Jug of Plenty- Automatic Filling Water Jug

Intro: Jug of Plenty- Automatic Filling Water Jug

If you're like me, you too are frustrated by having to fill a water bottle or glass to have in the bedroom or office. Well, look no further, because this Instructable describes how you can run a clean water line all around your house with some very basic tools.

What's more, you can easily have a jug full of water which refills every time you use it, making sure

1. You have some potable water in emergencies
2. The flow rate is high when you pour water out of the jug

I'd like for you to seriously consider the idea of running a water line in your house, it's really no more difficult or intrusive than an ethernet cable. So, let's get to business!

STEP 1: Turn Off the Water Supply

You'll need some place to access the main water line. Probably the easiest place to do this is under the bathroom or kitchen sink. So, first turn off the water valve by rotating in clockwise, so that you can go on to detach the water hose.

STEP 2: Detach the Existing Water Hose

You'll need an adjustable wrench to detach the existing hose. It's also a good idea to place a tray under the valve, to catch any water in the hose.

STEP 3: Add the Water Line Splitter

The water line splitter (also called T splitter) will allow water to flow up to the tap as usual, but also fork a supply line to the 1/4" water line.

STEP 4: Attach a Valve on 1/4" Line

The first thing we connect to the 1/4" line should be a valve so that we can turn off water to the whole 1/4" line if needed. Thankfully, this is very easy with 'push to connect'. Just attach a small section of pipe to the valve by pushing it in and then push connect the other end of the line to the T-splitter.

STEP 5: Attaching the Water Filter(optional)

The water filter can be mounted with the provided screws and mount. The inlet of the filter is connected to the 1/4" valve using a section of 1/4" pipe. Pay special attention to the arrow marking direction of flow on the filter.

STEP 6: Clean the Filter(optional)

The filter contains activated charcoal or carbon black. By letting a few gallons of water wash through the filter, the loose carbon is flushed out. This only needs to be done once with a new filter.

STEP 7: Run the Water Line

Now, you have a clean water supply in 1/4" pipe. You can route it to wherever you need in the house. The pipe can be bent and inserted through walls if needed. I used 6mm cable clips to direct the line along the wall.

While drilling through walls, please use extreme caution to avoid electrical and load bearing walls. When you're not sure if you should be drilling through a wall, assume that you shouldn't!

STEP 8: Jug of Plenty-1

Because we're filtering the water, the water flow rate will reduce significantly. So, it can take several seconds to fill up a glass, which is unacceptable! The jug of plenty solves this problem by providing a local reservoir which can fill a glass in a few seconds.

To start with this, we puncture a hole in the jug lid and attach a threaded valve connector to it.

STEP 9: Jug of Plenty-2

The float switch is connected to bottom of the lid, and a valve is connected to the top as shown in the pictures above.

STEP 10: That's All!

Now, just connect your clean water line to the valve on the jug and that's it! Once you open the valve, the jug should start filling and automatically stop once the float switch lifts up.

WARNING!! Relying on the float switch alone can be a water leak risk if the switch fails. I tend to close the manual valve out of habit, and the float switch is more of a safety in case I forget to close it. If you have thoughts on how to make the system safer, I'd love to hear them!

You can now enjoy unlimited water without ever having to carry water around!

Comments

[charlessenf-gm]

When, first I looked at this, I thought the jug was inside a refrigerator and teh water line was tapped into the line that fed the "Water in the door" & Automatic Ice Maker features. As I looked at the assembly, realized all the white was in a bathroom!

Back to my idea. Tapping into the fridge plumbing (T-fitting and valve) allows you to maintain an Everjug (tm) of "cool" cool water that has been filtered through the filter in the fridge.

Nice work BTW. Good sourcing of parts. Somewhat inspirational, as well.

One caveat before you plumb your abode for an Everjug in every room, consider what would be the result were one installed in a bedroom, say, and the valve failed whilst you were out shopping all day.

[tinkrmind]

Thanks for the praise! I love your refrigerator idea. I'm planning to do that as well, because the refrigerator tap is soooo sloooow, haha. Would love to see photos of your build!

Thanks for bringing up the water leak risk. I might not have taken it seriously enough, I'll add a warning.

[charlessenf-gm]

Ah, right, if the fridge already has Water in the door . . . There I go again - inventing something perfected by others long ago.
However, if it only had an Ice-maker in the freezer . . . you could tap into that line and do your project in the fridge side and jet cold water faster.

[stozier]

Love this project. Just having a bit of bother as there seems to be a part missing from the kit.
In the picture of you holding the lid with the float assembly attached, you have a connector between the float assembly and the tank ball valve. Any advice as to a source?
Hope to see a reply soon

[jon_chalk]

Well documented. Easy to follow. I may even try to get an adapter to connect to outside tap to have same thing in back yard or even in a motor home, camping or picnic sites that have water access. There are many possibilities. Great instructable. Just a note. Periodically clean the tube of gunk that buildup.

[tinkrmind]

Thanks so much! I intend to look into the gunk buildup. The filter right off the main supply definitely helps a lot. An easy way to clear the gunk in the pipes might be to put a bit of sponge in the tube and let the water run till the sponge clears out. I'll add a step when I try it out.

[PhotoJoeCA]

That's cool but . . . what everyone really wants to know is where you got one of these glass vessels with a tap that doesn't leak. Over the last few years if bought (and returned) half a dozen different ones that all leaked (either from the tap itself or the interface of the tap to the glass jar.)

[tinkrmind]

Oh, interesting. I bought the cheapest one from Ikea: https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/vardagen-jar-with-tap...
Been pretty good so far.

[jeanniel1]

It seems this model (link) is available in Belfast. I tried finding one by the IKEAs nearby but no go. Maybe I'll check out Walmart as suggested below.

[PhilS43]

Tape (PTFE), or washer (silicone), or 'O' ring (silicone or synthetic) between the tap flange (external) and the glass.

The tap looks like quarter turn so might have a couple of 'O' rings to seal.
Silicone gresae might help, and if there is a gland, PTFE tape usually fixes it.

[charlessenf-gm]

Walmart - they call it an Ice Tea Dispenser/Jug

[Pa1963]

I'd be kind of hinky about installing this in the bathrrom due to the (admittedly remote) possiblilty of contamination.

[ScienceDiscoverer]

I will combine this with my automatic H2O delivery system which will fill the glass to a set amount of millilitres at the right time, so that H2O consumption is evenly spread out throughout the day. This will make a perfect H2O delivery system.

[losman]

Nicely done! I am planning on following these steps, but for a countertop ice maker.

[tinkrmind]

Would love to see photos!!

[charlessenf-gm]

Maybe salvage an ice maker from an old fridge to start?

[michaelnelson]

Like it! I would highly recommend you leave the jar over some kind of drain, because eventually that float value WILL fail (ask me how I know...).

[tinkrmind]

Yeah, that's a smart move. I tend to close the valve above the jar out of habit, so the float valve is more of a safety.