Will Plants Grow Better or Worse If Watered With Recycled Water From Dishes?

Organic Materials

• Dishwater contains tiny pieces of organic material. This material can help plants if it decays into soil, but it can also encourage bacterial and fungal growth, attract pest animals and clog soil. Reduce problems with gray water irrigation by watering plants from under the soil, so the upper layers of the ground can filter the water.

Toxins

• Detergents and water softeners can add materials to your wastewater that could harm your plants. High levels of salt, boron, chlorine bleaches and other substances used to clean dishes and improve water quality could stunt or even kill plants. Use environmentally friendly detergents with low or no chlorine, synthetic surfactants, borax or sodium levels to reduce this risk.

Phosphates

• Some detergents contain phosphates, which encourage plant growth by acting as a fertilizer. However, runoff from these detergents causes overgrowth of algae and pest plants. Avoid irrigating with gray water when it could be released into local waterways.