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The Monster in your Garden

Nov 102010

We all have one! He lurks under a bush somewhere, only to be looked at once a month (if he is lucky). That dreaded money gobbler that just sits there waiting for you to open a tap or flush a toilet. And the little devil has a new trick – measures the water you use and charges extra on your bill for the amount you put down the drain. Who said monsters are not clever?

But now you have the ideal weapon against that horrible gadget …. WATER RHAPSODY.

Water Rhapsody has so many systems and devices for you to use in retaliation that you will almost love the little fellow.

Garden Rhapsody – Harvest your usable waste water (grey water) and use it to water your garden or even flush your toilets.
Multi-Flush – Install in place of your existing toilet flushing mechanisms and save a huge amount on your water usage.
Poolside Tank – Don’t put that pool backwash water down the drain. Collect it, treat it and return it to your pool. At 500l a time (four backwashes per month is 2000l) and the chemicals you save, it makes sense.
Grand Opus – The “Big Daddy” of all. Harvest your rainwater and use it in your house instead of municipal water. Now that is one for the books.

There are many households in South Africa who have used Water Rhapsody products and systems and each and every one saves on their water bill (and now the sewage levy as well) to a lesser or greater degree. Some have water bills of ZERO Rand.

Now who says monsters are clever? Tame yours and make it your friend.

Original post by http://waterharvest.co.za/2010/11/10/the-monster-in-your-garden/

Greywater and Rainwater Harvesting

Greywater Harvesting, rainwater harvesting No Responses »

Oct 252010

Everyday millions of people, like you, wake up and take a hot shower before starting their day.
If its good enough for him its good enough for your garden
Some take an evening bath to wind down and relax while they soak in the tub.
Daughters enjoy the luxury of a long wash while attending to their locks.
For young children bath time is still a game of how to get you wet.
The bathroom tap runs while teeth are brushed, hands are washed and beard are shaved.
Family loads of washing flood the laundry daily.
An average four person household sends well over 125,000 litres of reusable water down the drain each year from bathrooms and laundries alone…
Rainwater fills your gutter and gushes out your downpipes to the stormwater drain.
The pool starts its backwash cycle, the water level drops as it drains.
and every time you flush, that’s more water gone to waste.

Where does all of that used water go?

If you have a septic system this water mixes with your black water (from flushing toilets) and eventually goes into the septic tank and drain fields. Possible ground or drinking water contamination could result. If you live in a municipality it might go into the sanitary sewer system.

In many parts of the country fresh water is scarce, especially during the hotter seasons of the year. Lawn watering contributes a great deal to freshwater depletion. Lower dam levels, groundwater and rivers result from increased fresh water usage.

There may be a better way…

Water Rhapsody greywater systems allow homeowners to filter greywater for use in watering gardens, plants and flushing toilets. Not disposing of greywater into septic systems keeps the septic tank and drain field from becoming overtaxed with fluids. In cities the sanitary sewer system also benefits from less volume of greywater to treat and process; preventing sewage spills.

What about Free Water?

This is possible too. If you could save up to 90% on your water bill and be off the grid and self sufficient over the rainy months then this option is for you. Rainwater harvesting offers you a unique sustainable solution to hand you your independence.

Modern rainwater harvesting systems allow the water tanks to be secretly placed away from the home and the soft rainwater to be send back into the house.

What are the options?

Continue paying exorbitant amounts every month on high water bills to ensure your garden survives summer. Keep in mind the water restriction may prevent you from irrigating.
Invest in a greywater system. Take the 125000 litres of water that gets drained to waste every year and irrigate your garden sanctuary. You will not only be exempt from water restriction, you will be saving the environment and your pocket.
Store and Harvest the rainwater that falls on your roof. Use this water inside your home and gain independence from the municipal water supply.

Alje van Hoorn Capewatersolutions

Checking for leaks in taps, pipes and dishwasher hoses is an easy way to reduce water wastage.
Remember, one leaking tap can waste more than 2,000 lt a month.
There’s no need to leave the tap running while you brush your teeth. Simply wet your toothbrush before you begin and use a glass of water to rinse your mouth.
The most water efficient methods for cooking vegetables are microwaving, steaming or using a pressure cooker. You can also cut down on water loss by using tight lids on pots and simmering instead of boiling rapidly.
Installing water efficient taps or tap aerators is a great, inexpensive way to cut your water usage without you even noticing.
Put the plug in the sink when washing your hands instead of holding them under running water.
Thaw frozen foods before you need them or use the microwave instead of placing them under running water.
Prevent taps from leaking by turning taps off lightly and replace washers as soon as they begin to leak.
Automatic dishwashers can use up to 40 lt of water per load. By using a dishwasher with at least a 3 star/AAA rating, you can get this figure down to 18 lt per load and still get the kind of sparkling clean dishes you’re used to.
Wait until you have a full load in your dishwasher before using it. This saves water and energy, and reduces the amount of detergent entering the sewerage system.
Keep a container of water in the fridge so that you won’t need to run the water down the sink until it’s cool enough to drink.
Washing fruit and vegetables in a half-filled sink instead of under running water is a great way to cut back on water wastage.
Rinsing your dishes in a plugged sink rather than under a running tap saves water and is just as easy and effective.
Use a sink strainer.
Try to use phosphate-free, eco-friendly detergents and cleaning products. There’s a great range to choose from these days and they’re much better for our environment.
Remember to regularly clean the lint filter on your washing machine.
Most washing machines have a load adjustment button or dial, so try to set this to match the amount of washing you’re doing. If your machine doesn’t have a load adjustment function, try to wait until you have enough washing for a full load.
Installing one of the latest 3 star/AAA rating showerheads can give you a great shower and save you around 10 lt of water a minute. They also save you energy costs, as you’ll use less hot water.
To rinse your razor, run a little water into a plugged sink. Rinsing your razor under a running tap wastes lots of water.
Electric or fuel powered leaf blowers work more efficiently than hosing down paths and driveways.
Pool covers reduce the amount of water you need to keep your pool full and running efficiently.

Suffusion theme by Sayontan Sinha

The Monster in your Garden

Greywater and Rainwater Harvesting

Everyday millions of people, like you, wake up and take a hot shower before starting their day.

Some take an evening bath to wind down and relax while they soak in the tub.

Daughters enjoy the luxury of a long wash while attending to their locks.

For young children bath time is still a game of how to get you wet.

The bathroom tap runs while teeth are brushed, hands are washed and beard are shaved.

Family loads of washing flood the laundry daily.

An average four person household sends well over 125,000 litres of reusable water down the drain each year from bathrooms and laundries alone…

Rainwater fills your gutter and gushes out your downpipes to the stormwater drain.

The pool starts its backwash cycle, the water level drops as it drains.

and every time you flush, that’s more water gone to waste.