Graywater a possible aid to ending potable water shortage

In many parts of the country and throughout the world, clean, drinkable (potable) water is an expensive natural resource. In the hardest-hit areas, the west and southwest of the United States, some communities are experiencing their seventh straight year of drought conditions.

The availability of drinkable water is summed up nicely in a 1998 report funded by the US Environmental Protection Agency: “Water Efficiency, National Small Flows Clearinghouse.” This report gives an overview on the worldwide and US availability of water. The report concludes, “Although most of the earth is covered with water, only one percent of that water is actually potable. In spite of its importance, potable water is often taken for granted. For many people, fresh water is as close as their faucet… [However,] with the growing shortage of fresh water supplies in many parts of the US, particularly in cases of drought, it has become essential to find ways to conserve water and use it efficiently.”

The situation is becoming so severe that in many arid areas of the west, southwest and elsewhere, water rationing and fines are imposed on individuals and institutions that exceed allowable limits of fresh water consumption.

As recently as October 30, 2006, the Santa Fe, NM, Water Resource Department has placed Stage 3 Water Emergency Rules on water usage that most of us take for granted, including the prohibition of washing vehicles at residences, a one-day-per-week outdoor watering restriction and a complete restriction on the planting of new turf seed or sod for lawns.

To put some teeth into these water conservation measures, fines are imposed for violations, starting with a $20 fine for the first violation and a $200 fine for a fourth and subsequent violation of water conservation rules.

Many utilities in the west and southwest, including Denver, CO, are spending money on water conservation, as is Las Vegas, which reported spending $24.8 million on water conservation efforts in 2004.

Regional droughts and burgeoning population centers in areas with inadequate water supplies ultimately compel an inevitable conclusion: much of water usage is wasteful and solutions need to be found for water conservation and reuse. Currently, all the water used in homes and buildings is potable and drinkable, resulting in massive quantities of water that are literally flushed down the drain.

How residents use water was explained in detail in a study commissioned by the US Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Water in March of 1999.

For example:

• About 74 percent of home water usage is in the bathroom.

• About two gallons of water are used to brush teeth.

• Flushing a toilet requires two to seven gallons of water.

• A ten-minute shower can take 25 to 50 gallons of water.

Does it really make sense to use drinking water for all water needs in the home? One key area in the home where potable water is unnecessary is the toilet. A system that captures the water from the bathroom sink then filters and treats the water to acceptable standards and uses it to flush the toilet would be extremely valuable to communities experiencing drought conditions.

A system like the Aqus, created by WaterSaver Technologies, LLC, could save a single residence 5,000 to 6,000 gallons of fresh water per year. And, by reusing wastewater, each homeowner could enjoy an additional economic benefit from lower wastewater bills.

The Aqus system takes the “graywater” (non-industrial wastewater) from the bathroom sink, filters and disinfects the water and uses it to flush the toilet, saving the fresh water that is normally used. The system has two parts: the fill control unit, which effectively clips onto the back of the owner’s toilet and holds the fill valve in the off position as long as reused water is available, and the vanity tank, which disinfects, filters and stores the reused water until it is needed to fill the toilet. The fill control unit and vanity tank together comprise the Aqus system. The device is low-maintenance, low-cost and highly effective.

A brief demonstration video and other interesting information about the Aqus system, along with its cost, can be found at http://www.WaterSaverTech.com.

Courtesy: Home Improvement News and Information Center