Zero Waste RO?

[Vincerama2]

http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=10034720&whse=BC&topnav=&browse=

I posted this in the main Reef forum, but though I'd get a good answer here. Costco claims it has a zero waste RO unit.

opinions?

V

 

[Vincerama2]

hmmm http://www.wwdmag.com/Zero-Waste-A-Look-at-the-Future-of-Reverse-Osmosis-article3839

V

 

[sfsuphysics]

IMO nothing new, it somehow forces the waste water into your hot water line of your house. I think the idea is that using this system for drinking water your hot water heater can more than compensate for the waste water, however doing 30gallons at a time translates to 120 gallons of waste water, which IMO your hot water heater can't handle... in fact it'll probably go in the emergency overflow, but I wouldn't be surprised if drinking water wouldn't cause that as well, so it's not really a zero waste unit just because you won't know that it's wasting.

Eitherway, my system is zero waste because the waste water waters my yard so I don't have to use the hose Hopefully soon I'll hook up a 300g tank to catch rain water on top of RO water so I can water my yard when I want to, not just when I make fresh RO/DI water

 

[Vincerama2]

Dude, how are you watering your yard with it?

I bought a "patio drip irrigation" kit (ie; 1/4" line with little dripper attachments". I was planning on either

1) attaching the RO waste line directly to this 1/4" line and watering my patio plants (tomatoes)

2) If back pressure is an issue for the RO unit, have the RO dump to a bucket, which will somehow have the drip irrigation line attached to the bottom, so the RO can just dump water into it, and gravity will get the water through the drip lines to the potted plants.


Do you have a "system" or are you just caching the water in a tub and hand watering?

V

 

[sfsuphysics]

I would NOT use drip irrigation, usually those have restrictors on them, and that could cause a bit too much on your membrane.

Right now my "system" is rather rudimentary, I have a long line of 1/4" tubing (50 feet or so) and I put it under one tree, then another and then another. Obviously I wouldn't do that for tomatoes (too much water at once ) but you might simply do your bucket idea, the back pressure shouldn't be that big of a deal, or if you're worried simply use one of those splitters used for drip irrigation as long as it doesn't restrict the outflow.

In the future I'm simply going to dump it into a large container (that 300g one I have is seeming awfully tempting) and plumb the bottom with a 1" pvc with a gate valve if I need to water LOTS, and then maybe some drip lines as well to a similar valve.

 

[tfp]

guys, i applaud your water conservation efforts! i got a bad feeling that this is going to be a dry summer and saving every gallon NOW counts.

i purchased a 550g water storage bin last month that captures all my RODI waste water. the thing is gigantic but its a good feeling knowing i'm doing my part.

so far, i've used that water to wash/rinse countless loads of clothes, water trees/plants, wash my car and even do 200g+ water changes on my koi pond.

here's our 4yr old that got inside to help dad align the bulkheads

i'm using a Mag7 and 75ft of python tubing for water distribution

 

[Nuuze]

Dayumm Tim!

I also read on one of the large tank threads. (I forgot which one) But there are some companies that setup zero waste commercial type systems in the garage and charge by the gallon. The guy posted a pic of it setup in his garage and it looked like several large CO2 type tanks.