Grey Water (forum)

Lee starts with ...
Hi all,
I'm interested in hearing your successes and failures in the types of fruiting plants used on grey water transpiration areas. I have a system that processes all grey and black water and then sends it to a subsurface irrigation area.
At present I have planted blueberries as they have shallow roots and like moisture and nutrients.

Time: 9th September 2009 8:37am

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About the Author Lee
Hunter Valley
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amanda says...
Hi Lee - here is a link to this topic to get u started - there are two of us that use a Biolytix system, on the forum at present:

https://www.daleysfruit.com.au/forum/does-anyone-garden-with-blackwater/

Time: 9th September 2009 9:30am

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About the Author amanda19
Geraldton. WA
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Jantina says...
Hi Lee, if you type in the thread name "Does anyone garden with blackwater" on this forum you will find a lot of information.

Time: 9th September 2009 9:32am

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About the Author Jantina
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Jantina says...
Ha ha Amanda we must have been typing away at the same time!

Time: 9th September 2009 9:33am

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amanda says...
Good morning Jantina! It's good to see another blackwater recycling recruit tho' hey? maybe there will be a lot of us one day! Hope so - Biolytix system is marvellous and worthy of more widespred use.. :)

Time: 9th September 2009 9:38am

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Jantina says...
And good morning to you too Amanda. Interestingly the council here now require people to put in water tanks when building a new house and people are encouraged to put in a greywater system so maybe sanity will prevail and it will become the norm for all soon.

Time: 9th September 2009 9:56am

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About the Author Jantina
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Lee says...
Hi Amanda and Jantina, thanks for your replies. I read most of the suggested forum, my eye's started to glaze over with all the chemistry (and I 'majored' in Chemistry at Uni). I know it's important and I did find this site
http://www.lanfaxlabs.com.au/laundry.htm
very useful in choosing laundry detergent.
I guess I was wanting a list of the best fruiting plants for the purpose. Like you, I found the Biolytix people very reluctant to make suggestions, I assumed for legal reasons.


Time: 14th September 2009 9:23am

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amanda says...
Hi Lee - I grow a wide variety in the zone and they are all happy - both my avocados died tho' - I am not sure if it was the water quality or other factors - but u may want to try one Avo to start with and see how it goes.

I use Eco store products for everything - really good range.

In the zone I have citrus, plums, apples, jaboticaba, wampi, longon, persimmon, peach, nectarine, feijoa, lychee, guava, grummichama, apricot. They are all doing well.

Interestingly - our Biolytix tank has never actually functioned properly since it was installed and has actually been a spetic tank. The air bubbler is a real problem. Our tank now has to be re-built - ie: everything must come out and the waste pumped out - the tank cleaned etc.

DON'T BE WITHOUT A WARRANTY Lee - it is well worth the $360 a year believe me. We have had four technical visits in the last few months which would have cost us a fortune - but with the warranty/service contract cost $0.

Good on you for putting one in - despite my problems I still think they are marvellous....mine has been in 2 yrs and I would be happy to answer any Qu's (if I can?!) about it.. :)

Time: 14th September 2009 9:36am

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About the Author amanda19
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Lee says...
Thanks Amanda, I recently signed the extended warranty, so I'm pleased to hear that I made the right choice.
Some of the trees you have planted become large, are you concerned that the roots may become too aggressive? I have all the trees you mentioned minus the wampi, just not in the irrigation zone. I think my spacing is smaller than yours and I believe the lines are only 30cm deep.

Time: 14th September 2009 10:19am

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About the Author Lee
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amanda says...
Hi Lee - the roots should be fine - the geotextile wrap is supposed to stop intrusion - it does work as I have seen the roots of my acacia windbreak completely follow and stick to the lines - but not get thru' the fabric. The windbreak is now gone and we put up a proper fenced one.

I chose wider spacing as I didn't want my trees to get too carried away? I need strong and well grown trees to cope with the wind here. I think my lines are about 60cm deep - although I would have preferred them to be shallower - as I have sandy loam that drains exceptionally fast - it would help if lines were closer to surface I think.

We have an insinkerator - but we don't use it much - too much power and water wasted I feel. Plus the scraps better used for chooks n compost. Ours mainly poo n wee etc in the tank.

My trees still need supplemental water and feeding - but we are very careful with water in the house, and a small family.

Sorry about the epic post!?

Time: 14th September 2009 5:55pm

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About the Author amanda19
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Julie says...
amanda, how have you used the geotextile wrap, and where? Does it stop tree roots from intruding? How wide is it?

I looked it up, but the site was mainly about drainage - don't have a problem with drainage, as there are lots of rocks and stones in my soil.

Time: 14th September 2009 6:48pm

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amanda says...
Hi Julie - the mauve water pipe came with it already stitched on (from Biolytix) - like a sleeve...I guess Biolytix would know where it came from perhaps? That's all I know about it I'm afraid...

Time: 14th September 2009 8:02pm

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