How to Recycle Waste Water

Many household items are able to be recycled for later use. You may already be aware that cardboard, paper and plastic are recyclable. Have you ever considered recycling your water though? Recycling water can help you save money and also make you feel pride in the fact that you are doing your part to preserve the Earth's natural resources. Some recycling methods are simple steps you can take right now, while others may be a little more complicated and require special tools.

Things You'll Need

• Barrels
• Bucket
• Removable sink
• Strainer

Instructions

1. Keep a few barrels handy to store some excess water. Sometimes you can save the water faster than you can reuse it. The barrels allow you to keep the water you saved and use it at a later date. The barrels do not need to be any specific size as long as they get the intended job done.

2. Save your bath or shower water. This water may not be suitable for you to drink, but your lawn and plants will certainly enjoy it. The soap that remains in the water will actually discourage bugs from munching on your plants while the plants absorb the water for nourishment. Simply use a bucket to scoop the water out of the tub after your next bath. Let the water cool before you water your lawn with it.

3. Install a removable sink in your kitchen. A removable sink is usually a simple plastic attachment you set right inside of your normal sink. When you rinse vegetables or dishes, it collects the water. After you are done, simply lift it out of your sink by the handles, take it wherever you need the water and release the plug at the bottom. If you strain water to catch any excess food, you can reuse the water for many purposes, like washing your car or the outside of your house.

4. Fill your toilet with water you save from your sink or the tub. If you turn off the water valve that runs to your toilet, it will stop automatically refilling after every flush. If you have some recycled water saved in barrels or containers somewhere, simply snatch some of that water and refill the tank. While this may seem a little troublesome, it will help save money on your water bill and also help you save a little of the Earth's natural resources.

Tips & Warnings

• Test your soil's pH level regularly if you water it with soapy water. Some soap has a high level of sodium that may be harmful to your plants if it builds up over a long period of time. If you fear that your plants are getting too much salt from your reused water, simply dilute the recycled water with some fresh water from your faucet.

• Do not pour soapy water directly onto your plants. This may damage them instead of help them. Water the soil directly instead.

• Only water fully grown plants with soapy recycled water. The soap may send younger plants into shock.

References

• Global Development Research Center: Water Conservation in the Home
• The Design Blog: Recycle used water with Removable Kitchen Sink
• EPA: Water Recycling and Reuse: The Environmental Benefits