Ways to conserve water for reefers

[achu]

I had a good discussion with Klane today about how we can all conserve water (or at least use it efficiently). I think it is worth having a thread of ideas and ways we can all help out (whether reef related or not).

I thought I'd start with some things Klane's and I discussed on creative uses for R/O waste water: (by the way, he is breaking down his tank and still has lots of awesome stuff left!)
1) Use the waste R/O water to do the laundry. Kim just leaves the hose heading into the laundry machine. Great idea!
2) Use the waste R/O water to water houseplants and outdoor plants (and yes, plants love the water, for once they won't get "chlorine burn".)
3) If you must wash the car, R/O water is great final rinse water for the car. It doesn't leave streaks or spotting! If you really want the excercise, you can wash the entire car carrying buckets back and forth

For toilets:
Putting some jars filled with water with the lids on tight, into the toilet tank helps save water on each flush.

For Patio gardens:
I have a patio garden and the plants there have suffered droughts every year! (nothing to do with the weather) This year, I've plugged up the drainage holes on the bottom of the pots and drilled very tiny holes around 1/5 of the way up from the bottom. This lets water slowly drain out so the soil truely gets a chance to soak up and use all the water. The plants will have a good reserve of water in the base of the pot to keep the soil and roots humid, and, the soil will be good and saturated but not be drowning...

Anyone else have ideas?

achu

 

[WaterDogs]

For the aquarium water use in my house it is less than a drop in a bucket as far as waste goes and that's including the RO/DI. Better off concentrating lawn watering, showers, faucets running, etc.

 

[dnjan]

For us, we don't water the lawn, or wash the car much. We have low-flow toilet and shower. Ceramic-valve faucets (they don't leak) on some of the sinks. A tankless water heater for the bathroom (so you don't have to wait for the hot water to get there from the water heater), and a front-loading washer for laundry. So the wasted water from the RO unit is not lost in the round-off error for calculating total water consumption.

I currently have the RO-waste plumbed to water some rosebushes. Could do better, but that was quick, and doesn't require any more carrying and dumping of buckets, etc.

 

[NaH2O]

If its laundry day - I do put the waste water into the washer. This summer I plan on filling the kids pool with the waste water collected into one of my brute cans. Great ideas posted above. Too bad there isn't a way to conserve when the water wasted is from being klutzy and spilling everything all the time, like I do

 

[Scooterman]

My question. we call it waste water but actually this water is better than drinking straight Tap right? My waster water comes before the membrane, which is water that passes through the first two stages, so wouldn't this be good drinking water?

 

[dnjan]

Nikki - that is why I just run my wastewater outside - I am also a victim of spillage! (plus, all those buckets take up floorspace)

Scooterman - the waste RO water should have organics and particulates removed by the filters, but should have slightly higher disolved minerals. Could also possibly contain scuzz that grows on the last filter when your RO unit has been off for a while. Since that scuzz growth is an unknown factor, I'm not sure I would drink it.

 

[Scooterman]

Humm, I think I'll write the manufacturer and see what they say, I back flush mine often, I'd like to know for sure.

 

[dnjan]

Backflushing just cleans the RO membrane, correct? The scuzz growth I was referring to was on the downstream side of the carbon filter (assuming that you have one or more particulate filters first, followed by a carbon filter, followed by the RO membrane). When you turn the water off, some water can drain, leaving wonderful aerobic conditions on the carbon filter. While the RO membrane would prevent any nasties from the scuzz getting to the output water, the waste water could have them.

 

[Scooterman]

Actually, I need to check but I think after the carbon block, the water goes to the RO, on the out side of the RO is a down stream orifice tube, this is the usable water, whatever water not forced through the membrane is considered waste, which is still filtered water. Now I agree from what your saying is possible, I know the DI level drops back. I also know it is very clean inside, so weather there is scuzz I don't know, but is almost like drinking water right after the carbon block, I'd say it would be very clean but inside the canisters like your saying it may be the case.

 

[mojoreef]

Have any of you tried the permaite (sp?) pump?? A long time ago I bought one from a ro/di maker and he showed me a way of plumbing it where I only get a 1 to 1 loss on water.

On the conservation front I steal water from the Lake to water the grass, shrubs and wash the car. Does that count???





MIke

 

[dnjan]

Is that why the lake was so low the last time I was at your place?