This might sound a strange question. But I ask because I get different answers depending on who I ask. ----
Is it allowed to let the soil water from the kitchen run into the garden through a sewage pipe? Are you obliged to lead the waste water from the kitchen to a septic tank or can you let it run into the garden to water the plants??

Good question. I know some people use gray water from clothes washers to water gardens, but I don't know about draining from the kitchen sink, which would contain food matter. You might attract ants, cockroaches, rats, etc. Some people also collect rain water in covered cisterns for gardening.

When I lived in Curacao I used the water from the washing machine to water the plants.

I never used it from the kitchen and would hesitate to do so, even if the authorities would allow it.
I'm afraid it would attract all kinds of unwanted animals.

Ron, I can't speak for the rules on Bonaire, but the normal rule is no. This is mostly due to the phosphates in the soap (which is bad for aquatic life), on the other hand if you are careful in your selection of soaps and only use biodegradable soaps it would work great.

Thanks Nathalie, Bob and Cecil for your info. However, I still wonder what the authorities on Bonaire say about his. Mind you, its water from a secondary (outside) kitchen belonging to a separate building on the property. The water from the main kitchen is drained to a septic tank. What I wonder is if we ARE FORCED to drain the waste water from the secondary kitchen to the (far away) septic tank or if we can just let it out in the back garden. Anyone who knows?

You probably want to talk to someone at the government agency DROB. They are the ones that issue permits for buildings, etc. They are also involved with the plans for the sewer treatment plant.

DROB
Dienst Ruimtelijke Ordening en Beheer
Planning and Management Service Bonaire
Kaya Amsterdam 23, Tel: 717-5330 ext. 517
I have not been able to find an email contact for them.

Wow! This is really a magic forum! Only two hours after I send my question I got the information I was looking for! Thanks Linda!!

Hi, Ron! I did receive your email and will drop you a note today. Getting together sounds like fun!

You are correct...this board is absolutely fabulous....great people and every question under the sun is responded to promptly and in as much detail as anyone could ever imagine! Ayo. Carole