[punkpup]

I posted this in an earlier thread on November 27th, 2007:
https://www.talkofthevillages.com/sm....html#msg20461


As a service tech for Keyspan/National Grid Energy Delivery (Natural Gas Division) I am often asked about this issue in respect to gas usage and water conservation. Obviously in the day and age of fast rising energy costs and drought any way we can conserve precious resources and save money is a plus!

In my quest to find solutions to offer my customers I've found a few things which may be of interest.

Energy saving hot water recirculating pumps from Grundfos, (newer technology is more energy efficient than older products):

System for standalone hot water tank: http://www.grundfos.com/web/HomeUs.n...ag/PAVA-56TMVA http://www.rewci.com/whhohotwaci.html
NOTE: SEE THIS SITE FOR IMAGE OF NEW STYLE VS OLD (SCROLL DOWN) STYLE!!!! :
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...MEWA:IT&ih=013

System for tankless hot water: http://www.bigbrandwater.com/rcp96.html

A great way to conserve water by using bathroom sink drain water to flush toilets: http://www.aridsolutionsinc.com/cata...92/4156855.htm
http://www.watersavertech.com/AQUS-System.html

More ways to conserve water:
1. A way to use water from showers, washers and washtub:
http://www.greywater.com/treatment.htm
http://greenwoodlands.net/plumbing/greywatersystem.html
2. Some ways to use rain water; I particularly like the NINO multi purpose rainbarrel:
http://www.desertplastics-abq.com/waterharvest3.html

On demand tankless hot water heaters: http://www.stefanoparis.com/efficien.../aquastar.html

[another Linda]

We have a hot tub that we need to drain and clean periodically. Can we use that water for plants? It certainly has chemicals in it.

[Hyacinth Bucket]

Hi Punkpup, this is great info. I plan to pass this onto friends who will read it.

Another Linda when we had a hot tub we did not use chemicals - we had an ozonator.

My husband did clean it on a regular basis, we have a solar hot water system so he emptied it and cleaned it when the sun was shining brightly.

HB

[another Linda]

Originally Posted by Hyacinth Bucket

Another Linda when we had a hot tub we did not use chemicals - we had an ozonator.

My husband did clean it on a regular basis, we have a solar hot water system so he emptied it and cleaned it when the sun was shining brightly.

HB

An ozonator? What I don't know could fill books, what I learn on TV could fill even more! I'll have to look into an ozonator. Any suggestions about where to start?

[Sidney Lanier]

I use an ozonator to considerably lessen the need for chemicals, because I have eye problems and can't chance being splashed with water treated with chlorine and/or other chemicals. The technology of ozonators is not new, and any dealer in hot tubs can provide information and sell such a unit. They are not particularly expensive. Mechanically it's pretty simple: As the water circulates in a hot tub, it goes past the ozonator, which contains a blue light that creates the ozone and treats the water. I pulled the following out of a link I just picked up in a Google search for "hot tub ozonator how it works." Hope this helps.

-----------------------

"This ozonator sanitizes your hot tub water. This means you don't have to constantly use chemicals like chlorine. Ozone water purification is up to 3,000 times more powerful than ordinary water sanitizers and doesn't have that 'chemical smell' normally found in pools and hot tubs. An ozonated hot tub will also last longer between water changes. Wondering how it works? It's simple. Ozonators create ozone gas, then inject it into the water, killing bacteria."

[Hyacinth Bucket]

Thanks Sidney for the explanation.

HB

[punkpup]

gryoung et al,

Here is a definition of Gray Water excerpted from this site:
http://www.umassgreeninfo.org/fact_s...r_gardens.html

First, what is gray water?

Gray water is all the non-toilet wastewater produced in the average household including the water from bathtubs, showers, sinks, washing machines, and dishwashers. Although gray water does not need extensive chemical or biological treatment before it can be used in the garden as irrigation water, it still must be used carefully because it usually contains grease, hair, detergent, cosmetics, dead skin, food particles and small amounts of fecal matter.

Basically what comes out of the faucet is potable (drinkable) water, what comes out of the sprinklers is non-potable water. Non potable can be filtered and purified to become potable water as well as gray water; obviously turning gray water into potable water is rather involved and costly.

Black water is what we flush down the toilet and into the sewer.

[Hyacinth Bucket]

We use a laundry detergent that is earth friendly - wonder if there is a way to divert some of the water leaving the washing machine into a large garbage pail, so it can be used when we water veggies.


HB

[another Linda]

Sidney, thank you so much. I will definitely look into it. Makes so much sense.

[punkpup]

I know that Hot Tub/Spa water is an issue/concern for many of us. I use the water from my Hot Tub to water my landscape as it is technically considered graywater/greywater whenever I empty it.

I also have issues with chlorine, it's harsh on my skin and aggravates my asthma so I chlorinate mostly right after I've used the Tub. I've been looking for alternate ways to sanitize the water and ways to neutralize chlorine and found these sites:

http://www.rhtubs.com/cgi-bin/bbs/co...mes;read=70390
http://www.exit15.com/vitabath-effer...ts-p-1307.html
http://www.rhtubs.com/chemical-free-index.htm

NOTE: Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) powder can be substituted for tablets and is cheaper.

As to setting up ways to use the waste water from the laundry, shower and sink there are a number of products available.

You can't use waste water from the kitchen sink because it contains food particles and grease unless you filter it extensively but here is an option that makes sense, as unattractive as it may be, lol.
www.envirosink.com

This one recycles waste water from the bathroom sink to flush the toilet. I like really this.
http://www.aridsolutionsinc.com/page/page/522317.htm

I particularly like this system and plan to use it for the shower and washer waste water when we buy our house in TV.
http://www.greywater.com/index.htm

[punkpup]

Hyacinth et al,

Since we live in Massachusetts and love tropical foliage I started searching for cold hardy varieties of tropical plants.

I found these two sites. The Seedman actually carries seeds of bananas and palms which grow in extremely cold climates. I'm not so sure about Top Tropicals but they are in Punta Gorda, FL so I'm betting that they can help you with Mangos as they seem to have a zillion different varieties.
www.seedman.com
www.toptropicals.com

[Hyacinth Bucket]

Sorry for the delay in responding to you. Just found the info you requested.

There are no annual contracts for weeding - cost is $10 per month

Pest control is $20 per month

Pruning, trimming and clean up is billed at $40 per hour, but you are charged in 15 minute increments.

Fertilizer application is based on actual quantities used.

They all sell trees and plants. I found the cost of there plants lower than in some of the nurseries I visited while in TV.

Fernview Farm - Sandra and James Harrison
352 245 7905 email fernviewnursery@aol.com

Like I said, I was extremely impressed with her, They will be doing our lawn care while we are away.

Hope this helps.

HB

[Hyacinth Bucket]

Hi, I accidentally deleted an email I received. The question was about the Lawn and Garden service that we have.

We do not have a contract with her for any of the services she does. When we are in TV we do, what she normally does.

There are no annual contracts for weeding - cost is $10 per month

Pest control is $20 per month

Pruning, trimming and clean up is billed at $40 per hour, but you are charged in 15 minute increments.

Fertilizer application is based on actual quantities used.

They all sell trees and plants. I found the cost of there plants lower than in some of the nurseries I visited while in TV.

Fernview Farm - Sandra and James Harrison
352 245 7905 email fernviewnursery@aol.com

i think she has been invited to speak this November at the Garden Clubs - one in Hacienda Center.

Hope this helps.

HB

[Hyacinth Bucket]

Hi, I am just saying "Hello" so that I get all new messages on this thread.

HB