Got Reverse Osmosis Wastewater? Heres What To Do! (Simple Ways to Reuse It)

Okay, so I’ve been messing around with my reverse osmosis (RO) system lately, and one thing that always bugged me was all that wastewater. It felt like such a waste, just pouring it down the drain. So, I did some digging and experimenting to find better uses for it. Here’s what I’ve been up to:

My RO Wastewater Journey

First, I checked the water itself. I mean, is it really that bad? I grabbed a TDS meter (Total Dissolved Solids – basically, how much stuff is in the water) and tested both my tap water and the RO wastewater. The tap water was around 300 ppm, while the wastewater was closer to 600 ppm. Okay, so it’s got more minerals and stuff, but it’s not toxic waste or anything.

Then, I started thinking about where this water could actually be useful. My initial thought went straight to my plants.

• Watering the Garden: This was my first go-to. I have a bunch of outdoor plants, and I figured, why not? I started by watering my tougher plants, like some shrubs and flowers, with the reverse osmosis  wastewater. I <strong>watched them closely for a few weeks, and they seemed totally fine! No wilting, no weird colors, nothing. So I expanded it to most of my outdoor plants.

But my garden couldn’t use all the wastewater, it is much more than I thought, so what’s next?

• Flushing Toilets: I know, it sounds a little weird, but it makes sense. Toilet water doesn’t need to be perfectly clean. So, I started keeping a bucket of the RO wastewater next to the toilet and used it for flushing. It works perfectly fine, and it saves a bunch of perfectly good drinking water.

• Cleaning Stuff: I also started using the wastewater for some basic cleaning tasks. I use it to rinse out my muddy boots, wash my car (just the initial rinse, not the final soapy wash), and mop the floors. It’s surprisingly effective, and I don’t feel bad about using “dirty” water for these kinds of jobs.

What I Learned

Honestly, I was surprised at how easy it was to find uses for the RO wastewater. It’s not perfect, and I wouldn’t drink it, but it’s definitely not useless. By doing a little experimenting and thinking outside the box, I’ve managed to drastically reduce the amount of water I’m just dumping down the drain. It feels good to be a little more eco-conscious, and it’s saving me a bit on my water bill too!

So, if you have an RO system, I definitely recommend trying to find ways to reuse that wastewater. You might be surprised at how versatile it is!