Living off Social Security

[Pork Pie]

Sand filters are not necessarily simple, but for grey water i don’t understand the value of using any kind of filtration mechanism All sand filters have to be “back-washed” to remove the skank that builds up, so unless such a system exists, I’m a tad unsure as to the long term efficacy I know that you are engineer-minded so i guess you know more than me I had the “dubious” luxury on studying backwash mechanics in water treatment plants - I’m very happy to accept that what i used to do is a different kettle of fish to a domestic set-up.

 

[perchie.girl]

Sand filters are not necessarily simple, but for grey water i don’t understand the value of using any kind of filtration mechanism All sand filters have to be “back-washed” to remove the skank that builds up, so unless such a system exists, I’m a tad unsure as to the long term efficacy I know that you are engineer-minded so i guess you know more than me I had the “dubious” luxury on studying backwash mechanics in water treatment plants - I’m very happy to accept that what i used to do is a different kettle of fish to a domestic set-up.

Good point.... it would be easy to do a simple fiber filter... I am thinking of using the grey water in a pond.... So was thinking of organic material that would cause bioloical bloom in the pond....

A sand filter Can be a simple affair. Of gravity and and a container with holes punched in it... Second filter ready to go water switched out then original let to dry out.

deb

 

[Pork Pie]

Good point.... it would be easy to do a simple fiber filter... I am thinking of using the grey water in a pond.... So was thinking of organic material that would cause bioloical bloom in the pond....

A sand filter Can be a simple affair. Of gravity and and a container with holes punched in it... Second filter ready to go water switched out then original let to dry out.

deb

Now i can picture what you mean Would tilapia or other organism deal with algae issues

 

[wild chick]

That's a great little book @perchie.girl. I thought about the composting toilets last summer when our well didn't produce. Since the house already is what it is (conventional) I would just put a composting toilet in an outhouse. Years ago, I was at a camp where that's what we had and it was great. 20 of us using it for a week and zero smell. And it was built really well & cute to boot. Last summer we had to have water hauled out to our 2000 gal holding tank, but thankfully it was just once. The summer rains finally came, not as much as I wished, but enough. You guys in the rainy climes thank your lucky stars. Out of water puts a stop on everything, including flushing a toilet! Pics below of the wonderful outhouse, it's up a few stairs so the "can" can be replaced via a door in the back, under the bench/seat on the inside. And of course the moon/star carved out of the door. It was so simple - the instructions were if you did #1 add a scoop of shavings, if you did #2 add a scoop of shavings and a scoop of lime, and the buckets of shavings & lime were there with the appropriate scoops. I'm sure that the can, when full, was composted further before using on soil or garden areas.

 

[perchie.girl]

Now i can picture what you mey Would tilapia or other organism deal with algae issues

tilapia are good with algae... There are several cleaning type fish that can keep the fish tanks clean... All handle the same water temperatures as Tilapia.

The parts that i am concerned with on using the grey water is with the other things... Rotting food, Fats, The sand will sweep most of it away
Rotting materials in Water tend to invite anaerobic bacteria... There are plants that can handle those conditions called Water Hyacinth... They float and in decent water the fish will nibble on their roots.

There was even an experimental water purification system done in the San Diego River valley back in 69-70. Using trenches about four feet wide in a surpentine fasion stocked with Water hyacinth... Not only do they thrive in organically polluted water but they also handle the heavy metals...

Water hyacinth has a number of uses. They can be used as Animal bedding, Composted for soil improvement, mashed into blocks for Fuel for fires... Even used to make paper...

I dont know what became of the experiment...

Cattails are also a water purifier and if used in late stage water purification can be a food source....

deb

 

[Pork Pie]

tilapia are good with algae... There are several cleaning type fish that can keep the fish tanks clean... All handle the same water temperatures as Tilapia.

The parts that i am concerned with on using the grey water is with the other things... Rotting food, Fats, The sand will sweep most of it away
Rotting materials in Water tend to invite anaerobic bacteria... There are plants that can handle those conditions called Water Hyacinth... They float and in decent water the fish will nibble on their roots.

There was even an experimental water purification system done in the San Diego River valley back in 69-70. Using trenches about four feet wide in a surpentine fasion stocked with Water hyacinth... Not only do they thrive in organically polluted water but they also handle the heavy metals...

Water hyacinth has a number of uses. They can be used as Animal bedding, Composted for soil improvement, mashed into blocks for Fuel for fires... Even used to make paper...

I dont know what became of the experiment...

Cattails are also a water purifier and if used in late stage water purification can be a food source....

deb

Interesting stuff

I think that I may be more inclined not to re-use kitchen water and stick to less troublesome grey water sources (not that I'm lazy, you understand )

 

[ShannonR]

The town of Arcata uses marsh and wetlands to purify it's sewage water. Cattails are a big part of the process. Nature does have some very powerful water cleaning tools!

https://insteading.com/blog/arcata-wastewater-treatment-plant-constructed-wetlands/

 

[perchie.girl]

Interesting stuff

I think that I may be more inclined not to re-use kitchen water and stick to less troublesome grey water sources (not that I'm lazy, you understand )

Yep Yep... Soap sweeps away fat in all cases .... Shower, Dish Washer, Laundry... Many soaps are fat derived.... I learned this from my Sceptic guy... Very interesting to talk to... If you look in to your sceptic tank from the top It will have a matt that is somewhat grey and dry looking... This will be Fat accumulation He showed me how he could walk on it.... I know

This fat accumulation is why the good sceptic people dont recommend using those additives that break up the fat... Because it doesnt get it all... and eventually it will clog up the leach field. Replacing a leach field is exponentially more expensive that having your tank pumped even twice a year.

once every four years for me.

deb

 

[Pork Pie]

Yep Yep... Soap sweeps away fat in all cases .... Shower, Dish Washer, Laundry... Many soaps are fat derived.... I learned this from my Sceptic guy... Very interesting to talk to... If you look in to your sceptic tank from the top It will have a matt that is somewhat grey and dry looking... This will be Fat accumulation He showed me how he could walk on it.... I know

deb

I wouldn't like anyone walking on my fat accumulation - my stomach muscles are not what they once were

 

[perchie.girl]

The town of Arcata uses marsh and wetlands to purify it's sewage water. Cattails are a big part of the process. Nature does have some very powerful water cleaning tools!

Yes it most certainly does... And sometimes players in this niche show up out of the blue...

Think about this How many Cars are there in the U.S. Each car has four tires... Each tire is worn down what... about every four years give or take. Where does that tire dust go? Come to find out there is a microbe that loves tire dust... And its happily eating it all. O sure some goes into the soil some goes out to sea....

deb