What Goes Around.... Comes Around .

Recycling Water

The ideal garden in Pakistan , a ‘ water scarce ‘country where regular access to potable water is limited , is a garden in which as little water is used as possible and in which any water used is recycled ‘grey water’ from the  house. This is especially pertinent now , since world water day will commemorated globally on march 20 ; the aim of this day is to create awareness about conserving freshwater.

The collection system storage tank and easy garden access to once used household water should all be factored into architectural and garden plans when housing is going to be built. However, these can with correct planning and execution, also be installed in existing properties at a reasonable cost. Furthermore, the cost of installing this recycling system can be recovered in depending on the system’s efficiency.

Recycled household water from dish washing vegetable washing , showers, hand washing , clothes washing , etc . , is perfectly suitable for most garden use as long as it contains as little detergent , oil , grease and soap as possible and – this is prime importance – is totally free of any potentially harmful chemicals such as bleach and other non-environment  friendly cleaning agents .

Grey water is perfectly safe for use on lawns, flowers beds, herbs, and on most vegetables and fruits; the expectations are vegetables and fruits that have high water contents such as tomatoes and melons . The use of grey water on root vegetables , in which any impurities may be build up over the growing period is also best avoided.

One can , of course , recycle grey water into the garden directly from washing- up bowls and buckets without going to the expense of installing an actual collection system of pipes and a tank .

However , avoid leaving it – or any other water – standing around in open containers for any length of times as it provides the perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes.