Top 10 Reasons to Start a Greywater Garden

Cannas grown with greywater attract a dragonfly

 Greywater Gardens tap into a household source such as a washing machine, shower, or sink to reuse water for irrigation.  They can be used on native plants, flower beds, tropical plants, and even to grow food!  This water is too good for the sewer- we prefer to think of it as 'pre-used'!  Without further delay, the top 10 reasons to start your greywater garden today: 

10) You don't have to be an outlaw.  California's plumbing code has been updated to make it easier to have a legal greywater system.


9) You don't have to be rich.  Most homes have a washing machine or sink that can easily be plumbed outside and there are simple, low cost ways to irrigate with it.


8) Uh, have you heard that California has diminishing water supplies?  A 2,500-square-foot home could irrigate about half of the drought-tolerant plants on an 11,000 square foot lot (source: Water Environment Research Foundation, 2006).

7) Less water = lower bills.  The above reduction in irrigation could mean 1/3 less on your water bill!

6) If we're not using as much potable water for landscaping, that means more high quality drinking water is available to the tap.  In an emergency, that's what we need it for.

5)Fights air pollution and climate change.  Huh?  How's that possible?  Transporting and treating water accounts for 19% of energy use, and 32% of natural gas use in the state! (source: California Energy Commission, 2005)

4) If our sewage treatment plants aren't overburdened, we won't have to build new ones... lower taxes anyone?

3) It's safe:  the number of greywater-related illnesses reported is... zero (Source:  Center for Disease Control).  This is despite hundreds of thousands of greywater systems currently in use.

2) You can grow food with it.  Its perfectly fine as long as the edible parts aren't in contact with the water.  Water is delivered below ground, so fruiting plants and vegetables are fine.  Fruit trees are ideal!

1) Your neighbors will think you are cool.  They will be right!  A greywater garden is a big step towards self-sufficiency. 

There you have it!  10 great reasons to start a greywater garden!