by LeeAnn
How do I create a nature shower?
+4
I want to add a nature shower to my yard. Where I'm putting it is up against the house. So I only need to put up two walls of sorts. I would like to be in control of the runoff. 1. Would a French drain do the trick or should I put a small grate in and run a small pipeline? Either one would be aimed downhill and away from the house. 2. Can I use the runoff to water plants?
Suggested Project Book
We have an outdoor shower and we just have the cement sloped away for the house and on to the grass. We live on an island and the water just percolates down into the ground.
We use our shower to rinse off the sand from the beach, we don't use any soaps. If you're planning on using soap, shampoo, etc, I don't know how good it would be for your plants.
Yes, you can use the runoff for plants, as long as you don't use soaps or shampoos that contain toxic ingredients. Either drain you're planning should work. If you're able to build some type of reservoir container for the runoff water, that would simplify things.
check with your city/county/state codes....they vary from location to location. what is ok for me to do may not be okay for you.
If (and it's a big if) you have the ok of your local city/ county officials, use biodegradable soaps and let the runoff water your plants.
The problem with traditional building codes is they don't allow grey water runoff. Also, new environmental regulations can be equally difficult to work around. It would be advantageous to follow code because... grey water stinks....so if this shower will be used alot be prepared.
Here are videos of several different types of outdoor showers, LeeAnn.
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=outdoor+shower+ideas