Water Softeners and Air Filtration Systems - R.O. waist water

I,ve been working as a service tech for Commers water for about 5 mounths. Ive been thinking alot about the amount of waist water to R.O. water systems make.Im not sure the correct amount, but think its like 3:1 or more. What I want to know is if there is a way to recycle the waist water or have any ideas. Thanks Kevin

There a couple of things you can do to conserve waste water from an RO. The easiest way is to take the drain line and lead it to a five-gallon bucket or bottle. Just let it drain and keep an eye on it so that it doesn't overflow.

Use this water to water plants, flush toilets, rinse items, feed pets, etc.

As for the 3:1 waste water,you are right with soem RO systems. Others can waste as much as 10:1 or as little as 2:1.

What I want to know is if there is a way to recycle the waist water or have any ideas. Thanks Kevin

Kevin,

There is this retro fit option ...

http://www.wattspremier.com/watts/showdetl.cfm?&DID=15&Product_ID=121&CATID=1
http://www.wattspremier.com/premier/manuals/Zero-Waste-Retrofit-WP.pdf

And here is the whole enchilada ...

http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=10034720&whse=&topnav=national&browse=
http://www.wattspremier.com/premier/manuals/ZRO-4RET031403.pdf

I know a few people who have had these for quite a while and they are completely satisified.

The amount of water "wasted" is a drop in the bucket. (Pun intended) Three gallons down the drain is less than one flush of the toilet. Whiz outside once a day and that will make up for the amount wasted by the RO. You are being pound foolish and penny wise.

You are being pound foolish and penny wise.

There are many areas in this country, especially in the Southwest, where water is a very precious commodity and in VERY short supply. There are many people who's wells have gone dry and cities are regulating water use.

It is NEVER foolish to conserve a valuable natural resource like water especially if it hasn't rained in a year or so.

If we work on the assumption that a family of four uses 500 gallons of RO water a year, that could mean 1500 gallons goes down the drain. That could be considered a significant amount.

Justalurker offerd a valuable alternative and I offered the el cheapo version of conservring water from RO waste. Either one will work.

There are additional ways of conserving water such as shorter showers (and don't let the water run to warm up), if yellow, let it mellow, if brown flush it down, and a host of other water-saving anecdotals.

There are also some very wasteful ROs and efficient ones, Do your homework.

Sorry to burst your bubble but 1500 gallons of water is still a drop in the bucket. Let's get real here folks! If you really want to conserve water just quit flushing the toilet. It's really as simple as that. Untill you quit flushing the toilet please keep quiet about the amount of waste water an RO unit generates. If you cant get that through your thick skulls then quit watering your lawns. The amount of water an RO "wastes" is so small that it makes absolutely no difference what so ever. It;s kinda like buying a Power Ball Lottery ticket - your odds of winning are stastically the same wheather you buy a ticket or not. Let's start worrying about something that really matters.