I have a science/green life question

VarunaTT

And I haven't been able to find a really good answer, so I'm trying you guys, DH is trying Reddit.

With the drought, DH and I are trying to do our part to conserve water.  Last night when I was doing the dishes, it occured to me that we could re-use our dish water.  However, I'm not going to stop using dishsoap (yes, I still have things I wash by hand).

Is there a dishsoap that is safe to use for re-using the water on our plants?

hmonkey

seventh generation is safe for greywater systems

GBCK

yay for gray-water collection.

I don't do this, but...this would answer it, IMO:

http://greywateraction.org/faqs/greywater-recycling

VarunaTT

GB, it never occured to me to google grey-water.  Adurr.

I wondered about that, HMo.  That's the Target brand, right?

Thanks, ladies!  Our rain barrel is empty and we're trying to save our new willow tree.  Our aquifer is at 74%.  If it gets down to 60%, you're not allowed to water outside at all. I'm really annoyed at the people who are still watering their danged lawns.  It's a drought, people, STOP WATERING YOUR GRASS.  So so so so wasteful.  I've even called a business now to complain about their water sprinklers not being aimed the correct way and watering the street.  It's always bothered me, but right now, I think it's outright ridiculous.

hmonkey

not target, just some dirty hippies.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seventh_Generation_Inc.

GBCK

We live where I'm CONSTANTLY running our sump pump (like, even when it doesn't rain--high water table) so it's moot for me...if I want to be eco-friendly and water the plants, I literally take a bucket to the basement, fill it from the sump crock, and dump it on the plants.

I figure the soap in there is pretty dilute.

zsazsa-stl

I always wondered how they police that.  I mean, if someone sees you pouring dishwater on your tree are they going to report you?  And then how do you prove that it was dishwater? 

I'm ashamed that we still don't have a rain barrel.  We bought one from a guy one time, then realized that it was too big to fit in our car and had to walk it back to him.  But I could have ordered one and had it delivered.  I'm just lazy.

VarunaTT

Zsa, I really don't know, but i assume they start checking the water meters for real.  And having a nice green yard would probably be a clue.  Everything is starting to show the stress now, even the established trees.

Also, nosy neighbors will rat people out.