A Greywater Recycling Systems, like the AQUALOOP System for example, can produce hygienic and clean water from shower, tub and bathroom sink, which can be reused.
(image: BRANZ)
The potential saving by recycling greywater can be up to 40% of potable water in a domestic environment. The AQUALOOP is not only saving potable water, but also sewage, as water which normally will be discharged into the sewer system will be reused, therefore saving twice.
The modular system can be used for small domestic dwellings and for commercial projects.
The AQUALOOP system has a NSF and BS certification, the only system that has achieved it so far.
It works with a tertiary treatment:
- coarse filtration
- aerated treatment
- membrane filtration (membrane life expectancy up to 10 years)
and eliminates 99.9999% of all bacteria and 99.7% of all viruses.
More info from:
Aloaqua Ltd
email: [email protected]
web: www.aloaqua.co.nz
]]>We promote the reuse of Greywater for over 5 years now. Our system AQUALOOP has NSF and BS certification. Our system was consented and installed in AUCKLAND, CHRISTCHURCH, TAURANGA, QUEENSTOWN LAKES DISTRICT, TAUPO, INVERCARGILL etc and the treated greywater can be used for spray irrigation.
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
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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
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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.
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Bathroom greywater from shower, tub and sink is collected in a 500 ltr tank, treated via the AQUALOOP system, transferred into a 500 ltr clear water tank and reused for flushing toilets and irritation when required. Thus saving on precious potable water.
Installed in the enclosure is the pumping unit RAINMASTER ECO, AQUALOOP Blower and the AQUALOOP controller. 2 x 500 ltr tanks are installed behind the enclosure.
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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]
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Christchurch water charges to be considered next year
Gardening is a major user of water, particularly in the Garden City.
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.
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.
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.
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