Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: s.hughes on April 24, 2005, 09:11:33 am

Title: Waste water
Post by: s.hughes on April 24, 2005, 09:11:33 am
Hi fellers
I havent got one of these pole systems but have always thought how expensive it would be on a water meter (which I havent got but we all will have one day). After reading the topics on this site (excellent topics, great help) I have found that when the water is filtered there is a lot of waste that goes down the drain. Now my thought is, can the waste water be drained into a large container and then filtered through again so as to reduce the waste and save money?
Also it may be hassle but what about the saving of rain water in a water butt and filter that? I dont know much about the filter I think it works on pressure so there may not be enough pressure to refilter the waste. Can any of you guys let me know.
Cheers
Steveyboy
Title: Re: Waste water
Post by: matt on April 24, 2005, 09:35:50 am
i use 100 - 150 L's a day, thus with wasteage i use 400 L's a day, its not that much
Title: Re: Waste water
Post by: Ian Rochester on April 24, 2005, 09:48:15 am
Matt, that seems quite high, your system is only operating at a 1:3 ratio.  When I was at the show yesterday Andrews Water were talking about the Merlin/Rhombus Wizard operating at a 1:1 ratio.

I also had a chat with Outreach and they were saying that their waste on a van mount system was only 15% of total usage, ie to make 1000 ltr of pure would only need 1150 ltrs of tap!!

I wonder if I have picked him up wrong?
Title: Re: Waste water
Post by: AuRavelling79 on April 24, 2005, 12:05:51 pm
I'm no expert but I think that the "better" the ratio (1:1 being better then 1:3) the more resin you use - so there is a trade off?
Title: Re: Waste water
Post by: Ian_Giles on April 24, 2005, 01:19:46 pm
I kind of agree with Malc, might be wrong of course, but it seems that the purer the water that is made from the R/O, the higher the waste produced.

The extra cost generated by being on a meter is not that espensive, it's just a running cost that will add a few pence to each account, tax deductable too ;)

Ian
Title: Re: Waste water
Post by: s.hughes on April 24, 2005, 01:44:16 pm
I hear what your all saying but can the waste water be stored and then re-filtered?

Steveyboy
Title: Re: Waste water
Post by: Ian_Giles on April 24, 2005, 02:30:34 pm
Your waste water will have far higer TDS readings, every succesive litre of re-purified waste water will become further contanimated. And you would need to power a pump to push it through your membranes. Think of all the water Butts you will need.
Money for a pump + running costs.
Money for water butt or butts rather, as you will need somewhere to store the waste water from the waste water you are trying to purify :P
What effect is this going to have on the life span of your membranes?
An awful lot of faffing around to try and cut possibly £20 or £30 quid of your water bill.
I don't think it is worth doing.

Ian
Title: Re: Waste water
Post by: s.hughes on April 24, 2005, 03:28:12 pm
Thanks Ian that is what I was thinking. I did think the pressure would have been a problem. Its a shame to let so much water go to waste as at the moment I only need one bucket a day to keep me going.
Cheers
Steveyboy
Title: Re: Waste water
Post by: matt on April 24, 2005, 06:18:38 pm
i am having a guess that my RO produces 1:3 (it was at the cheaper end of the scale, thus i am guessing the trade off in price is poorer output ration)

it might be 1 : 2 though

In the Summer MY waste water is stored in a Rainwater butt downthe side of my house and used to water the lawn and flowers (which we would do anyway, thus a little saved ;))

Title: Re: Waste water
Post by: Jeff Brimble on April 24, 2005, 06:52:00 pm
One of the Aussies asked about re use of water, cause its dear over there we eventually came up with a novel suggestion of using a tucker or 2 stage process  to wash the dirt and dust (they get a lot of dust)with the waste water then rinse with the RO.
Title: Re: Waste water
Post by: marc al on April 24, 2005, 08:13:07 pm
 I am on a water meter and the cost is very small at 89pence/cubic metre (1000l)
Title: Re: Waste water
Post by: Balvindaa on April 24, 2005, 08:27:43 pm
Hi there mate I live in nottingham and am on a water meter where do you live ? shall be using my new system next week hopefully .Just worried about the cost .So you pay .89pence for 1000litres
Title: Re: Waste water
Post by: tightswerve on April 24, 2005, 08:43:07 pm
I Have a meter but no one can answer my question?

Can I take it out? /can water board remove it and how much?

Steve  ;)
Title: Re: Waste water
Post by: matt on April 24, 2005, 09:32:27 pm
I Have a meter but no one can answer my question?

Can I take it out? /can water board remove it and how much?

Steve  ;)


thats a NO

the gov / water boards are commited to getting EVERYONE on a meter
Title: Re: Waste water
Post by: Gordon Watson on April 25, 2005, 02:50:51 pm
South West Water allows you to revert back to the flat rate, but only within the first 12 months of being on a meter. Additionally, in the event than you sell the house the house becomes perminently metered.

Gordon
Title: Re: Waste water
Post by: AuRavelling79 on April 26, 2005, 04:33:22 pm
Yes, Gordon, that's how it works here in Bristol.

Families like mine (5 per 3 - bed house) like not being on a meter - my Mum (living alone - 3 bed house) understandably went for a meter. If she moves to a granny flat and the house is sold to a family they're stuck with the meter.

With the demographics of an aging population, eventually the vast majority will be metered. Seems fair to me even tho' in my present circumstances I wouldn't benefit financially.