Waste water from RO/DI??

[Jacwil]

My wife would be shocked to see this post, but I'm genuinely concerned about all the waste water that simply flows into my basement crock and then pumped out to the gutter. I normally would "look the other way", but it sure feels like a terrible waste.

During the warmer months I think I may collect it for watering the garden...does anybody do anything creative to recycle this water?

 

[Conesus_Kid]

Some folks use it to fill their washing machines.

 

[St.james of reefdom]

some people set up african cichlid tanks and use the waste water for it..

 

[faze07hd]

i use mine to feed the house plants and to rinse my dishes sometimes.

 

[Jacwil]

oh boy...

oh boy...

some people set up african cichlid tanks and use the waste water for it..

...now this is an interesting idea. I don't need much more than this to spur me to set up another aquarium lol.

 

[cardiffgiant]

I love African cichlids. My old 55 was set up as a AC tank for years.

I think that the washing machine idea would be most practical for me. Maybe divert two lines, one for the washing machine in the winter, and another to water a portion of my front garden in the summer.

 

[GMaquarium]

This is a very good question. Since we pay for the water use and waste why not get the most out of it. Main issue I think would be storage but with a few barrels and an old pump or two, you can do a lot with waste water.

James has the best idea with the freshwater fish that like the extra mineral. Plants, gardens, pools, ponds, dishes, washers, waterbeds. I also have used waste water to cure frag plugs and diy rocks back when I used to make them.

A lady once told me that she takes baths in it. Stores a barrel of water, adds epsom salt (mag sulfate) and maybe other salts and minerals to it. Fills up the tub for a soak. From what I was told its very good for your skin. I never tried myself personally get my skin in hard water enough as it is. But may be an option.

 

[Jacwil]

More excellent ideas..thx G!

 

[Srixon]

You could bottle it....Reef Heavy Water

 

[Jacwil]

Thx Don...and sell it at every Wegmans?

 

[Srixon]

Got you thinking now.....don't I

 

[Srixon]

I have you thinking now......right?.....dog and cat water?

 

[ggdowski]

If you are looking for Cichlids send me a pm.
I have a lot of yellow labidochromis.

I havent used my waste water for that tank.
I guess I could.
The problem is that I would have to store it.
Sounds good until you start thinking about where you would store it.

You couldnt just dump it into the tank because you have the same problem with normalizing temperature.

 

[Jacwil]

Nice Don!

Dowski...my wife would poo her pants if I actually suggested starting up another tank lol. BTW..empty your inbox...tried to reply to you last week and it's full.

 

[ggdowski]

Hmm.
I thought I took care of that.
It doesnt look full at the moment.
Sorry.

 

[Jacwil]

No prob..it was after your last pm you sent me that I had trouble replying.

 

[TimmyNY]

Ive been toying with the idea of collecting it in a barrel and then running one of my spare pumps to a bunch of drip lines in the planters on the porch. you could set it up on a timer. In dry weather just set the timer longer. would work with raised beds too or anything that you could set up a drip line to. recycle without effort LOL


Tim

 

[Jacwil]

Nice thinking Timmy!!!

 

[PCKRAJ]

Doesn't the RO waste water have chlorine? If not I could use it for my freshwater tanks as well - or fill up a container and add dechlorinator. Good thinking - I hate having it go down the drain.

 

[S Helinski]

I used to keep pond fish in a rubbermaid tub near my sump and RO setup. I had the RO waste water flowing into the pond tub, and another line flowing out of the pond tub (at the top) right to the sump pump. In effect, I never had to do a waterchange on the pond fish. They had one everytime I produced RO water...

After I no longer had a pond, I would extend the RO waste water line outside the house from the basement, and had it squirting into the garden... (Make sure to disable this when it gets cold out...)

Steve