Sources of Potable Water
Photos, and links still need to be added to this page.
Earlier this year my wife and I bought a small acreage in the mountains. I expect we’ll build on it soon, but until then remains an expensive camping spot.
In the purchase offer, our real estate agent, John Pundyk, said we should investigate to ensure well water was an option. We did, and we’re covered. But we also discovered the cost to drill a well, and later to install a septic field and let me tell you it’s not negligible. With almost all our projects being located in municipalities, we expected there would be an expense had no idea it would be at that magnitude. We could design a well and septic system and keep tendering to new sub-trades, We thought there must be another way to skin that cat. This prompted our next research project, are their alternate sources for potable water?
There are several potential sources for fresh water harvesting, including:
Rainwater harvesting: collecting and storing rainwater for later use
Surface water harvesting: collecting water from sources such as rivers, lakes, and streams
Groundwater harvesting: extracting water from underground aquifers
Fog harvesting: collecting water from fog using mesh or net structures
(eg. Aquaweb, Nexloop Renuable Water for Sustainable Food)
Greywater harvesting: reusing household wastewater for irrigation and other non-potable uses
Stormwater harvesting: collecting and storing water from stormwater runoff for later use
Iceberg harvesting: harvesting fresh water from icebergs in polar regions. (Not Applicable for this post)
All systems, whether well water, rainwater or alike-need filtration. There are two broad strategies:
Point of Use Systems: These are systems like the Reverse Osmosis System we posted about earlier. They sit under your sink and provide a localized option. Benefits are these are smaller systems, but you would need one of each delivery device.
Point of Entry Systems: These are larger systems that treat all the water entering your building. Their strategy will be to treat toilet, sink and drinking water to drinking water standards. This is required by the plumbing code but realistically waste in your toilet does not require drinking quality water. This exists we expect on the rare circumstance that a child or dog might stop by your toilet for a drink.
We also don’t prefer well water as there is an environmental preference against aquifer depletion. This might be a circumstance where cost and the environmental solution align?
Regardless of the sources, any harvesting will be easier if you can lower your consumption needs. The exact average potable water usage per family in Canada. However, the average water usage per person in Canada is around 329 litres per day, according to the Government of Canada. This includes water used for drinking, cooking, cleaning, and other household purposes. It's important to note that usage can vary greatly depending on factors such as family size, location, and lifestyle.
Household potable water usage can vary depending on the source and the specific study, but a typical breakdown might look like this:
Toilets: 25-30%
Showers and baths: 20-25%
Faucets: 15-20%
Laundry and dishwashing: 15-20%
Leaks: 10-15%
Outdoor uses (e.g., watering lawns and gardens): 5-10%
Freshwater Requirements
It is important to note that these percentages are approximate and can vary depending on factors such as the age and type of plumbing fixtures, the number of people living in the home, and conservation efforts. It is easy to see the potential of water volume savings if we can have a strategy for toilets (perhaps composting-waterless), showers and baths (grey-water harvesting-not currently permitted in Canada), and sensitive use of outside water (lifestyle driven). Laundry and dish-washing are currently more difficult exercises and appears to be fruit situated high on the tree. We think an achievable target would be a 60% -70% reduction, which would be 99-131 litres of water per person per day, which we admit still seems large. Therefore a four person household will require 396-524 litres per day which means the requirement of fresh water will need to be 190,736 litres or (here are 61 cubic inches of water in a litre) therefore 11,643,894 inches of water.
Rainwater Harvesting
The Crowsnest Pass typically receives high amounts of snowfall during the winter, and moderate rainfall during the summer. The average annual precipitation for the area is around 1000mm-1500mm (40-60 inches) per year. Therefore assuming the worst case, we will require a rainwater collection surface area of 290,872.4 sq inches or 2019 sq ft which seems very achievable.
There are several ways to collect rainwater, including:
Roof catchment: This is the most common method of collecting rainwater. It involves installing gutters and downspouts on the roof of a building to channel rainwater into a storage tank or cistern. The gutters and downspouts can be made from a variety of materials, including aluminum, copper, or plastic. The storage tanks or cisterns can be made from a variety of materials, including plastic, concrete, or metal.
Surface runoff collection: This method involves collecting rainwater from surfaces such as driveways, patios, or sidewalks. It can be done by installing channels or gutters along the edge of the surface to channel the water into a storage tank or cistern.
Rain gardens: Rain gardens are landscaped areas that are specifically designed to collect and store rainwater. They are typically shallow depressions that are filled with plants and soil that can absorb the water.
Rain barrels: Rain barrels are small, cylindrical storage containers that are placed at the base of a downspout to collect rainwater. They can be made from a variety of materials, including plastic, wood, or metal.
Underground cisterns: This method involves installing underground tanks or cisterns to collect and store rainwater. These can be made from a variety of materials, including plastic, concrete, or metal.
Once the rainwater is collected, it can be used for a variety of purposes, such as watering plants, flushing toilets, or even for household use after proper filtration. It's important to check with local authorities before installing any rainwater collection system to ensure compliance with local regulations and guidelines.
Stormwater Harvesting
Stormwater harvesting is a method of collecting and storing rainwater that falls on a property, such as a home or building, for later use. The process typically involves the following steps:
Collection: Stormwater is collected from various surfaces on the property, such as rooftops, driveways, and sidewalks, using a system of gutters, downspouts, and pipes. The stormwater is then directed to a storage tank or cistern.
Treatment: Depending on the intended use and local regulations, the stormwater may be treated before it is reused. Simple treatments may include sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection using chlorine or UV light. More advanced systems may include biological treatment using bacteria or other microorganisms.
Distribution: The treated stormwater is then distributed to different areas of the property, such as gardens, landscaping, or toilets, using a system of pumps and valves.
Monitoring: The system must be monitored regularly to ensure that it is functioning properly and that the stormwater is safe for reuse. This may include checking the flow rate, water level, and water quality.
Stormwater harvesting can be a cost-effective and sustainable way to conserve water and reduce the strain on municipal water systems. It is important to note that stormwater harvesting is not legal in all areas and it's important to check with the local or state health department or other regulatory agency to determine if stormwater harvesting is legal and if there are any specific requirements that must be met. Additionally, it's important to consider the quality of the stormwater being treated, the intended use, and the cost and maintenance requirements of the system before deciding to use stormwater harvesting.
Composting Toilets Used to Lower Requirements
It's important to note that not all of these types of toilets are legal in every jurisdiction and it's important to check with local authorities before installing one. Where we live we expect that all of the options will require coordination with the authorities having jurisdiction. See our review of Composting toilets. It would be our goal to advocate for their usage where practical.
Grey Water Recycling Options
Grey water Recycling is not widely accepted in Canada currently and generally is limited. It's important to note that not all of these types of greywater recycling systems are legal in every jurisdiction and it's important to check with local authorities before installing one. Also, it's important to note that greywater should not be used for drinking or cooking, but only for non-potable uses. It would be our goal to advocate for grey water usage where practical.
Graywater harvesting is a method of collecting and reusing household wastewater, such as water from sinks, showers, and laundry, for non-potable uses such as irrigation and toilet flushing. The process typically involves the following steps:
Collection: Graywater is collected from various sources in the home, such as sinks, showers, and laundry, using a system of pipes and valves. The graywater is then directed to a storage tank or cistern.
Treatment: Depending on the intended use and local regulations, the graywater may be treated before it is reused. Simple treatments may include sedimentation, filtration, and disinfection using chlorine or UV light. More advanced systems may include biological treatment using bacteria or other microorganisms.
Distribution: The treated graywater is then distributed to different areas of the home, such as toilets, gardens, or landscaping, using a system of pipes and valves. The graywater can also be stored in a cistern and used later as needed.
Monitoring: The system must be monitored regularly to ensure that it is functioning properly and that the graywater is safe for reuse. This may include checking the flow rate, water level, and water quality.
Graywater harvesting can be a cost-effective and sustainable way to conserve water and reduce the strain on municipal water systems. It is important to note that graywater harvesting is not legal in all areas and it's important to check with the local or state health department or other regulatory agency to determine if graywater harvesting is legal and if there are any specific requirements that must be met. Additionally, it's important to consider the quality of the graywater being treated, the intended
Are there graywater recycling products available in Canada?
Yes, there are graywater recycling products available in Canada. These products include graywater treatment systems, graywater storage tanks, and graywater distribution systems, which can be used to collect, treat, store, and distribute graywater for reuse in households.
These products are available from a variety of manufacturers and suppliers, both in Canada and internationally. They can range from simple systems for small households to more advanced systems for larger households and commercial buildings. The technology used in these systems can vary, from simple filtration and disinfection to more advanced biological treatment using bacteria or other microorganisms.
It is important to note that the use of graywater recycling systems is not legal in all provinces and municipalities in Canada, and it's important to check with the local or state health department or other regulatory agency to determine if graywater recycling is legal and if there are any specific requirements that must be met.
In addition, it's important to consider the quality of the graywater being treated, the intended use, and the cost and maintenance requirements of the system before deciding to use a graywater recycling system. It's also important to have a professional installation to ensure that the system is working efficiently and safely.
What residential products are there that treat gray water biologically?
There are a variety of residential products available that use biological treatment to treat graywater. Some examples include:
Bio-microbic systems: These systems use microorganisms to break down dissolved organic matter, suspended solids, and other contaminants in the graywater. The microorganisms are typically housed in a treatment tank or reactor, and are supplied with oxygen, nutrients, and other conditions that are conducive to their growth and activity.
Constructed wetlands: These systems use natural processes to treat graywater, typically using gravel, sand and plants. Graywater is directed through the wetland, where microorganisms and other organisms living in the wetland break down contaminants in the water.
Membrane bioreactors (MBR): These systems use a combination of physical and biological treatment to purify graywater. The graywater is passed through a membrane, which acts as a physical barrier to remove suspended solids and other contaminants. Microorganisms are used to break down dissolved organic matter and other contaminants that remain in the water.
Aerobic treatment units (ATU): These systems use oxygen to provide the energy needed for microorganisms to break down the contaminants in graywater. ATUs are typically used in situations where the graywater is high in organic matter and nutrients.
It's important to note that the use of graywater recycling systems is not legal in all provinces and municipalities in Canada, and it's important to check with the local or state health department or other regulatory agency to determine if graywater recycling is legal and if there are any specific requirements that must be met. Additionally, it's important to consider the quality of the graywater being treated, the intended use, and the cost and maintenance requirements of the system before deciding to use a graywater recycling system. It's also important to have a professional installation to ensure that the system is working efficiently and safely.
This is such a thick topic, I am finding I need to break this post into smaller bite sized pieces:
Composting Toilets in Detail (Forthcoming)
Slow rate Sand Filtration (Biological Filtration) (Forthcoming)
Building Codes Hurdles with Water Reuse in Canada (Forthcoming)
Grey Water Reuse Technologies in other Countries (Forthcoming)
Filtration Products for Well Water and Storm Water Harvesting (Forthcoming)