Recycled Water for washing

[Dyldo]

Dubtown, whats happening?

I am very close to moving into a Delfin development which has just switched to recycled water (grey water) contracted by Veolia. I don't have the details or stats, but we are told that it is treated to a very high level, and is obviously for external-to-home use like gardening and car washing.

Now whilst I obviously won't be drinking the stuff, is it seen as OK to use as the water for your detailing?

My caveats here are that i always wash in the shade, i always use the 2-bucket method, and i always sheet the water off and then WWDT dry the car with a shot of Duragloss Aquawax. Is the recycled water OK?

[Corey_R]

I have lived in a recycled water area of Sydney for over a decade now. It's "fine" for washing your car, however, some people are more anal than others

You already use a QD after drying, and you'll basically have to do that cause recycled water doesn't dry as squeaky clean as regular water.
I would also be hesitant of using it with a high pressure system, unless you have some input filter.

I always wash using the two bucket method, and I personally fill them up with clean, ~40degree water, in my laundry.

Just recently I came into possession of a Kemflo Aicro inline water filter. It's meant to filter "dirty" tap water, in the same way that a kitchen sink water filter does for drinking water. Whilst it takes away too much flow to use during the initial water blasting rinses where you're trying to remove dirt etc, I find it works excellent for the very final "water sheeting" rinse prior to drying. I'm also told that they provide enough flow for a high pressure Karcher system etc. I don't know where to buy them though.... hopefully Car Care Products will stock them soon

[wai]

This is the great myth of recycling.

In Sydney, there are some suburbs that have recycled water avaialble for flushing toilets, gardens, etc. The problem is that the vast majority of what is supplied as recycled water or grey water is actually normal drinking water.

There is insufficient water that can be recycled simply because there is a minimum flow from the sewage treatment plants requirement to prevent the sewers from blocking. Because recycled water is used to flush toilets, it becomes a sanitation issue and so must be topped up with drinking water.

This does not mean that you drink it (although there was an instance where a whole lot of houses on a new estate were connected incorrectly and were drinking recycled water. no one died or was sick), just that it is not filtered effluent. It is very highly processed. Even if it was actually 100% recycled water, you would be hard pressed to tell the difference. When it is referred to as "grey" water, it does not mean it will look grey. Brown water (what sewage is referred to as) on the other hand, well...

[Corey_R]

Well, as I said, I've lived in recycled water area for over a decade, so I think I can say that I'm well aware of the difference. I was also aware of the fact that they do top it up with regular water too.

But just fill up two 20L white buckets... one with recycled water, one with regular water, and then try and say that you can't tell the difference. Hint, if you can'te tell, you should probably be handing in your drivers license as you're eyes are too far gone for you to be safely driving your car