| Home : WATER : Water Usage Water Usage  Most household uses, such as water for bathing, washing clothes, and dishes, can be filtered less than drinking water. Drinking water should be filtered according to your source. Rainwater has very little mineral content compared to that of well water, but it usually has more life forms, so your filtration system can change depending on what you want to filter. Many books have been written on the subject of water filtration, and we will not assume to know everything on this subject. From what we do know, however, there are a few things to keep in mind. Filtering minerals and chemicals out of water is very different from filtering live organisms. Most minerals in a rainwater system can be filtered using sand or mesh-type filters. Organisms can be a little more difficult. You need to be able to prevent organisms from growing in your water, without doing anything to it that would make it unpleasant for you. Never pour chemicals into your water supply. Sure, bleach will kill a lot of things, but that includes you. Reverse Osmosis filters, charcoal filters, and even UV filters can be used to filter water for human consumption. Because these filters are costly, and your drinking water depends on them, use them sparingly. Do not install a drinking water filter on the same line as your bathtub. You’ll quickly wear out the filter. Instead, install the filter close to a special faucet for drinking. Water should be pressurized to properly deliver the water through the filter to the appliances and faucets that need them. A 12-volt pump and a pressure tank can easily provide enough pressure for your home. Size your pressure tank so that it has enough water for your largest appliance; say, the washing machine or bathtub. 30-60 gallons should be adequate. The pressure tank stores your system pressure, and saves the life of your pump. The pump should have a pressure switch, so when it fills up the pressure tank, it switches the pump off. Plumbing should meet your local requirements, but we have found that ¾” PVC works great and is easy for the beginner to use. You should make all your connections tight and securely fastened. Make sure you use enough glue, and hold those connections for at least 30 seconds after your glue, for a good, strong fit. Once you get the water into the house, you will want to heat some water for bathing and cleaning. Water heaters come in all shapes, sizes, and fuels. If you are producing your own electricity, you can afford to use the extra dump loads for heating water in a traditional water tank setup. On-demand style heaters are good for sinks and homes with a propane hookup. If you live in the south, a solar water heating system can save on your energy needs. The water is heated by the sun with little or no energy usage what-so-ever. Additional Resources:
|
| HOME | POWER | WATER | SHELTER | FOOD | WASTE | TRANSPORT | SHARING | STORE | FORUM | CONTACT |