Saving Money on water

[eidillitih]

My water bill is outragous, I'm trying to conserve some water. does anyone have the RO/DI water drain line taped back into the feed line. I don't see why this would not work back the water is clean compared to tap water.

Does any see a problem with this? I would like to hear what other are doing about this. I did a research but couldn't find the information I was looking for.

 

[Glove]

What about the pressure from the feed line that you tap into?
Wont this put "back pressure" on the RO system waste line?
I thought about this and it seemed like the pressure would restrict the RO.

Some people fill the washing machine, some water plants with it.
What other options are people using for waste water?

 

[jeffbrig]

What are you paying for water? My bill hasn't moved but $3 or $4 since I started my tank, including the first month when I had to fill it. I'd double check your RO/DI setup, including the flow restrictor. You might be dumping a whole lot more water than normal.

 

[fgarvine]

I don't think that can work. The waste line has a specific range of backpressure to make the membrane work in an optimum fasion.

I run alot of RO, but I have drunk the waste -- harmless and tastes fine. I run the waste into my toilet upper bowl, drip lines to our landscaping, and top off Cichlid tanks with it.

 

[eidillitih]

The back pressure is what I thought may be an issue. I guess I need to check my water lines because I just don't think my water bill should be $109 dollars for 2 months. My RO/DI unit is fine it was the first thing I checked. What do you guys pay for water a month?

 

[Paintbug]

at my old house with city water, the bill was about $30-$40 for 3 months. something like that anyway. the washing machine flooded the basement with about 6 inches of water one month, and it still didnt go up much maybe $10. your best plan is to find out what your rate is and then go from there. im sure the rates in NO will be more than they are here.

and recycling your RO waste water can be done. you have to setup a pump to force it back into the feed. im not the one to explain how, but i know it can be done.

 

[nebraskareef]

I would be worried about the membrane of the RO, but I don't know much about the units, mine is on the way.

good luck.

 

[jeffbrig]

My bill is consistently $27 or $30 every month. Before the tank it was $24, sometimes $27. My utility has a basic customer charge plus usage at ~$3 per 'unit', which I would guess is 1000g.

 

[RA]

Maybe your water bill has a surcharge to correct the problems from the hurricane, or they just raised the rates due to fewer people using their service. I noticed that you are in New Orleans. Anyway I wouldn't tinker with your RO/DI unless it's not working properly.

 

[skylsdale]

I would check to see if you municipality hasn't actually added a fee or hiked the rate a bit. Check your bill for the actual usage reading as well and compare it to past bills (if you have kept them). Maybe you'll notice an irregularity...or that things have pretty much stayed the same, but there is now an abnormal price hike. Maybe they read the water meter wrong (or not at all, and just put a number in...which happened with us one time).