What do you do with your RO/DI wastewater?

Todd A. · Aug 24, 2017

So I figure I have two things going against me; one is that I fell into the wonderful hobby (obsession) of saltwater aquariums and the other is that I live in California. I started a new job about 2 years ago, and our office had a 150 gallon FOWLR DT. This was your very generic, have no idea what I'm doing tank, that someone in our office had been given. Let's just say the first two fish in the tank were a Hippo Tang and a Clown, and I'll leave it at that. So being the "always eager to learn something new" type (control-freak) that I am, I decided to learn everything I could about marine aquariums and needless to say, I had my own tank within three months. Now to the point of the thread; I purchased an RO/DI filtration system prior to stocking my home DT and soon learned that even the most "efficient" RO/DI systems dump 4 - 5 gallons of "wastewater" for every 1 gallon of "pure" water. And as I mentioned above, being a residence in the great state of California means that we all live in fear of being fined for washing our cars or being ostracized by our neighbors having a green lawn. So watching nearly 100 gallons of water go down the drain every time I did a water change just made me paranoid. My solution was to use the 42 gallon Brute cans I use for my water changes, a cheap sump pump and a garden hose. I fill the rolling buckets with the "wastewater", drop the sump in and water my lawn and flowerbeds. Although it's considered "wastewater", it has gone thru both sediment and carbon filters and in my mind is probably better than what came out of the tap anyway. I'd like to hear from anyone else who "recycles" their RO/DI leftovers and how they do it. I know not everyone lives in a "drought-ridden" state like us Californians, but assume we're all pretty innovative considering the hobby (obsession). Thanks and have a good weekend.

jaws789832 · Aug 24, 2017

I do the exact same thing you do. I flow the wastewater into a 60 gallon brute trash can then water my plants with the waste, using the same logic. It has been dechlorinated so even though it is going to be higher tds it is still probably better than tap for the plants

Brew12 · Aug 24, 2017

Todd A. said:
So I figure I have two things going against me; one is that I fell into the wonderful hobby (obsession) of saltwater aquariums and the other is that I live in California. I started a new job about 2 years ago, and our office had a 150 gallon FOWLR DT. This was your very generic, have no idea what I'm doing tank, that someone in our office had been given. Let's just say the first two fish in the tank were a Hippo Tang and a Clown, and I'll leave it at that. So being the "always eager to learn something new" type (control-freak) that I am, I decided to learn everything I could about marine aquariums and needless to say, I had my own tank within three months. Now to the point of the thread; I purchased an RO/DI filtration system prior to stocking my home DT and soon learned that even the most "efficient" RO/DI systems dump 4 - 5 gallons of "wastewater" for every 1 gallon of "pure" water. And as I mentioned above, being a residence in the great state of California means that we all live in fear of being fined for washing our cars or being ostracized by our neighbors having a green lawn. So watching nearly 100 gallons of water go down the drain every time I did a water change just made me paranoid. My solution was to use the 42 gallon Brute cans I use for my water changes, a cheap sump pump and a garden hose. I fill the rolling buckets with the "wastewater", drop the sump in and water my lawn and flowerbeds. Although it's considered "wastewater", it has gone thru both sediment and carbon filters and in my mind is probably better than what came out of the tap anyway. I'd like to hear from anyone else who "recycles" their RO/DI leftovers and how they do it. I know not everyone lives in a "drought-ridden" state like us Californians, but assume we're all pretty innovative considering the hobby (obsession). Thanks and have a good weekend.

I use my waste water to water my flower beds except in the winter when it just gets dumped. I am fortunate to live in an area with very low water prices but I still purchased a booster pump to minimize waste. The difference in the generated waste between 50psi and 85psi is remarkable.

Todd A. · Aug 24, 2017

Brew12 said:
The difference in the generated waste between 50psi and 85psi is remarkable.

I didn't realize that, which is pretty sad since I was an industrial pipefitter for over 15 years and have installed factory DI/RO systems capable of hundreds of gallons per hour. My street pressure runs around 48 - 55 psi so a booster pump certainly sounds like a good idea. I appreciate the info.

Brew12 · Aug 24, 2017

Todd A. said:
I didn't realize that, which is pretty sad since I was an industrial pipefitter for over 15 years and have installed factory DI/RO systems capable of hundreds of gallons per hour. My street pressure runs around 48 - 55 psi so a booster pump certainly sounds like a good idea. I appreciate the info.

I picked up one of these and it cut my wastewater by over 50%. Not to mention that my 75gpd system will now make 75gpd in a day. Used to be closer to 45gpd.
https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/1-4-aquatec-8800-booster-pump-kit.html

To do it again, I may have gone with one of these. So many nice features!
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produ...xIypVxl5oq8lYqDUbTTdNCoLSXiNo2gYaAnPIEALw_wcB

Greybeard · Aug 24, 2017

This time of year, wastewater goes to the swimming pool.
During the winter, I probably should route it to the hot tub, but right now, it goes down the drain.

Here, water isn't a problem... and the entire idea of 'wasting water' seems a bit odd to me. Water gets pumped out of the ground... from my well, used (or not used, as the case may be), and then goes into a septic system... back into the ground. Ok, so a bit of wasted electricity, if I pump it up and don't use it, but wasted water? Goes right back where I got it from... what's the waste?

DarkSky · Aug 24, 2017

Greybeard said:
Water gets pumped out of the ground... from my well, used (or not used, as the case may be), and then goes into a septic system... back into the ground. Ok, so a bit of wasted electricity, if I pump it up and don't use it, but wasted water? Goes right back where I got it from... what's the waste?

Many people live in cities where a non-insignificant amount of money and energy is spent turning river/lake/ground water into potable drinking water. Since so much of the world doesn't yet have access to clean drinking water, it is seen as a waste when we run it through our RODI systems to have 4/5ths of it go right back down the drain.

wcharon · Aug 24, 2017

Washing machine for me...

redfishbluefish · Aug 24, 2017

I collect my wastewater in a 55 gallon drum that sits between my slop sink and washing machine (in the basement). I have the option of using it to fill the washing maching (an old-school top loader that takes about 25 gallons) or running the hose up to a separate sill **** that takes the water outside..... to water the plants. It's a little hard to see, but in this picture the gray hose is attached to the PVC pipe coming out of the barrel and going up to the sill ****....to the right of the window.