Make Your Wash Water Do Double Duty

(Page 5 of 5)

July/August 1984
By Martha O. Sheldon 
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We estimate that we now use a third less water from our well than we did before we started recycling our wash water. A further benefit has been that the water softener needs to be replenished less often. (After all, the water only needs to be softened the first time around.)

Last fall we discovered how wise we had been to install bur recycling system when we did. In our area 1983 was another drought year: Wells didn't recover over the winter of 1982-83, and the total rainfall for the year was low. In fact, our well eventually did run dry last summer, but long after those of our neighbors had drawn air. And when we were finally forced to switch to our cistern—which is filled with water we have to haul in—our purchased water stretched considerably farther, with a lot fewer inconveniences to us, than our neighbors' did.

My husband and I enthusiastically recommend installing a water-reuse system. It's not inconvenient to use, and having our wash water to flush our toilets has saved us the expense of drilling a new well. Our water usage has dropped so much that a cistern has proven to be a practical, economical, long-term solution to the drought. And we were able to install the entire recycling system for just $260.

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