RO/DI-Seattle Area

[The Shark]

Due to some recent high water bills at my place, I am trying to figure out how to cut back on my RO fills. (Or tell the girlfriend to stop showering...)

Does anyone in the Seattle area use only a DI filter, rather than the whole RO/DI setup? I have never tested the city's water, how impure is it?
I had read that this was a way to somewhat filter your water, but not have to worry about losing all of the wastewater.

I realize that I can buy RO systems that recycle the waste...but that is a little too spendy.

Thanks,

Dan

 

[DonW]

Due to some recent high water bills at my place, I am trying to figure out how to cut back on my RO fills. (Or tell the girlfriend to stop showering...)

Does anyone in the Seattle area use only a DI filter, rather than the whole RO/DI setup? I have never tested the city's water, how impure is it?
I had read that this was a way to somewhat filter your water, but not have to worry about losing all of the wastewater.

I realize that I can buy RO systems that recycle the waste...but that is a little too spendy.

Thanks,

Dan

You will spend more on DI resin than you ever will on water.

Don

 

[edwing206]

There are new RO/DI filters coming out that have a 1/1 ratio. But at $899 I think it's best to keep doing what you're doing.

 

[dnjan]

You will spend more on DI resin than you ever will on water.

Don

I am not 100% sure of that, but I have not yet run the numbers.
In Seattle, the sewer bill is based on water usage. And the water is relatively pure (TDS around 30). When I get a chance, I will run the numbers based on actual water (plus sewer) cost.

Government charges can sometimes distort real costs.

 

[trido]

I ran a large DIY carbon reactor followed up with a small DI chamber on my frag system for six months without problems. I produced about 2GPD. It brought my TDS from 36 down to 0. I never changed any of the media but expected thats its lifespan was about up when I broke it down. Im tempted to use the same system on my large reef.

 

[edwing206]

Only 2GPD? You mean 20?

 

[trido]

No, 2 gallons a day was all the system required me to make. I typically would fill a 5G bucket every other day or so. I would trickle the water through as slowly as possible with a ball valve in hopes of as much contact time with the media as possible. The pitfall of a system like this is there is no real way to tell when the carbon is used up. A RO/DI is a far more fool proof way of purifying your water. Chlorine kills.

 

[MC Lighting]

buy the R/O water from me!

 

[thestosh]

I have heard of some people recycling the waste water from the RO unit.
Pipe the waste water into a collection barrel and use it to fill the washing machine and water the plants. If you mount the reservoir on a stand, gravity will pump it where you need it. I have thought about mounting my RO unit in the laundry room and just letting the waste water go right into the washing machine. When it fills up, I do a load of laundry. Might work.

 

[edwing206]

I have heard of some people recycling the waste water from the RO unit.
Pipe the waste water into a collection barrel and use it to fill the washing machine and water the plants. If you mount the reservoir on a stand, gravity will pump it where you need it. I have thought about mounting my RO unit in the laundry room and just letting the waste water go right into the washing machine. When it fills up, I do a load of laundry. Might work.

That's exactly what I do.

 

[thestosh]

I have a unit I haven't used in a year and was wondering if the filters are still good. What do you test for to see if it is still working right?
I'm guessing:
Chlorine
TDS
Any others? Is there a good test kit for this?