Downton Green Network

Promoting sustainable living within the local community

Collect rainwater and reuse old water

Collecting rain water from  houses, sheds and greenhouse roofs is something many of us already do; if you have the space, did you know that with simple connectors you can have an array of water butts which can hold a remarkable amount of water?

It’s simple to collect rainwater: just divert the water from your drainpipe into a water butt or a wheelie bin, using a cheap diverter kit available from any garden centre or diy store.
Reusing grey water (water from baths, showers, washing machines and washing up) is a good way to use water a second time. You can buy grey-water diverters that divert the water from your bath to an irrigation system or a water butt.
Household soaps and detergents are harmless to plants, but don’t use water containing bleach, disinfectant, dishwasher salt or stronger cleaners, which can harm plants, damage soil structure and could be a health risk.