[s.hughes]

Hi fellers
I havent got one of these pole systems but have always thought how expensive it would be on a water meter (which I havent got but we all will have one day). After reading the topics on this site (excellent topics, great help) I have found that when the water is filtered there is a lot of waste that goes down the drain. Now my thought is, can the waste water be drained into a large container and then filtered through again so as to reduce the waste and save money?
Also it may be hassle but what about the saving of rain water in a water butt and filter that? I dont know much about the filter I think it works on pressure so there may not be enough pressure to refilter the waste. Can any of you guys let me know.
Cheers
Steveyboy

[matt]

i use 100 - 150 L's a day, thus with wasteage i use 400 L's a day, its not that much

[Ian Rochester]

Matt, that seems quite high, your system is only operating at a 1:3 ratio.  When I was at the show yesterday Andrews Water were talking about the Merlin/Rhombus Wizard operating at a 1:1 ratio.

I also had a chat with Outreach and they were saying that their waste on a van mount system was only 15% of total usage, ie to make 1000 ltr of pure would only need 1150 ltrs of tap!!

I wonder if I have picked him up wrong?

[AuRavelling79]

I'm no expert but I think that the "better" the ratio (1:1 being better then 1:3) the more resin you use - so there is a trade off?

[Ian_Giles]

I kind of agree with Malc, might be wrong of course, but it seems that the purer the water that is made from the R/O, the higher the waste produced.

The extra cost generated by being on a meter is not that espensive, it's just a running cost that will add a few pence to each account, tax deductable too

Ian

[s.hughes]

I hear what your all saying but can the waste water be stored and then re-filtered?

Steveyboy

[Ian_Giles]

Your waste water will have far higer TDS readings, every succesive litre of re-purified waste water will become further contanimated. And you would need to power a pump to push it through your membranes. Think of all the water Butts you will need.
Money for a pump + running costs.
Money for water butt or butts rather, as you will need somewhere to store the waste water from the waste water you are trying to purify
What effect is this going to have on the life span of your membranes?
An awful lot of faffing around to try and cut possibly £20 or £30 quid of your water bill.
I don't think it is worth doing.

Ian

[s.hughes]

Thanks Ian that is what I was thinking. I did think the pressure would have been a problem. Its a shame to let so much water go to waste as at the moment I only need one bucket a day to keep me going.
Cheers
Steveyboy

[matt]

i am having a guess that my RO produces 1:3 (it was at the cheaper end of the scale, thus i am guessing the trade off in price is poorer output ration)

it might be 1 : 2 though

In the Summer MY waste water is stored in a Rainwater butt downthe side of my house and used to water the lawn and flowers (which we would do anyway, thus a little saved )

[Jeff Brimble]

One of the Aussies asked about re use of water, cause its dear over there we eventually came up with a novel suggestion of using a tucker or 2 stage process  to wash the dirt and dust (they get a lot of dust)with the waste water then rinse with the RO.

[marc al]

 I am on a water meter and the cost is very small at 89pence/cubic metre (1000l)

[Balvindaa]

Hi there mate I live in nottingham and am on a water meter where do you live ? shall be using my new system next week hopefully .Just worried about the cost .So you pay .89pence for 1000litres

[tightswerve]

I Have a meter but no one can answer my question?

Can I take it out? /can water board remove it and how much?

Steve 

[matt]

I Have a meter but no one can answer my question?

Can I take it out? /can water board remove it and how much?

Steve 

thats a NO

the gov / water boards are commited to getting EVERYONE on a meter

[Gordon Watson]

South West Water allows you to revert back to the flat rate, but only within the first 12 months of being on a meter. Additionally, in the event than you sell the house the house becomes perminently metered.

Gordon

[AuRavelling79]

Yes, Gordon, that's how it works here in Bristol.

Families like mine (5 per 3 - bed house) like not being on a meter - my Mum (living alone - 3 bed house) understandably went for a meter. If she moves to a granny flat and the house is sold to a family they're stuck with the meter.

With the demographics of an aging population, eventually the vast majority will be metered. Seems fair to me even tho' in my present circumstances I wouldn't benefit financially.