Safe cleaners for direct irrigation

Hi there,

my mother's garden is in trouble. She set hers up on the assumption that water was aplenty, and she planned to (excessively) irrigate with a hose forever. This year she's been told that homeowners are no longer allowed to irrigate their gardens because of the draught. There's an inspector that's going to visit in a nearby date for checking that, and fine owners in the case.

As an emergency act, we are going to install a deep drip irrigation system, made with pvc pipes and water bottles. This in itself will cut the water consumption by more than 70% of what my mother is currently doing, but we are afraid that if she uses tap water she will be fined as well.
She would not install a permanent grey water system, since she does not believe that the draught is going to stay forever, so her best water source is going to be water from mopping the floor. Maybe some buckets from the shower while waiting for the water to heat. I don't think she's going to undertake anything else, at least for now.

I suggested that she reused cleaning water for this purpose, but then, she's never heard about cleaning with safe-to-eat products.
Well, now I need to know safe-to-irrigate cleaning products. Beware that there's going to be very little rain, if any, since our climate is now desertic. The cleaning water is to be placed in open bottles that would dip at 20 cm from the surface, close to roots.

What comes to mind is vinegar and alcohol, if they are diluted in the cleaning water, maybe they are safe for the roots. Any other product that might safely be used directly on the root zone and frequently?

We had a drought for a bit there where we could also be fined for using tap water. Lots of people started doing a few basic things like just keeping a bucket in the shower to catch the water that doesn't get on your body, for example, and using that in the garden.
When I washed clothes I would let all the rinse water (no fabric softeners) go out into the garden, and when things were really bad I would also let the soapy water go out into the garden too.
I would save any and all kitchen water- from rinsing veg, pasta water, the rinse water from dishes (we use a basin when water is in short supply).
It was really just a question of catching all not-so-dirty water and then carrying lots of buckets.....

I am (and the plants seemed to be) okay with soap and shampoo on plants. We do not use anything antibacterial (lately lots of body/hand/dish soap is antibacterial). Our soap and detergent are just soap and just detergent, nothing else. Maybe some scent.
I'm not so sure about the vinegar: if really well diluted, I would think would be okay but I'm not so sure. Alcohol maybe would evaporate off if you let the bucket stand for a while? Not sure about that.

I would save any and all kitchen water- from rinsing veg, pasta water, the rinse water from dishes (we use a basin when water is in short supply).

This is helpful.

In the past I have pretty much done all the things that Tereza mentioned.

I don't have a problem with diluted vinegar in the garden.  I have no idea about diluted alcohol though.

I thought folks might be interested in the book:

https://permies.com/wiki/edible-clean

I bet all of these would be garden safe.

I'm a licensed irrigator over in Texas.  The cities severely restrict watering with sprinklers, rotors and even rotators (similar to drip, big fat drops, less evaporation) but are very lenient with drip irrigation.  If it were me, I would check your local ordinances to see if drip is included in the restrictions.  Could be you could water some with drip.  Your mom (or you...lol) could hook up a battery operated timer to the outdoor faucet and a pressure regulator to the drip line you installed.  Unless it's freezing, you can turn on the faucet, program the controller to water before dawn (4 am not so many people using water) and have it water a couple times a week.
Is your mother able to lift buckets full of water?  Could you possibly set her up with a wagon to bring outside with the buckets for reuse?
As mentioned above, I would dilute reuse water if it has soaps, vinegars and alcohol in it.

Good call.
The order says, among other things:

"Prohibition of irrigation in gardens, parks and green zones. as well as garden markets.
...
Prohibition of fountains and ornamental lakes, ludic, sportive or ornamental, public or private, unless it is recirculated.
...
Any source for human use must be used exclusively for this purpose, any others are restricted."

It does not specify the kind of irrigation, and it does not contemplate the use of grey water. Only mentions recycling in the case of car washing machines, and recirculation in the case of surface water.
So no tap water. We might even be fined for using grey waters, if we keep to the letter.

You're right.  They exclude all irrigation.  I would imagine the intent is for the clean water only since municipalities have been slow to adopt greywater use.  I would call their water department and ask if using grey water to manually water your garden is acceptable.  It may give them ideas that they can suggest to their customers.  I know the greenest municipalities are finally including permaculture in their advice to homeowners.

Abraham Palma wrote:
Any source for human use must be used exclusively for this purpose, any others are restricted."

It does not specify the kind of irrigation, and it does not contemplate the use of grey water. Only mentions recycling in the case of car washing machines, and recirculation in the case of surface water.
So no tap water. We might even be fined for using grey waters, if we keep to the letter.

I would specifically ask them about

Any source for human use must be used exclusively for this purpose, any others are restricted."

regarding recycled greywater because that is not considered for human use.  The same for their specific inclusion of the car wash machines.  Technically, a hose is a car washing machine...only without a motor.  

They can be offended very easily so I would be as nice as possible and not argue with them or they may target you.  Or you could Sepp Holzer it and just use the greywater without asking permission.  lol

To be honest, I don't even think they know what grey water is.
Asking permission might be futile.

I am a fan of Holzer. LOL.