Reusing Gray Water

I have several ways of saving water besides not letting the water run while brushing my teeth. When washing clothes, I drain the rinse water into 5 gallon buckets. Then I dump the water back in the machine to wash the next load. After the wash, the water is run out to the garden.

I have tapped a hole in the wall by the bath tub, and I run a siphon to my ferns.

I use my dishwater to water my potted plants. I only do dishes once a week (1 person).

I take a gallon pitcher of water and dump in the toilet bowl, when I do not need to do a full flush. If it's yellow, let it mellow, if it's brown, flush it down.

I would like to collect rainwater in my 3 - 55 gal. drums, but we've rarely seen rain. I have 15 fruit trees, several grapevines and a nice size vegetable garden. I really don't want to lose them, so that's where all my water goes.

I am allotted 10 units at $2.36. I went over by 12 units at $3.28 last year. This year I used 5 units less. Last year's bill was $110.74. This year, it is $103.06.

By Babette from Lemon Grove, CA.