Rain Water Collection Filtration System?
We are in the middle of designing a rain water collection system for a commercial building that includes:
1. a 2500 gallon in ground tank
2. 1/2 hp submersable well pump
3.simple float valve to maintain minimum water level during drought
What we are trying to figure out is to exclude purchasing a complicated expensive store bought filtration system we were trying as we always do to keep things simple. we have to provide sometype of secondary filtration system to aereate the water as well as clean it in order to run to our toilets.
Whatwould be wrong with using a small pool filter set in a 1 hour a day cycle that would provide oxygen to the water ? Also we were looking at using one of the floating chlorine tablet holders like a pool would use to maybe kill any pathegons that would be in it.
We realize this is too simple to not have some down side so all opinions and help would be greatly appreciatted.
Discussions
8 years ago
You want the tank in/on the roof, with a mains (float-valve) feed at let's say 25% capacity. Flush-toilets ought to drain enough volume that you wouldn't need to condition the water. If the tank runs low it fills (to 25%) from the mains.
?
L
Answer 8 years ago
This tank would be under ground thus the reason for the 1/2 hp pump . the plan is to simply use the pump to supply toilets irrigation of the flower beds or any other purpose we can come up with. We are thinking exactly the same on the float valve 25 % . This woudl allow any particles that escape the filtration to seddle to the bottom. Thanks for your response.
Answer 8 years ago
Settle it BEFORE you filter it. Use a weir system
I think I'd
a.) Make sure its DARK in the tank
b.) Aerate it gently.
c.) Make the tank as sealed as possible from insect life.
Answer 8 years ago
yes the tank and all hoses are dark and sealed. I will just drop back and keep it aerated and go with it . thanks alot
8 years ago
I would be completely flabbergasted if any building official or health department would approve a system like that for your stated purpose.
Answer 8 years ago
NC signed a bill last week allowing rain water to flush toilets in efforts to reduce demand of potable water. Now we are not drinking the water and the only use will be toilets and irrigation , but i have concerns about providing some oxygen and further filtering . Just d not want the water to turninto "Gray water" and havea odor.
8 years ago
If you ain't drinking it, and it looks clear, and you store it in the dark, and you are only using it for toilets, you don't care about pathogens.
Answer 8 years ago
Nc hwere i lived just passed a bill to allow toilets to be flushed from rain water. My only concern is that if the water in the tank become stagnate . i visisted a house once that had 12 people living in it and the toilets flushed with ran water. They use a lot more water than i would. That is my only concern adn only reason for even circulating it. Thansk fo rthe response
8 years ago
. There is no need to inject Oxygen into the water, simple aeration should do the job.
. As others have mentioned, if you don't plan on drinking the water, it doesn't have to be all that clean or sterile. You may need to do some disinfecting to keep the smell from getting objectionable.
. Investigate aquarium undergravel filters and other sand and/or gravel filters if you really need to do some filtration.
8 years ago
If you only need to flush with it then I see no reason to do much more than filter large particles out - a sand/gravel filter should do that.
8 years ago
Buildings that have exposed water collectors or roof cooler systems like SF
city hall handle 2 to 5 amps DC in each water to each tower and these
consumable 4 conductors are 8" long 2" wide 1/4" thick each. and must be
reverse polorised every hour. Water collecting roof tops also collect dust
of meteors in space that disintegrate in our atmosphere and dust to get in
the sludge which can be resold.
A