GREY WATER VS. REGULAR WATER

by: Ben Wiegel

BIG QUESTION

WHICH WOULD GROW BETTER A PLANT USING GREY WATER OR A PLANT USING TAP WATER?

HYPOTHESIS

Hypothesis: If you water one plant with grey

water and one plant with tap water; then the one with tap water will grow better than the one with grey water. It will grow more because tap water is safe. But you need to be very careful and with grey water because it could poison your plants.

 

Interesting facts

Background information: Be careful greywater could poison your plants. It

could contain chemicals from bleach, dyes, or cleansers.

Here are some household items that could affect your greywater when you wash your cloths in the washing machine; all the soaps and even diapers raise the pathogen levels which would poison your plants.

Grey water needs to be handled carefully or it could harm your whole yard. Grey water if filtered could be used safely. When you use it, you are recycling.

materials

List of Materials: 4 potted plant, Measuring cup Ruler Water Grey water Ruler   Procedures: 1. Place 4 plotted in sun light 2. Water 2 plants with 2 ounces of fresh water

daily 3. Water 2 plants with 2 ounces of grey water daily 4. Measure each plant weekly and record results 5. After 1 week compare the growth of the plants

PROCEDURES

Procedures:1. Place 2 potted plants in sun light 2. Water 1 plant with 2 ounces of fresh water daily 3. Water 1 plant with 2 ounces of grey water daily4. Measure each plant weekly and record results5. After 1 week compare the growth of the plants

CONTROL/VARIABLES

Controls: Plants, water, tray, pots.

Variables: how much sunlight they got, plant growth, plant reactions,

Observations

1.The greywater plant wasn’t reacting well.

2.Tap water plant was very healthy. 3.The grey water plant was showing a

little discoloration. 4.The greywater plant is shriveled up and

looks almost dead.

DATA ON DAY 1 THE PLANTS WERE ABOUT THE SAME SIZE.

DAY 2 TAP WATER PLANT IS HEALTHY THE GREYWATER PLANT IS A LITTLE BROWNISH.

DAY 3 THE TAP WATER PLANT IS GROWING BUT THE GREY WATER PLANT IS DEAD.

ANALYSIS

My experiment was cut short because my cat chewed on the plants. I was still able to gather enough data to come to a conclusion.

CONCLUSION! Plant watered with tap water will grow

better than one with tap water.

REFRENCES Books: Author: Ludwig, Art Publisher: Oasis Design; 5 Rev Exp edition (September 30, 2006) The New Create an Oasis with Greywater Choosing, Building and Using Greywater Systems — Includes Branched Drains Revised and

Expanded 5th Edition Web Sites:   http://www.cahe.nmsu.edu/pubs/_m/m-106.html (September 2009) Safe Use of Household Greywater   http://www.doh.wa.gov/ehp/ts/WW/GreywaterFact.PDF (September 2009) Water Conservation Using Greywater   http://www.greywaterguerrillas.com/greywater.html (September 2009) About Greywater Reuse   http://www.interests.caes.uga.edu/drought/articles/gwlands.htm (September 2009) Using Greywater on the Landscape