RO/DI waste water ideas

jslomo420 · #1 03/27/2006, 06:23 PM

What do you do with your waste water other than waste it, the thought of dumping water for no reason kind of hurts. Any and all suggestions welcome!!

smleee · #2 03/27/2006, 06:25 PM

Just remember that water usually ends up back in the water treatment plant, so it's not so bad the way I look at it - it's diluting all our crap (literally).

Washing machine
Koi pond top-off water
House plants

Some off the top of my head.

eee

vishboy · #3 03/27/2006, 06:45 PM

Coffee

Sk8r · #4 03/27/2006, 07:58 PM

You could collect it in buckets (several) and water plants with it.

GLD · #5 03/27/2006, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by vishboy
Coffee

Once I started to use RO/DI water to make coffee, I now find myself carrying 2 gallon totes of RO/DI water to work to make coffee there.

Unfortunately, coffee made with RO/DI water tastes much better than the same coffee made with regular water.

smleee · #6 03/27/2006, 10:14 PM

Yep, I use the carbon filtered water out of the fridge and you can tell the difference. My tap is only ~120TDS too.

eee

PelagicMagic · #7 03/27/2006, 10:20 PM

use it to top off your pool

MplsMan · #8 03/27/2006, 10:43 PM

I have a seperate line that runs into my washing machine so i save water in washing clothes.. works great for me .

PelagicMagic · #9 03/28/2006, 10:04 AM

You just keep the tub full of water until you wash? Great idea

jslomo420 · #10 03/28/2006, 10:29 AM

So the best idea is to install a swimming pool and a koi pond? This hobby keeps getting more expensive but I guess you do what you have to.

vishboy · #11 03/28/2006, 10:30 AM

If you had the right tubing and patience/ creativity, you could probably hook up the waste line to your dish washer.

smleee · #12 03/28/2006, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by jslomo420
So the best idea is to install a swimming pool and a koi pond?

Now you're thinking....

eee

budpat · #13 03/28/2006, 11:00 AM

Watts Premier Inc in Phoenix makes a kit that "converts any RO system to a zero waste unit". It consists of a quiet pump, pressure switch, and solenoid valve that returns the 'waste' water to the hot water line. Works great so far - 4 weeks!! About $135 at Home Depot.

jslomo420 · #14 03/28/2006, 11:21 AM

Thats the best idea I've heard yet. How difficult is setup?

Mr James · #15 03/28/2006, 11:52 AM

I would like to know how many "X" gallons of waste water it takes to make "X" gallons of product water?!? After that, consider some of the other wasteful products in your home such as your wahing machine. We have young children, so we bought a Fisher/Pykel (front load type) washing machine which touts that it uses 14 gallons of water compared to your typical top load wahing machines that use 44 gallons of water. I dump my waste water down the drain. I have often thought of a storage bin right outside which i would use for rlowers and such. For now, I'll let the rain take care of the flowers.

smleee · #16 03/28/2006, 11:55 AM

Usually around 4:1 ratio of waste to good.

eee

budpat · #17 03/28/2006, 12:28 PM

Zero waste kit is very easy to install - everything is included and the fittings are the push-to-connect type.

hawaiianwargod · #18 03/28/2006, 03:52 PM

budpat,

enlighten me with the zero waste.
TIA

PelagicMagic · #19 03/28/2006, 04:31 PM

the return to the water heater is the best idea so far. I bet that it pays for its self very quick