Potable Water from Rainwater System

Rainwater collected from the roof of the house is pre-filtered via a PURAIN filter and collected in a 10000 ltr tank. The integrated  AQUALOOP water treatment system micro filtrates (0.2 micron) the rainwater and transfers it to a separate 500 ltr holding tank. The speed controlled RAINMASTER FAVORIT SC 20 pumping and control unit supplies the house with the micro filtrated rain water and maintains a pre-set pressure in the line. The unit will switch over to mains supply if not enough rainwater is available and back to rainwater if it has rained again, all by itself. Thus only using the mains water supply that is required. No tank top up! 

All the potable water supply, regardless if it is filtered rain- or mains water is treated with a UV system, thus eliminating any bacteria or viruses that could enter via the mains supply.

Greywater Recycling System

The bathroom greywater is pre-filtered and collected in a 500 ltr tank. The integrated AQUALOOP System is treating the greywater, breaking down organic compounds, micro filtrates (0.2 microns) the water and transfers it to a seperate 500 ltr holding tank. 

A RAINMASTER ECO 10, pumping and control unit, supplies toilets, the washing machine and an outdoor tap with recycled bathroom greywater, thus saving up to 40% on potable water.

This AQUALOOP system is the one of many greywater system in Christchurch , Auckland, Queenstown, Tauranga etc, etc.  the only NSF/ANSI 350 Class C certified system on the market.

Membranes have a life expectancy of up to 10 years with minimum maintenance requirements. The system was also tested by the Rainwater Harvesting Centre at Massey University Wellington. It is modular and can be sized from small domestic up to big commercial applications (life style, hotels, motels, camping grounds, swimming centers, laundries, office blocks, gyms etc, etc.).

INTEWA CEO and owner Oliver Ringelstein and Bob Drew from Ecovie, the exclusive INTEWA representative for the USA, led a whirlwind trip from Alaska to Los Angeles. The first stop was at a laundromat in Alaska. Here AQUALOOP technology allows for the reuse of the laundromat wastewater together with shower water. Even though in Alaska there is water everywhere the prices in this location are particularly high. Lack of supply and quality problems exist with the available water. AQUALOOP technology allows the operator to have the best water quality and a fast system amortization.

Drinking water from rainwater                    RAINMASTER DUPLEX                    

with AQUALOOP ultrafiltration                   pumping and control unit

The next stops on the west coast trip included Seattle, Portland, San Francisco and Los Angeles. Due to the continual droughts in this area greywater recycling, rainwater harvesting, and wastewater reuse are themes of increasing importance. With the only NSF/ANSI 350 Class C certification INTEWA systems meet the stringent requirements for the region.

The greywater system installed at the famous Eatalyin Los Angeles was showcased in an earlier newsletter, but the system is so interesting that we would like to show it off again. The system is special in that it is presented in a large, descriptive showcase in the middle of the luxury foodie complex.

Applications

• households, schools, hostels
• camping sites / military camps
• emergency assistance
• disaster operation

Advantages

• no electricity necessary
• small footprint
• easy installation and start-up
• complete removal of suspended solids, bacteria, viruses, helminth eggs (membrane barrier)
• long lifetime of equipment, cheap and easy replacement
• no additional chemicals necessary, except chlorine tablets
• robust process, no fine mechanical parts

We have learned from the deficiencies of other drinking water treatment technologies and have refined these technologies.

The following features prove this and hence clearly speak for C-MEM Zero:

• Transportable system - hence can be used in all places where clean drinking water is needed urgently and quickly.
• Operation without electricity - hence independent of power supply.
• Operation without chemicals - hence more environmentally friendly and healthier.

Further product development C-MEM Zero

It is now also available with a downstreams active carbon unit as well as with a solar driven inlet pump.

By adsorption C-MEM Zero Active Carbon removes contamination from water which cannot be removed by filtration e.g. pesticides, fertilizers, pharmaceuticals, heavy metals etc.

C-MEM Zero Solar replaces the manual filling of the raw water tank by a solar driven pump and is therefore an additional user-friendly option of C-MEM Zero.

More information available from: [email protected]   

www.aloaqua.co.nz      + 64 3 2600589

Bathroom greywater (bath, tub and sink) will be collected in a tank, treated with the AQUALOOP system and reused for flushing toilets, the washing machine and irrigation. Thus saving between 30-40% of potable water and sewage.

The RAINMASTER ECO 10 pumping and control unit supplies the treated water to the end users. It switches over to mains water if not enough treated water is available without any loss of comfort for the home owner. 

A rainwater harvesting system, also part of the renovation, filters and collects the run-off from the roof in an in-ground rainwater tank.

A pumping unit and UV system will be used to supply the treated water to the house.

More information available;

www.aloaqua.co.nz                [email protected]      +64 32600 589

What is rainwater harvesting and how does it work?

Rainwater harvesting is the capture, storage and use of rainwater. Anybody can do it and it can be designed and customized to suit the needs of the user (potable water from rainwater for example).

There are several types of rainwater harvesting systems, the following three are the main ones:

In-situ rainwater harvesting refers to the capture of rainwater where it falls. This system is useful in agricultural production systems where micro-catchments are used. For example Zai Pits ( Wikipedia Zai-Pits).

Run-off catchment is another rainwater harvesting system. Rainwater running of surfaces is channeled through pipes or trenches and collected in storage structures like tanks, ponds, swales (Wikipedia Swale ) and dams, to be used at a later stage or for attenuation and/or infiltration.

Then there are roof catchment systems. These involve capturing rainwater from roof tops and storing it either above or below ground tanks made from plastic, concrete or metal. 

Some facts:

• In New Zealand around 10% of the population depend on roof collected rainwater.
• ~ 18% of total water consumption is used for flushing the toilet (domestic).
• ~ 23% of total water consumption is used for the washing machine (domestic).
• ~ 41% ( probably more if you add garden irrigation and outdoor use)  of total water consumption could be covered by rainwater
• ~ 27% of total water consumption is used for showering (domestic)

(Watercare)

• Average water consumption per person in New Zealand  227 liters / day (Learnz). Water consumption varies quite significantly between the regions (Queenstown Lakes District Council 416 liter/day)

Advantages of Rainwater Harvesting

1. Low-cost Maintenance
You really don’t need to invest much money to keep the systems going. Purifying the water is not necessary if you don’t intend to drink the water.

2. Lower Water Bills
You can use your collected rainwater for flushing toilets, washing your clothes, and watering the garden. This’ll help in keeping your water bills to a minimum. (Sample system) 

3. Great for Irrigation
Rainwater is pure rainwater without any added chemicals into it so you can make sure that this is reliable for irrigation. (Sample System) 

4. Reduces Ground Water Demand
As our population increases, so does the demand for water. In many areas, we are reliant on dams, rivers  and aquifers for our water sources.

5. Reduces Soil Erosion and Floods
By collecting rainwater, you can minimize the likelihood of flooding around your home and reduce the load on the council stormwater system.

6. Multi-Purpose
You can use rainwater in flushing down toilets, washing your cars and motorcycles, and etc. (Sample System)

Disadvantages of Rainwater Harvesting

1. Unreliable Rainfall
Rain doesn’t fall every day making it hard for you to collect some daily. However, for example, Auckland and other part of the country does not suffer from this compared to other centers.

2. Starting Costs
If you choose to have a rain harvesting system, then the time to implement these systems is when you are building your home as the additional costs are recovered quicker. Allocating funds for a system installed in your home is money well spent and will add value to your home.

3. Chemical roof seepage
Some roof coatings may contain harmful chemicals so it is advisable to talk with one of our consultants first to ensure your roof meets the guidelines.

5. Storage limits
There is a practical limit to how much water you can store on your property and is often limited by your section size and appropriate locations for the tanks . Especially in winter, the rain captured will be greater than the capacity of the tank. Rainwater tanks have to be designed to deal with this situation and to release the excess water to the council stormwater system  in accordance with council requirements.

Rainwater Harvesting is a win-win situation for building owners, councils and the environment.

We can give you advice what systems will suit your needs and what is involved.

www.aloaqua.co.nz   /   [email protected]  / + 64 3 2600 589

Every dwelling, domestic and commercial, should have a rainwater harvesting system! Here's a quick overview what is required in terms of material in order to use the water inside the dwelling for flushing toilets, the washing machine and for irrigation.

By the way, the Homestar rating system offers up to four points for dwellings which reduce the consumption of potable water in and around the dwelling through the collection and use of rainwater.

Apartment developments are also rewarded for incentivizing conservation through individual metering of each dwelling. A water calculator is used to estimate the percentage of household water demand able to be met with rainwater: 

 Standalone and Terraced Dwellings

(1)

The dwelling has a rainwater harvesting system with a minimum connected roof catchment area of 30m2 per dwelling, connected to a tank with a minimum rainwater holding capacity of 500L per dwelling, with at least one connection to a tap for outdoor water use. 

0.5 points

        The rainwater harvesting system is connected to and can meet all or part of the water use demand    from, laundry, outdoor water use, toilets and dishwasher. 

Up to 3.5 points

Apartments

(2)

The development has a rainwater harvesting system with a minimum roof catchment area of at least 30% of available roof area, connected to a tank with a minimum rainwater holding capacity of 5000L, with at least one connection to outdoor water use and /or common area water use. 

0.5 point

       The rainwater system is connected to and can meet all or part of the usage demand from, laundry (common or individual) and / or toilets and / or dish washing in every dwelling where points are claimed. 

Up to 2.5 points

      Each apartment dwelling has a separate water check meter that enables each apartment to be billed separately for its water use.

1 point

Rainwater Harvesting System 1

(up to 3.5 points for standalone and terraced dwellings)

In-ground or above ground tanks possible (not included in the below mentioned price)

Material required:

• RURAIN filter DN 100                  4. Suction hose 1/2”  5 meter
• PLURAFIT calming inlet DN 100 5. Wall bushing DN 100 (if required)
• Floating suction device ½”           6. RAINMASTER Eco10

Tank sized according to requirements and space available. Different shaped tanks and colors available.

RAINMASTER ECO comes with mains water top up connection and switches over to mains water if the water level in the tank reaches a critical low.

 Budget Price (supply only):  NZ$ 2,425.-  + Gst + Freight   (tank not included)

Rainwater Harvesting System 2

(up to 3.5 points for standalone and terraced dwellings,

Apartments up to 2.5 points)

In-ground or above ground tanks possible (not included in the below mentioned price) 

Material required:

• PURAIN filter DN 100                   4. Pressure  hose 1”  5 meters
• PLURAFIT calming inlet DN 100   5. Ground bushing DN 100 (if required)
• Submersible Pump set MULTI-05  6. RAINMASTER D24 fill-level indicator

Tank sized according to requirements and space available. Different shaped tanks and colors available.

A drinking water top-up switches on automatically for periods of shortage and supplies the cistern or tank to a set level.

 Budget Price (supply only):           NZ$ 2,645.- + Gst + Freight  (tank not included)

 Please note:

This is a guideline only; bigger pumping units might be required, dependable on the size of the house, number of apartments, toilets, washing- and dish washing machines.

Contact:  ALOAQUA Ltd,  [email protected]   www.aloaqua.co.nz 

                phone: +64 3 26005879

 Aloaqua Ltd,  "Conditions of Supply and Sale" apply and are available on request.

Brewing beer
Thanks to an American business partner and home brewer, Intewa’s managing director and inventor of the rainwater treatment system Oliver Ringelstein, got the idea to use filtered rainwater for brewing beer. Most breweries have their own water sources, which are under strict control and give their beers a distinct flavor. In 2016 he found a Belgian brewery that was happy to brew his ‘Brain’ beer – a kind of Trappist beer with a second fermentation in the bottle. The soft water allows the beers’ malt aromas to evoke a particular taste sensation.

Brewing beer however is not the only application of the filtering system. In countries with public water supply, rainwater is hardly used besides for flushing toilets and watering gardens. Most of the world’s populated areas have sufficient rainwater of ample quality available to cover the entire need for drinking water. Intewa’s new technique enables this.

Aqualoop technique
The treatment of rain, surface and sewage water takes place in several stages: pre-filtering, purification and storage. Rainwater is caught in a collection and settlement tank in which large pollutants are separated. The polluted water is then forced through a membrane - a vessel which contains thousands of micro fibers with miniscule pores that filter all harmful substances from the water, making it hygienically pure. The filtered rainwater does not even contain traces of medicine or hormones, which is fairly unique!

The ultra and micro filter technique is called Aqualoop and was developed as an in-situ purification system for both households and enterprises. The system requires compact storage tanks in which the membranes can be placed and which can be multiplied depending on the capacity needed. The storage tanks had to be totally reliable so they would not affect the quality of the filtered water and they had to be attractive as well because they are visible in technical areas.

The benefits
Aqualoop is not only a great example of sustainable innovation, it also makes an interesting investment for individuals and companies who do not want to rely any longer on water supplying companies and  ultimately save on the costs of drinking water and drainage. Moreover, rainwater management is gaining increasing importance in times where abundant rainfall due to climate change causes big problems. Aloaqua also offers solutions for storage, containment and disposal of rainwater and greywater. You can read more about this topic and find solutions on www.aloaqua.co.nz

Using rainwater for flushing toilets and washing machines is maybe something new in New Zealand, but is already standard in most European and other countries. Solutions using rainwater for various applications offer new possibilities for property owners, developers and councils.

Rainwater is of such good quality that it can be used as potable water, with the right technology. No bacteria, nitrate and chemicals and instead soft water which causes no calcification in pipes, hot water cylinders and on surfaces.

Mitigating the effect of storm water run off from properties, by retaining and using it on site, reducing the volume of potable water use and offering new areas of work for installers.

Examples of rainwater harvesting and utilization systems: www.aloaqua.co.nz

One manufacturer of rainwater harvesting and greywater recycling equipment in Germany has started to brew it's own beer from rainwater (Brain - http://www.brainwaterbeer.com/) to showcase how good it taste (I had a bottle and it taste really nice).

Rainwater attenuation, - retention

The increase of sealed surfaces in urban areas put additional pressure on the existing stormwater infrastructure. More and more councils require now rainwater attenuation/ retention systems to be installed for new developments. Innovative systems that are cost effective, space saving and require low maintenance are already used in densely populated areas in Europe. More information: Rainwater attenuation/ retention

 More info:  www.aloaqua.co.nz

 contact:      ALOAQUA

 Phone:       +64 3 2600 589

   email:       [email protected]

The installation of a combined Greywater Recycling and Rainwater Harvesting system from ALOAQUA will save on potable water and sewage. In addition the rainwater tank helps to minimize the impact of the property on surface flooding. Greywater is available everyday and it makes perfect sense to capture, treat and reuse it for secondary use (toilets, irrigation, cleaning).

Greywater collected from the bathrooms (sink, tub, shower) is collected and treated in a 500 ltr tank via the AQUALOOP system. The tertiary treatment (pre-filtration, aeration and membrane filtration) eliminates all coarse particles, bacteria (99.9999%) and virus (99.7%).  The treatment process is monitored and controlled via the AQUALOOP controller which initiates each step of the process.

The treated water is filtered through the membrane (0.2micons) and transferred into the rainwater tank after the required treatment time. The membrane is back-flushed in regular intervals in order to open up any clogged openings. The expected lifecycle of the membrane is 10 years.

.

The Rainwater collected from the roof is filtered via the PURAIN filter and added to the tank (5000 ltr) via the calmed inlet from the PLURAFIT range. 

The pumping and control unit RAINMASTER FAVORIT SC20 ensures a steady and reliable water flow to the points of use (toilet and outdoor taps). The unit switches over, by itself, to mains water supply if the water level in the tank reaches a critical low level and back again if the water level rises again. No interruption to the clients at all!

A great system that will significantly lower the ecological footprint of this property but will also enable the owners to have water available during restrictions, drought or in emergency situations.

More info available via: www.aloaqua.co.nz   [email protected]   

www.aloaqua.co.nz

Christchurch water charges to be considered next year

Staff are working on a report on ways the city's water can be priced, which will likely include a volumetric charge. The issue will be included in next year's Long Term Plan (LTP) process.

Water currently comes under a general rates bill, meaning water costs are tied to a property's value. A volumetric rate would charge for the amount of water used, encouraging people to use less.

JOSEPH JOHNSON / STUFF

Espresso Carwash Cafe co-owner Damian Curtain was relaxed about the prospect of a volumetric water charge as his business was environmentally friendly and not a big water user.

Many councils around the country use volumetric charging. Prices range from 44c per 1000 litres in most of the Selwyn district, to $1.96 per 1000L in Nelson.

READ MORE: Water charges on the horizon

Christchurch uses about 129 million litres of water per day, which nearly doubles over the summer months, primarily because of irrigation for gardening.

Usage per person is about double that of Auckland, which charges about $1.40 per 1000L.

The water charging review came up in a council subcommittee discussion this week about promoting the use of rainwater tanks.

The last time the prospect of a water charge came up was 2015, during the last LTP review. The idea was dropped.

"There is a piece of work going on for the LTP looking at the review of water pricing," said John Mackie, head of three waters and waste, when asked if it was back on the agenda.

Demand for water in Christchurch is expected to rise as the population grows. The climate of eastern Canterbury is expected to become more dry in the coming decades, adding further pressure.

Councillors at the meeting said there was a clear need to conserve more water and changing the pricing method could achieve that.

"My position isn't necessarily that we charge for water, but we'll need to come up with a position that makes the people of Christchurch respect what's in our taps a lot more than what we currently do," councillor Aaron Keown said. 

"We [currently] charge based on the price of your property, so a little old lady in Fendalton is paying five times more for her water than a flat of young fellas in Linwood. There's no reason for her to save her rainwater... or the guys to save theirs."

He said a volumetric charge would have little impact on the average ratepayer.

"It would only be cents. But it's the fact that mentally you're thinking 'I'm saving money' ... you change behaviours."

Christchurch Beautifying Association president Ron Andrew said the group "would strenuously oppose" a volumetric water fee in the city.

"It's absolute nonsense to say water's not available," he said.

"We are the Garden City and, if we're going to be honest to ourselves when we talk about the Garden City, then we have to provide two things: maintenance and, of course, water."

Andrew said gardeners using excessive water every day was a "myth".

Others used "far more water than they have to" washing cars, houses and flushing toilets. He believed a volumetric fee system would negatively affect those who needed more water.

"People will stop using water and so the cost will go on fewer people. I would expect it [the cost] would then go up."

Damian Curtain, co-owner of Addington's Espresso Carwash Franchise Ltd, was not concerned as his business was environmentally friendly and not a large water user.

Cars were washed with a fine spray so each clean used about 30 litres of water, he said. 

Most Christchurch houses already have water meters installed.

Saving water would have economic and environmental benefits. Extracting the groundwater and handling wastewater came at a cost. 

Earlier this year, an OECD report into New Zealand's environmental performance recommended councils adopt volumetric charging for water.

It said water consumption per household in Auckland had fallen 30 per cent since a volumetric charge was introduced in the late 1990s.

There were similar reductions in Nelson and Tauranga, where volumetric charging was introduced.

It is illegal for councils to profit from water, so a volumetric rate would be based on the cost of supplying water.

Council city services manager David Adamson said on Friday staff were "looking at the existing infrastructure and what is feasible around volumetric charging".

Whether it was included in the LTP was a council decision. 

A council staff report into subsidising rainwater tanks found there would be little benefit, primarily because there was no financial incentive to conserve water.

Capturing rainwater and reusing (treated) greywater will save the owner not only potable water and sewage charges but is also better for the plants they intend to water with it. Benefits for the council are less stress on their infrastructure (storm water, potable water and sewage), less maintenance and less expenses.

ALOAQUA Ltd

Due to a range of factors, increased infrastructure costs, unpredictable weather patterns and increased consumption, water bills/ rates are or will be rising and are likely to continue to do so for quite some time. In addition many homes & businesses are looking to become greener, more efficient and more self reliant and look towards these technologies as sound investments. Rainwater Harvesting is one of the quickest and easiest ways to reduce water consumption and become more efficient.

The idea behind the process is simple. Rainwater is collected when it falls on the earth, stored and utilized at a later point. It can be purified to make it into drinking water, used for daily applications and even utilized in large scale industries. In short, Rainwater harvesting is a process or technique of collecting, filtering, storing and using rainwater for irrigation and for various other purposes.

To reduce the consumption of groundwater, many people around the world are using rainwater harvesting systems. This practice has been around for thousands of years and has been growing at a rapid pace. Till today, rainwater is used  as a primarily source of drinking water in several rural areas.  The best thing about rainwater is that it is free from pollutants as well as salts, minerals, and other natural and man-made contaminants. In areas where there is excess rainfall, the surplus rainwater can be used recharge ground water through artificial recharge techniques.

In an urban setting, harvesting is usually done with the help of some infrastructure or The simplest method for a rainwater harvesting system  is storage tanks, in-ground or above, a huge range of different sizes and forms is available on the market. Water can be stored here until needed or used on a daily basis. The roofs our homes are the best catchment areas, provided they are large enough to harvest daily water needs.

Advantages of Rainwater Harvesting

Rainwater Harvesting is an effective and eco friendly method of reducing water usage in your dwelling, which will lead to reduced water bills. Making the switch to an eco friendly rainwater harvesting system is neither complicated or time consuming and will result in a wide range of benefits for your home or business.

1. Easy to Maintain: Utilizing the rainwater harvesting system  provides certain advantages to the community. First of all, harvesting rainwater allows us to better utilize an energy resource. It is important to do so since drinking water is not easily renewable and it helps in reducing wastage. Systems for the collection of rainwater are based on simple technology.

The overall cost of  installation and operation is much lesser than that of water purifying or pumping systems. Maintenance requires little time and energy. The result is the collection of water that can be used for several applications even without purification.

2. Reducing Water Bills: Water collected in the rainwater harvesting system  can be put to use for several non-drinking functions as well. For many families and small businesses, this leads to a large reduction in their utilities bill. On an industrial scale, harvesting rainwater can provide the needed amounts of water for many operations to take place smoothly without having to deplete the nearby water sources.

It also lessens the burden of soil erosion in a number of areas, allowing the land to thrive once again. In fact, it can also be stored in cisterns for use during times when water supplies are at an all time low.

3. Suitable for Irrigation: As such, there is little requirement for building new infrastructure for the rainwater harvesting system. Most rooftops act as a workable catchment area, which can be linked to the harvesting system. Rainwater is free from many chemicals found in ground water, making it suitable for irrigation and watering gardens.

4. Reduces Demand on Ground Water: With increase in population, the demand for water is also continuously increasing. The end result is that many residential colonies and industries are extracting ground water to fulfill their daily demands. This has led to depletion of ground water which has gone to significant low level in some areas where there is huge water scarcity.

5. Reduces Floods and Soil Erosion: During rainy season, rainwater is collected in large storage tanks which also helps in reducing floods in some low lying areas. Apart from this, it also helps in reducing soil erosion and contamination of surface water with chemicals, heavy metals, pesticides and fertilizers from rainwater run-off which results in cleaner lakes and ponds.

6. Can be Used for Several Non-drinking Purposes: Rainwater when collected can be used for several non-drinking functions including flushing toilets, washing clothes, watering the garden, washing cars etc. It is unnecessary to use pure drinking water if all we need to use it for some other purpose rather than drinking.

7. Rainwater for drinking purpose: With the right sized system and equipment rainwater can be used for drinking purpose.

more info:  www.aloaqua.co.nz

Disadvantages of Rainwater Harvesting

1. Unpredictable Rainfall: Rainfall is hard to predict and sometimes little or no rainfall can limit the supply of rainwater. A proper designed system will ensure that you get the best out of it, it also should have a "mains water" top up to ensure that you don't run out of water.

2. Initial  Cost: Depending on the system’s size and technology level. Like solar panels, the cost can be recovered in the years to come, which again depends on the amount of rainfall and sophistication of the system.

3. Regular Maintenance: Rainwater harvesting systems require regular maintenance, this also depends on the sophistication of the system. Self cleaning rainwater filters ( PURAIN ) help to minimize maintenance and keep the water clean.

4. Certain Roof Types may Seep Chemicals : Certain types of roofs may seep chemicals. Check with some specialists ( [email protected]) for your existing building and address it with your architect if you want to build.

5. Storage Limits: The collection and storage facilities may also impose some kind of restrictions as to how much rainwater you can use.

Rainwater harvesting is a system that is gaining speed over time. The right sized system ensures that  you  will benefit the most from it. 

For the right system size, equipment and components please contact:

ALOAQUA Ltd

[email protected]

By collecting rainwater we have a direct positive impact on the environment that all can see. Rainwater collection obviously reduces municipal water use, but how does this help the environment?  Do you know that the average household is using 18% of their water for flushing the toilet? And 23% for the washing machine! 

1. Rainwater Harvesting and Utilization (Click Here) is an alternative, and in many cases a better, water supply to the normal surface water based supplies from reservoirs or groundwater based supplies from wells tapped into underground aquifers.

2. Rainwater harvesting (Click Here) helps manage stormwater run-off to prevent erosion, flooding and poor water quality in our lakes an streams.

 - Rainwater can have a major impact on water supply and has been shown to be able to reduce municipal water demand enough that large new public water sourcing projects become unnecessary.

- In urban settings, up to 90% of water runs off because of sealed surfaces like roads, parking lots and roofs. In nature, up to 90% soaks into the ground. Rainwater harvesting systems counteract stormwater run off and thereby reduce flooding, erosion and ground water contamination. When combined with an infiltration system like rain gardens or an in-ground system (Click Here).

- Taking water out of our lakes, reservoirs and rives effects groundwater, irrigating with rainwater helps replenish groundwater supplies.

- Infrastructure projects to increase water supply use massive amounts of energy and natural resources in addition to the obvious cost to ratepayers. Rainwater harvesting and utilization helps minimize the need for these projects.

- Municipal water treatment and pumping make up a high percentage of energy and chemicals. Rainwater systems reduce this usage.

For the right system for your project, domesting or commercial, please contact:

[email protected]

The conventional and common approach to water management involves supplying potable water and disposing of waste - and stormwater. It is becoming increasingly apparent that this conventional, centralized approach must change in response to urbanization trends and climate predictions. As the availability of clean freshwater resources is diminished, it is becoming clear that in particular grey- and stormwater should be viewed as alternative and valuable sources of water, and not just inconveniences needing to be dealt with.

Consequently, rainwater collection and reuse and the reuse of highly treated greywater are attracting increased attention. They are most-commonly provided for non potable end uses but potable reuse is also gaining traction.

Many communities have begun to implement simple and relatively inexpensive water-reuse projects, such as irrigating golf courses and parks, and the benefits of these are seen almost immediately. Benefits from widespread adoption include improved reliability and drought resistance of the water supply, utility savings in infrastructure maintenance and deferred capital expenses, and the immediate rewards of green and lush outdoor recreation spaces.

There are also environmental advantages to consider. The use of reclaimed water ensures the transfer of nutrients to beneficial uses rather than discharging them into receiving waterways. Contamination of bays and lakes with nutrient-rich stormwater and wastewater increases the risk of eutrophication (excessively high nutrient concentrations), the consequences of which include low dissolved oxygen concentrations, algal blooms, and declining shellfish populations and periodic fish kills.

Increased and more widespread use of reclaimed water typically brings with it greater financial, technical, and institutional challenges. Upfront capital costs may be higher, but payback on these water-reclamation systems may be realized sooner by building owners, depending on the region. Regulators and citizens express concerns about the safety of using reclaimed water for domestic purposes because of the perceived risks and uncertainties. These challenges have limited the application of water reuse in the past. However, 21st-century technology, for example the AQUALOOP system, exists to safely produce recycled water at a relatively low costs. Combined with the increased need to do so, we should now be striving for new paradigms in water supply and management.

Water efficiency, conservation

Significant reductions in water use can be made by insisting that water-efficient fixtures meet building code, instead of installing older-style high-flow units. These include water-efficient dual-flush toilets, low-flow showerheads, low-flush urinals, flush less urinals, low-flow faucets, and flow restrictors.

External landscaping with minimal water requirements also promotes water savings. Landscaping can be designed with the use of drought-tolerant species, garden mulch techniques that minimize water losses, and subsurface irrigation methods including automated irrigation systems with rain and moisture sensors to ensure optimum application of irrigation water.

To understand where water savings can be made, a detailed water-balance model of the project should be carried out during the design phase. This process will identify all possible water savings by incorporating uncomplicated water-efficiency strategies into the development design. Using this approach,  the use of water-efficient fixtures and water-conservation design strategies can reduce an average retail or commercial development's overall water use by more than 40%.

Identifying water-reuse opportunities

Opportunities associated with the design and installation of water-reuse systems will vary significantly from one building project to the next. Analysis of the water-balance model at the outset of the project will reveal any opportunities for alternate water supply, water conservation, and water recycling. Water-balance modeling will also reveal the availability of rainwater and wastewater that could be captured and treated for reuse.

All aspects of building operations that involve water should be investigated and potential sources of water identified. Both internal and external water sources should be considered.

Treatment infrastructure, which often includes filtration and disinfection, will be required to ensure water is of a suitable quality for its intended use. Relatively clean water sources, such as roof water, are relatively straightforward to collect and are suitable for non-potable use with little pretreatment. Ligh contaminated greywater  require a higher degree of treatment to make them fit for use. Greywater recycling methods usually have greater treatment costs than rainwater collection and reuse, but they also have the added advantage of year-round water-source availability—so they are not reliant on seasonal rainfall patterns and climate.

Supplying reclaimed water to non-potable applications where the risk of human contact is very low can be an excellent way of offsetting the consumption of potable-water sources. For example, with cooling tower water, the level of direct human contact is minimal. However, to reduce the risk of illness caused by airborne and waterborne pathogens, the level of disinfection prior to reuse should be in line with the risks involved. Non-potable demands include toilet and urinal flushing, irrigation, and cooling towers. Potable demands include water for kitchen use, showers, and sinks It is important to understand the relative proportions of potable and non-potable demand, and this can be achieved through the water-balancing process.

In office complexes, the amount of water used for toilet and urinal flushing is proportionally higher than the amount used in showers. In apartment-, hotel- and rest home buildings, the opposite is true—water used for bathing and showering exceeds the toilet-flushing demand (see Figure 1).

Buildings and complexes with water-cooled boilers or cooling towers for air conditioning require large volumes of water to feed these systems. Properties with large gardens and lawns tend to use a significant portion of their water budgets for outdoor irrigation.

The current level of public acceptance and regulations in some areas mean little opportunity for the use of harvested or recycled water for potable use. To ensure water reuse is an option, the engineer must manage potential public health, operational, and environmental risks associated with the specific application. The primary risks associated with the use of reclaimed water are:

• Public health, which refers to inadvertent contact with the water and subsequent ingestion of pathogens and toxins, particularly relevant in the health and immunocompromised sectors.
• Environmental, which refers to the accumulation of contaminants in irrigated soils and plants or detrimental hydrological effects as a result of water extraction.
• Availability, which is dependent on rainfall patterns and catchment activities, sizing of treatment plants and buffer tanks, and maintenance schedules and equipment downtime.
• Operational, such as potential clogging and fouling of distribution systems and mechanical equipment with suspended and precipitated solids, and staining of toilet bowls.

Given the different treatment requirements of the various rain- and greywater sources and the potentially different end-use water qualities required, a detailed water-balance and feasibility assessment should be undertaken in all system designs.

www.aloaqua.co.nz

• Peter Harbour, PhD, and Robyn Overall, PhD, CJ Arms and Associates
• How is water used? - Dr Lee Bint (BRANZ Sustainable Building Scientist)

A solution for local infiltration / attenuation of rain-, storm water or run-off from sewage plants.

With DRAINMAX, rain or storm water can be directly retained at the source and either infiltrate into the ground or attenuated and slowly released into the storm water or sewage system. Therefore easing the pressure on the pipework during high rainfall events.

The system can be completely cleaned thus no loss of infiltration capacity or silting up.

 Huge storage capacity (1600 ltr/segment), minimum space requirement and quick installation of the DRAINMAX Tunnel are a few advantages of the system.

For more information: www.aloaqua.co.nz

or email: [email protected]

Water stewardship is an extremely important aspect of good environmental practice for hotels. Many use reduced flow and flush in bathrooms, but how many are recycling water?

Water re-use is becoming core to many companies’ sustainability efforts and it’s never been more important.  Freshwater withdrawals have increased globally by about 1% per year since the 1980s (UN, 2016) and it is estimated that water scarcity now affects 40% of the global population (CAWMA, 2007).  Even in the UK some areas are reporting difficulties in meeting demand.

Hotels often do a lot to manage water consumption. Low flow taps and showers or aerators, reduced flush toilets or no flush urinals, sensor activation and good housekeeping practices all help to reduce the amount of water per guest, per room and per stay. But, even with these measures many guests admit to using much water during a hotel stay than they would at home, and in some water scarce areas, the difference in consumption between a hotel guest and the local population can be up to 20 times and dozens of litres.

Anything hotels can do to better manage their water consumption is a good thing, but how many look at recycling water?

Significant water consumption savings can be made from re-use initiatives. Rainwater harvesting can reduce mains water consumption by up to 30% whereas greywater recycling can save as much as 40%. Aside from lower metered water bills, companies can also benefit from reduced risks of storm water flooding, decreased sewerage charges and lower energy costs associated with water supply.

Last month on World Water Day Waterscan unveiled its next generation range of greywater recycling and rainwater harvesting technologies. The new water re-use solutions offer commercial organisations a variety of cost-efficient, reliable and highly effective options to help achieve their sustainability goals.

Claire Yeates, a Director at Waterscan said: “Many companies are aware of the benefits of water re-use but are naturally concerned about payback times and the potential operational impacts of installing new technologies. Add to this reliability issues from early-to-market systems and it’s easy to see why widescale uptake of water recycling has been hindered. We firmly believe that greywater recycling and rainwater harvesting can play a significant role in many company’s water strategies and that is why we are bringing new best-in-class technology to market.”

The various water recycling systems have been developed to give greater system design flexibility in line with customer priorities and requirements, plus a 30% faster return on investment. Waterscan systems now feature:

• Multiple tiered redundancy to ensure complete integrity of supply.
• Built-in telemetry which transmits system data and live diagnostics for preventative maintenance.
• Siemens smart user interface for usage data and enhanced system monitoring.
• Variable speed, load sharing pumps, insulation and slow close valves for an even quieter operation.
• Low energy components so the system can produce 1m3 using just 1.5Kw/h energy.
• A smaller system footprint which reduces installation costs and impact on building footprint.

Barry Millar, Operations Director at Waterscan, said, “Our new water re-use systems are now designed and largely built in the UK using modular components. This enables us to meet clients’ exact specifications in line with individual business strategies and site requirements. Our complete service involving design, supply installation and maintenance of water-saving systems, along with our consultative approach, gives us a unique ability to deliver optimum results across varied client property portfolios. All of this means that our clients will benefit from a faster return on investment and still have complete confidence in their operations.”

Greywater Recycling in Action at Premier Inn

In partnership with its client Premier Inn, Waterscan installed a greywater recycling system in water-scarce Abu Dhabi. The initiative is vastly reducing mains water consumption, saving an average of 735,000 litres (24%) of mains water each month - 60 litres per guest. Over the course of a year, this is the equivalent of 110,000 baths. 100% of toilet flushing at the hotel now uses recycled water.

Greywater Recycling

Greywater recycling captures the water used for showering or bathing and, after treatment through an ultra-filtration membrane system, is fed back into the property for non-potable purposes such as flushing toilets, irrigation and laundry.

• Greywater Recycling Batch System: where low energy consumption is a priority and there is physical space for a larger system footprint, this low pressure filtration method takes a little longer but uses less energy in the process.
• Greywater Recycling On-Demand System: where space saving and a faster return on investment are priorities, this high pressure approach delivers rapid ultrafiltration and therefore requires less tank storage and correspondingly reduced installation costs.

Rainwater Harvesting

Rainwater is collected, filtered and fed back into the property through a robust treatment system ensuring that only the cleanest water is utilised for non-potable purposes like vehicle washing, toilet flushing and irrigation.  A rainwater harvesting system is suitable for all commercial applications where there is adequate roof space to harvest sufficient water to achieve a good return on investment.

Hoteliers, developers and consultants  interested in learning more about water conservation can contact us on:

[email protected]  

or call us on +64 3 2600 589

Hotels.

Water is the basis for the entire biosphere. Ponds, rivers, lakes, wetlands, and oceans are the habitat for myriad plants and animals and are a key component of the ecosystem. Groundwater is one of our main source of drinking water and a habitat. We use water for our food, daily hygiene, and recreational activities. Water also plays a key economic role as an energy source, transportation medium and raw material.

Efficient protection and conservation of water resources are crucially important for biodiversity and sustainable use.

www.aloaqua.co.nz

Rainwater Harvesting - replaces municipal water with clean , soft and free rainwater.

Greywater Reuse - slightly contaminated water from the bathroom (shower, tub, sink) and washing machine to reuse for toilet flushing, irrigation and cleaning purpose.

Non-potable water from Septic Tanks - recycling of run-off from a septic system for toilet flushing and irrigation.

Adiabatic Cooling - with rainwater much of the energy to cool buildings and cost for water softeners can be saved.

more info under:          www.aloaqua.co.nz

Rainwater Harvesting - utilize rainwater from the roof and store in tanks for use inside and outside the home.

Greywater Recycling - treat water from the bathroom (showers, baths and sink) to reuse for flushing toilets, the washing machine and irrigation. A well designed Greywater Recycling System can save up to 40% of potable water and also sewage - you use water twice!

Adopt Water Wise habits - change the way you use water and use efficient products and appliances.

- Look for water efficient units when you buy a new:

• Dishwasher
• Washing machine
• Toilets
• taps and shower heads

- Habits

• you'll save over 425 liter a month by spending 2 minutes less in the shower
• plug the bathtub before turning the water on, then adjust the temperature
• a family of 4 can save 94 liters/ week by turning off the tap while brushing the teeth
• turn the water off while you shampoo and condition hair can save more than 180 liters a week
• run the dishwasher only when it is full
• don't use running water to thaw food

much more can be done in and around the hose to be more water efficient, just have a look at your water consumption and have a think about it.

Rainwater harvesting (also called roof-water harvesting or - collection) involves the collection, storage and distribution from the roof, for use inside and outside the home or business.

How can Rainwater be used? 

For most rural communities rainwater is the only supply of water for human consumption, around 15% of New Zealanders rely on it for all requirements - drinking, cooking, bathing, laundry, toilet flushing through to watering the garden. This also applies for other communities around the world.

Nowadays, even when mains or reticulated water supplies are available to communities, many people choose to use rainwater that is collected from the roof and stored in tanks to supply their water requirements.

Rainwater is an ideal source for our water requirements and momentum behind rainwater harvesting is building.

Rainwater is a safe and sustainable water supply.

Rainwater that is captured and stored correctly is a safe, economical and sustainable source of quality water. Safety measures can be applied to the manner in which rainwater is captured, stored and dispensed. In fact some people argue that rainwater is safer than water supplied through mains or reticulated water systems.

Mains water is typically stored in buffer-tanks or dams, treated with chemicals such as chlorine or fluoride to kill of bacteria and make it "safe", and then pumped through a network of pipes throughout the community.

It makes sense to catch the rain that falls for free without chemicals.

Main benefits of using Rainwater.

Significant economic, social and environmental benefits can be achieved by using rainwater.

By using a Rainwater Harvesting System to supply water for some, or indeed all of your requirements, you can reduce you dependence on mains water. Our water supplies and qualities are falling and water restrictions are in place in many communities to reduce our overall water usage and protect our supplies.

There is no better quality water available naturally then rainwater, Some say there are health benefits by using rainwater which is not treated with chemicals like most of our water is.

Rainwater falls for free - once you have installed a Rainwater Harvesting System, you use less mains water and can reduce tour water bills. City - and Regional Councils will increase water prices as they look to recover the true costs of providing water to the community.

The cost to the community to supply mains or reticulated water services is becoming more expensive every year. The construction of dams, pipes, and treatment plants is huge and ultimately as tax and rate-payers, we foot this cost.

Rainwater Harvesting reduces the significant dame to our creeks , water habitats and organisms caused by stormwater runoff.

Systems and products for Rainwater Harvesting.

ALOAQUA Ltd.   designs, supplies and installs a range of rainwater harvesting products and systems. From garden irrigation to micro filtration, using proven technology from Germany.

Tanks have arrived on site and have been craned into their position.

Another AQUALOOP combined Greywater Recycling and Rainwater Harvesting System in Christchurch pretty soon. 

At the same time, rainwater harvesting is not new. In fact, it has been practiced for many centuries: it is the collection and storage of rainwater for multiple use services. overall, it can be used for domestic purposes like flushing the toilet, washing and drinking or productive activities like irrigation. (Click Here)

Rainwater harvesting is a sustainable alternative to other water supply options. It is economically viable, socially compatible and environmentally friendly.

Water harvesting reduces pressure on ground and surface-water sources and it can replenish groundwater sources. In the light of climate change and increasing pressure on natural resources, rainwater harvesting can play a significant role in reducing and overcoming water scarcity. ( Click Here )

Do you want to know what the potential of rainwater harvesting can be in your building project?

Do you want to learn more about different rainwater harvesting technologies? (Click Here)

Contact Martin Pfaff at [email protected]

Have you ever wondered whether or not it's safe to drink rain water? The short answer is: Yes!

Here's a look at when it's not safe to drink rain water,  and what you can do to make it safer for human consumption.

When You Shouldn't Drink Rain Water

Rain passes through the atmosphere before falling to the ground, so it can pick up any contaminants in the air. Now most of NZ is pretty safe in regards to contaminants, but it's not a great idea to drink rain water falling near chemical plants or near the plumes of power plants, paper mills, etc.

Rain Water That Is Safe for Drinking

Most rain water is safe to drink. Actually, rain water is the water supply for much of the world's population and around 15 - 20% of New Zealander are relying on it.

The levels of pollution, pollen, mold, and other contaminants are low -- possibly lower than your public drinking water supply. Keep in mind, rain does pick up low levels of bacteria as well as dust and occasional insect parts, so you may want to treat rain water before drinking it.

Making Rain Water Safe

Roof

If you intend to build, select a roofing and gutter material that is neutral, non toxic and easy to clean. If you have an existing roof have a look at it and your gutter, a painted roof could leach out toxic components, asbestos is a no go. More info regarding roofs available from the following website:  http://www.level.org.nz/water/water-supply/mains-or-rainwater/harvesting-rainwater/

Filtration and Water Treatment

We recommend to pre-filter the rainwater before it enters the tank. Leaves and coarse particles will be hold back, thus minimizing the build-up of sediment on the bottom of the tank. A calmed inlet to avoid that the incoming rainwater is disturbing the sediment is also a must.

  PURAIN PR100 Rainwater Filter

A ultra filtration system treats the water further and ensures that the treated rainwater is safe for consumption.

AQUALOOP Water Treatment System

Eliminates 99.9999% of all bacteria and 99.7 of all viruses, 0.2 micron filter (0.0002mm), life expectancy 10 years.

The AQUALOOP System was tested by Rainwater Harvesting Centre at Massey University in Wellington. No e-coli and coliform passed the filter even with high amounts of them.

In general is it easy to make your rainwater potable, we have the right knowledge and gear for it. Having a system like this ensures that you have a water supply that is without chemicals, bacteria and available in emergency situations.

More info under:

https://aloaqua.co.nz/collections/rainwater-harvesting-systems

Capturing rainwater and reusing (treated) greywater will save the owner not only potable water and sewage charges but is also better for the plants they intend to water with it. Benefits for the council are less stress on their infrastructure (storm water, potable water and sewage), less maintenance and less expenses.

This is what we wanted regarding water use in the city. What happened?

Water

Grey water and stormwater collection systems and re-use should be incorporated into new building design. 

• Make use of grey water.
• “Grey-water functions as compulsory for all new high-density buildings in the CBD.”
• “Think more than Central City. All new houses should have solar water heating; & rainwater and/or greywater tanks for toilet and garden use.”
• “Grey-water can be used and black water further broken down.”
• “Spacious with balcony and roof garden everywhere using recycle waste water.”
• “I want each house to have a minimum of a 1000-litre drinking water tank, a 30,000-litre tank for garden use, shared between 2 or 3 houses.”
  
  
• Make use of stormwater and rainwater.
• “Small rain-gardens behind the kerb to capture some stormwater and provide ‘green pockets’.”
• “Should also contain gardens of some sort so that when it rains then excess water would drain through the garden and can be stored to irrigate those gardens when needed, but to also be used to fill toilets cisterns, etc…”
• “Allow people to store rainwater – this will reduce the peaks of flooding and droughts.”
• “Water collected from roofs for garden watering and green lawns.”

SOURCE: http://www.ccc.govt.nz/assets/Documents/The-Council/Plans-Strategies-Policies-Bylaws/Plans/central-city/CentralCityPlanTechnicalAppendicesA-D.pdf#page=3

Christchurch’s rivers are the lowest they’ve been in several decades, records show.

Several of the city’s waterways dried up earlier this year, upsetting residents. Months later, some streams remain low and will likely dry up again next year if rain does not arrive.

Environment Canterbury’s (ECan) Christchurch-West Melton zone committee met with the Christchurch City Council on Tuesday to give a monthly report on its work in greater Christchurch.

Recordings from the headwaters of the Avon, Heathcote and Styx rivers showed they were at their lowest levels in 20 to 30 years, the committee said.

Tributaries such as the Waimairi and Wai-Iti streams near Fendalton dried up completely earlier this year. Water levels had dropped in the past, but not to the same extent.

The Christchurch-West Melton zone was one of the “luckier zones”, the committee said, as most of the inflow into the aquifer north-west of the city came from the Waimakariri River. The rest came from rainfall recharge.

ECan surface water science manager Tim Davie said last month’s rainfall levels were “well below” average in the city and groundwater was at a record low.

“To get the amount of groundwater recharge for streams not to dry up next summer we need a very wet late winter and spring.”

Fish and Game North Canterbury manager Rod Cullinane said his organisation was concerned about the low water levels and did not believe low rainfall was the issue.

“We are very much of the view that there’s got to be some link between what we’re seeing in the lack of water in the inner city streams and the irrigation draw off in inland Canterbury,” he said.

“We do not accept ECan’s reasoning that it is simply the result of a lack of rainfall.”

Cullinane, who is running in ECan’s election in October, said he wanted to know why the regional council did not take rainfall levels into account when granting water usage consents.

Climate changes had increased pressure on water supplies, but urbanisation and city water demand took the greatest toll on the city’s waterways, University of Canterbury professor Bryan Jenkins said.

“The more we take out for the Christchurch water supply, the less that will be in the Avon, Heathcote and Styx rivers.”

Jenkins said infrastructure such as roads and roofs prevented stormwater from infiltrating groundwater and recharging aquifers.

He suggested that for streams such as the Waimairi, local solutions could include changing the city’s approach to drainage infrastructure.

Older infrastructure sent stormwater to surface water, preventing recharge of the waterways.

He said caps or regulation on water usage needed to be put in place to decrease pressure on river headwaters.

“The drying reaches of the Waimairi and Wai-iti streams illustrate the complexity of our water resources and the need for both local and regional approaches to their management.”

 – Stuff

Harvesting rainwater has long been the norm in rural areas that reticulated water doesn’t reach, yet it’s still not common in New Zealand’s urban areas. We lag far behind Australia, where drought and pressure on water supply are motivating changes in household water use and government subsidies for rainwater collection. More than half of Adelaide households have rainwater tanks for example.

There’s a lot to consider about how you harvest rainwater. But for urban households already connected to reticulated water, first you need to consider why you might do that.

Water security

Your family needs water to survive an emergency. That’s the single most compelling reason to have some means to harvest rainwater. Urban water researcher Martin Payne lives in Wellington city, where water comes from Kaitoke in the Hutt Valley. “The pipeline is about 45 km long and it crosses a major fault line three times. In an earthquake, it is very likely the network will be significantly affected. It may be years before some houses can be connected to the water network again.”

How much water do you need in an emergency? Some guidelines say three liters per person per day, but that’s the absolute bare minimum for short-term survival, says Martin. WHO guidelines call for 20–40 liters. 

A four-person household may need at least 80 liters of water per day. “That’s 80 kilosyou have to transport, every day, in whatever containers you have available,” warns Martin. “In my opinion, that’s what will drive half the population out of the city following an emergency.”

Water conservation

Harvesting rainwater from your own roof is a way to get around water restrictions applied by local bodies in many parts of the country. Many local bodies have introduced water meters, so reducing your use of town supply will save money on water charges.

However, there are bigger issues that go beyond a simple dollar calculation. “City surfaces are increasingly impermeable, so rainwater becomes stormwater and it’s shed quickly,” says Martin. High volumes are released quickly into urban streams, disturbing the ecosystem and reducing water quality.

There’s a lot of infrastructure and cost involved in treating reticulated water to drinking water quality – but very little of that water is used for drinking. Much of it is used to flush toilets.

Martin’s modelling suggests that a  household with a modest 1000–3000 liter rainwater tank (plumbed to the laundry, toilet and outside taps), combined with reasonably efficient water use, could still halve its use of potable water.

Water quality

Rainwater may be preferable to town supply in places where reticulated water is poor quality. And some organic gardeners prefer to use rainwater rather than chlorinated town water on their gardens.

How to harvest Rainwater

When you intend to build a new home, include it right from the start. Certain sized tanks require a building consent. You also require a consent when you intend to use the rainwater for secondary use (toilet flushing and/or washing machine) or primary use (shower and so on), as the required plumbing and drainage has to be consented. The work has to be done by a registered plumber and drain-layer.

If you don’t have the funds for rainwater harvesting in your budget at least future proof your house. Thus installation is far cheaper and easier in the future if you are able to do so.

The degree of water treatment (filter, UV, etc.) depends on the enduse and also on the area you are living in (trees, birds).