• If it’s untreated, limit usage to water from the shower, bath and washing machine (preferably rinse
water). Kitchen water contains fats and solids that might damage soil and plants.
• If someone in your family is sick with gastro or flu or another contagious disease, stop using the
greywater.
• Don’t water herbs or vegetables, or pot plants.
• Keep the greywater underground, or under mulch — this helps prevent evaporation, as well as
keeping it away from kids and pets.
Specifically for washing machine water
• In our latest laundry detergent report we tested the wash water for chemicals that could harm your
garden. See our test report for which detergents we’d recommend for grey water reuse.
• The components most likely to cause problems are phosphorus, salinity, sodium, and pH.
o Small amounts of phosphorus can be useful for plants, and it’s a major component of
fertiliser. When it gets into waterways, however, it can cause excessive algal growth,
leading to toxic algal blooms. The effect on your soil is varied depending on your soil
type. Clay soils can deal with more phosphorus because the phosphorus binds to clay
minerals and doesn’t leach away. On sandy soils, excess phosphorus can leach into
groundwater. Australian soils are typically low in phosphorus, and some native species
can’t tolerate high levels.
o All laundry detergents contain salts, typically sodium salts such as sodium nitrate, sodium
sulphate, sodium phosphate and sodium silicate. All laundry detergents are highly saline,

2. and frequent long-term use would likely harm your garden, unless it was spread over a
large area.
o Sodium in the salts is particularly detrimental not only to plants, but soils. It affects the
soil’s permeability and causes a loss of structural stability.
o Laundry detergents are highly alkaline (that is, have a high pH): a pH higher than 10
helps dissolve organic dirt, such as grease, oils and food scraps. Most biological systems
prefer a pH between 6 and 9, and greywater with a high pH is likely to harm many plants
and soil organisms.
• Our test considered the total load of problem chemicals that will accumulate in your garden over
time, not just their concentration when you first put them on.
• The larger the irrigation area (minimum recommended area is 150 -200 m2), the more you’ll
spread the chemical load.
• Potential impacts are very much dose-dependent — try reducing the amount of detergent you use,
providing it still gets your clothes acceptably clean.
• Some laundry detergent products whose names imply they’re environmentally friendly could in
fact cause problems if used on your garden. See our report for more.
If you want to install a grey water pre-treatment system, do all of the above, plus:
• Consult your sewage removal authority if you intend to redirect all or a major part of your used
water.
• Consult a licensed plumber for advice on the best system for your needs.
• Inform your water supply authority of any changes to your plumbing.
Save water in the garden
The right garden design, plant selection and watering tips depend a lot on where you live and how
big your property is. While we can give you some general tips, most water authorities provide
brochures with more detailed recommendations for your region (taking into account factors such
as climate and soil conditions). Many regions currently have water restrictions - ask your water
authority for details if you're not sure.
• Use native plants and a type of lawn that are adapted to the climate in your area.
• Group plants with similar water needs.
• Don't water your garden in the heat of the day or when it's very windy, as a lot of water will
evaporate or blow away before it can reach the roots.
• Give your garden and lawn a good soak every two to four days in summer (about half as often in
autumn and spring, and as needed in winter), rather than watering a little bit every day. That'll
encourage deeper root growth.
• Don't cut your lawn shorter than to three or four centimetres, so the blades can still shade each
other.
• Water the base of plants rather than their leaves.
• Putting mulch on your garden will greatly reduce evaporation.
• Rainwater is ideal for watering your garden. Contact your water authority and local council for
tips and requirements on how to install and maintain a rainwater tank.
Other tips
• Hosing down paths or driveways can waste up to 1000 L per hour. Sweeping them with a broom
is cheaper and quicker.
• Playing under a sprinkler or with a hose may be summer fun for the kids, but it also wastes up to
1000 L of water per hour.
• A swimming pool cover can reduce evaporation considerably, so you'll have to top up less often.