Graywater is a term that refers to wastewater generated from household activities like bathing, showering, and doing laundry. While gray water is not potable and should not be used to drink, cook, or wash food items like fruits and vegetables, there are some simple, DIY ways to capture and reuse graywater at home, helping to conserve fresh drinking water and even save you some money in the process!

• Kitchen or bathroom sinks: Fill empty jugs as you’re waiting for tap water to warm up. This water can be used to clean up around the kitchen or bathroom.
• Pasta water: After boiling pasta, vegetables, or eggs, let the water cool and use it to water your houseplants. Make sure there's no oil or salt added.
• Laundry water: Put a bucket in the sink to collect washing machine water. You can use the water to wash a car or mop your floors. If you’re using eco-friendly, garden-safe detergents, you can use the water for your garden or lawn.
• Shower water: While waiting for the shower to warm, place a bucket under the faucet to catch the cold water. Use this water for cleaning or watering your plants.

These are just a few simple examples of how you can capture and reuse water at home that would otherwise go down the drain. While there are systems in existence for more comprehensive graywater reuse (for example: capturing shower or hand-washing water to be reused to flush toilets), legal and environmental regulations vary widely across jurisdictions. Nevertheless, there are always steps we can take each day to cut down on our freshwater usage!