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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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
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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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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
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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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]
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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.
]]>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:
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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:
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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.
- Peter Harbour, PhD, and Robyn Overall, PhD, CJ Arms and Associates
- How is water used? - Dr Lee Bint (BRANZ Sustainable Building Scientist)
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Beside Rainwater Harvesting- and Utilization Systems, Greywater Recycling Systems gain more and more importance. The AQUALOOP System for example produces hygienic and clean water from from shower, tub and bathroom sink, which can be reused for flushing toilets, washing machine or irrigation.
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.
Sample of an AQUALOOP system for a motel, hotel or apartment block.
The modular system can be used for small domestic dwellings (~6 persons) up to medium sized commercial projects (up to 200 persons).
The AQUALOOP system has a NSF 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.
The modular system can be used for small domestic dwellings (~6 persons) up to medium sized commercial projects (up to 200 persons).
More info from:
Aloaqua Ltd
email: [email protected]
web: www.aloaqua.co.nz
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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:
or call us on +64 3 2600 589
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Sprawling cities gave way to the built up of waste, including dirty water. At first, cities were able to control the water going through the drains, but that is changing. Wastewater is a lot grittier and contains more contaminants than ever before. Water is still one of the earth’s most precious commodities, making it imperative that serious changes are implemented regarding how wastewater is treated.
Recycling Greywater from Showers for secondary use is easy and safe with the right system. www.aloaqua.co.nz
Our system has a tertiary treatment, coarse filtration, biological treatment (aeration) and membrane filtration (0.2 micron).
