Browse Forums General Discussion 1 Sep 18, 2011 10:40 pm Hi, I need some advice. I am deciding on whether to connect recycled water to toilets or to install rain water with pump to toilets? Which is a better advice? If I install recycled water, I need to pay abt $2k to connect to my toilets plus recycled water bills. However with rain tanks installation, I hv to install a pump and it will cost me electricity bills due to my pump is on 24hrs. From what I know, it will cost me $4k to install rain water system. My main intention is to bring my bills down to the minimum. Re: Rain water vs recycled water 2Sep 19, 2011 10:46 am Hi FHBS, I have a rainwater tank to toilets in my holiday house on Phillip Island and although the pump is turned on 24hours, it is only activated when a toilet has been flushed and pumps to re-fill the cistern. The standby power is very low. The bad side is that the pumps, even with covers, are quite noisy and if you go to the loo at night then the pump is very obvious to anyone who happens to have a bedroom close to it. If your rainwater tank isn't close to the house, then this shouldn't be a problem. This also means you basically have no additional cost to your water bills over time unless the tank gets low. In my new build, the estate had recycled water and we were encouraged to use that for toilets. I thought this was a great idea and designed it in. It wasn't until the build started that I looked into it a little more and found that there is NO difference at all in the cost of recycled water to normal potable water. The only difference was in the supply charge which was quite low but the water usage charge is identical. I think this is something that should change. If we're able to recycle water in the estate, then why are we being charged the full water rate? Anyway, that's my problem but it may be something to check from your side. In this case I would have been better off with a rainwater tank but I'd still have to weigh up the noise issue. SK Build thread: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=34120 Handover 23 Dec 11 Squatting 21 Dec 11 Fixed 12 Oct 11 Plastered 31 Aug 2011 Framed 7 June 2011 Site Start 7 Feb 2011 Land Titled 18 Jan 2010 Land Deposit 25 Jun 2009 Re: Rain water vs recycled water 3Sep 19, 2011 11:59 am A lot of water authorities charge the same for recycled water so there is often no cost advantage. The only benefit to you is water for garden watering shouldn't be restricted in a drought. To reduce noise you really need a solid pump enclosure like brick or concrete blocks rather than one of those plastic covers which only keep the rain off The Harder You Try - the Luckier You Get ! Web site http://www.anewhouse.com.au Informative, Amusing, and Opinionated Blog - Over 600 posts on all aspects of building a new house. Re: Rain water vs recycled water 4Sep 19, 2011 12:21 pm FHBS, they plumbed rainwater to the toilets and washing machine here but the pump isn't noisy at all...I did ask that it be mounted on rubber feet as previously we have lived in several houses on a whole-of-house-rainwater system (on acres) and the only time we knew if the pump wasn't working was due to the drop in pressure from the taps/showers/etc, it was a little further from the house but was also a larger capacity pump. Flexible hoses also eliminate noise, they only need to connect from pipe to pump, that's enough to absorb any vibration. Mostly I turn the pump off these days because the time to refill the cistern is minimal compared to filling with the pump operating, and unless someone is actually pounding on the loo door to use it after you, then by the time you've washed your hands etc the cistern has refilled. It means the washing machine fills a little slower but that doesn't bother me and if I needed it to fill quicker the pump is along that side of the house and it would only mean walking a few steps and flicking the power switch. I've been running the pump once a month to reduce the possibility of sediment settling in the wrong places. In the event of a blackout a pump won't operate anyway so you still need to rely on the gravity system and the more water you've got stored the greater that gravity pressure will be. How much water storage will you be having? what is your annual rainfall? what size is your roof area and how much does it collect? This might determine which system you opt for as I live on the coast where the rainwater tanks are topped up at least every week during rainfall, even a heavy dew will add to the storage, there is no recycled water here anyway but if there was I would still choose rainwater. Not sure if this helps? Re: Rain water vs recycled water 5Sep 20, 2011 7:05 am Hi guys, thanks for your input. I am building in melbourne west, wyndham vale area. From what I know, there will be an outlet for greywater at the front of the house. So if there's at outlet, I suppose I have to pay the supply charge even though I don't connect it to toilets. Or I am wrong? Meaning I will have the outlet only if I apply for greywater? As you see, that's the troubling part for me. If I install the rainwater tanks, it will cost me $4k or more and if it's a must to have greywater, (which I have yet to consult), then I am wondering if it's worth it for the rainwater in the long run? And as melbourne is raining quite a lot recently, I will be just paying for the supply charge which I don't use at all. Oh yes, I have to consider the tank size as well.. And what if there's not much rain later.. hmmmmm.... I have the intention of having a rainwater tank in the near future for watering of my veggie garden as well.. so I am weighing it before I decide on it. However if the only downside is the noise, I reckon it will be worth while to install rainwater tank rather than paying for greywater usage. Please give me more advice base on my situation... cos since I am in the stage of planning, it will not be that messy rather than I were to install and connecting it after completion of house.... Re: Rain water vs recycled water 6Sep 20, 2011 10:24 am Hi FHBS, We are building in Manor Lakes in Wyndham Vale and have been told that we must be plumbed to the recycled water even though for the moment none is available and it is all potable water. Ring City West Water to make sure but what we are doing is having a rainwater tank that we will connect to the garden and the washing machine and the recycled water will be plumbed to the toilets. Re: Rain water vs recycled water 7Sep 20, 2011 4:44 pm FHBS Hi guys, thanks for your input. I am building in melbourne west, wyndham vale area. From what I know, there will be an outlet for greywater at the front of the house. So if there's at outlet, I suppose I have to pay the supply charge even though I don't connect it to toilets. Or I am wrong? Meaning I will have the outlet only if I apply for greywater? As you see, that's the troubling part for me. If I install the rainwater tanks, it will cost me $4k or more and if it's a must to have greywater, (which I have yet to consult), then I am wondering if it's worth it for the rainwater in the long run? And as melbourne is raining quite a lot recently, I will be just paying for the supply charge which I don't use at all. Oh yes, I have to consider the tank size as well.. And what if there's not much rain later.. hmmmmm.... I have the intention of having a rainwater tank in the near future for watering of my veggie garden as well.. so I am weighing it before I decide on it. However if the only downside is the noise, I reckon it will be worth while to install rainwater tank rather than paying for greywater usage. Please give me more advice base on my situation... cos since I am in the stage of planning, it will not be that messy rather than I were to install and connecting it after completion of house.... Hi I live in Wyndham Vale. I didn't have the treated recycled water (Not Grey Water which is untreated recyled water) connected because I wasn't going to pay for a supply until City West Water were going to actually going to be able to supply it. We have been here since 2006 and the supply seems no nearer than when we moved. The Harder You Try - the Luckier You Get ! Web site http://www.anewhouse.com.au Informative, Amusing, and Opinionated Blog - Over 600 posts on all aspects of building a new house. Re: Rain water vs recycled water 8Sep 20, 2011 4:46 pm bashworth FHBS Hi guys, thanks for your input. I am building in melbourne west, wyndham vale area. From what I know, there will be an outlet for greywater at the front of the house. So if there's at outlet, I suppose I have to pay the supply charge even though I don't connect it to toilets. Or I am wrong? Meaning I will have the outlet only if I apply for greywater? As you see, that's the troubling part for me. If I install the rainwater tanks, it will cost me $4k or more and if it's a must to have greywater, (which I have yet to consult), then I am wondering if it's worth it for the rainwater in the long run? And as melbourne is raining quite a lot recently, I will be just paying for the supply charge which I don't use at all. Oh yes, I have to consider the tank size as well.. And what if there's not much rain later.. hmmmmm.... I have the intention of having a rainwater tank in the near future for watering of my veggie garden as well.. so I am weighing it before I decide on it. However if the only downside is the noise, I reckon it will be worth while to install rainwater tank rather than paying for greywater usage. Please give me more advice base on my situation... cos since I am in the stage of planning, it will not be that messy rather than I were to install and connecting it after completion of house.... Hi I live in Bluestone Green, Wyndham Vale. I didn't have the treated recycled water (Not Grey Water which is untreated recyled water) connected because I wasn't going to pay for a supply until City West Water were going to actually going to be able to supply it. We have been here since 2006 and the supply seems no nearer now than when we moved. The Harder You Try - the Luckier You Get ! Web site http://www.anewhouse.com.au Informative, Amusing, and Opinionated Blog - Over 600 posts on all aspects of building a new house. Re: Rain water vs recycled water 9Sep 21, 2011 12:19 pm Hi Bashworth, Sorry to armbush you like this, but we're after a water tank for our place in Taylors Lakes, do you know any decent water tank supplier in the western areas of Melbourne? Many thanks in advance. Cheers, Ethaime. Re: Rain water vs recycled water 10Sep 21, 2011 2:23 pm The choice website has quite a good review of grey water systems but seems to conclude that the high installation costs for a decent system and coupled with ongoing operating costs you are better off going with a bigger rainwater tank. Read all the pages. http://www.choice.com.au/reviews-and-te ... stems.aspx Stewie Re: Rain water vs recycled water 11Sep 21, 2011 4:23 pm Ethaime Hi Bashworth, Sorry to armbush you like this, but we're after a water tank for our place in Taylors Lakes, do you know any decent water tank supplier in the western areas of Melbourne? Many thanks in advance. Cheers, Ethaime. I'd say B#####g's has a good selection and their price guarantee means you should be able to get a decent price. It all depends what you want basically large round tanks are cheapest/m2 but don't always fit in where you need them The Harder You Try - the Luckier You Get ! Web site http://www.anewhouse.com.au Informative, Amusing, and Opinionated Blog - Over 600 posts on all aspects of building a new house. Re: Rain water vs recycled water 13Oct 01, 2011 12:42 pm FHBS Hi, However with rain tanks installation, I hv to install a pump and it will cost me electricity bills due to my pump is on 24hrs. From what I know, it will cost me $4k to install rain water system. My main intention is to bring my bills down to the minimum. Your maximum rebate applies when you connect a 4,000 litre or larger tank to both a toilet and laundry but the second connection is only worth another $100. An additional $500 Federal Govt rebate was phased out in the last budget. It should not cost anywhere near $4k if you have the right advice and are prepared to do a few things yourself. Most people get ripped off and end up with non compliant sub standard systems but this need not happen. To prolong pump life, do not have the tank's draw off valve fitted to the bottom of the tank to avoid ingesting sludge and use a large stand alone pressure tank. A pressure tank will substantially reduce the pump use, the pump will always operate at its optimum efficiency and it will save on energy costs. People also get hoodwinked into buying pumps that are too big and expensive, there are simple measures whereby a small pump can be made to operate more efficiently. 3in1 Supadiverta. Rainwater Harvesting Best Practice using syphonic drainage. Cleaner Neater Smarter Cheaper Supa Gutter Pumper. A low cost syphonic eaves gutter overflow solution. Re: Rain water vs recycled water 14Oct 29, 2011 7:42 pm hi all, what's the colour of grey water? is it yellowish? our toilet bowl was installed last week and when I tried to flush it, the water is yellowish, I even thought that the tradesmen are using the toilet. Re: Rain water vs recycled water 15Oct 29, 2011 7:52 pm There is no specific colour...it refers to waste water from kitchen/laundry/bathroom/etc but NOT water which contains human waste...which is called 'black' water. If it's a new installation it could be some residue in the pipes or it could be dirt which has settled in the pipes. Not saying the tradies didn't use the loo because that did that at my house two...and didn't flush!! Re: Rain water vs recycled water 16Oct 29, 2011 8:04 pm Thanks HappyCamper, maybe it's because of the dirt or residue that settled in the pipes, hopefully the dirt will wash out overtime. Did you mention to the site supervisor that the tradies are using toilet? I have a feeling that they're using ours too, saw some splashes on the toilet seat and so no longer considered as a brand new. Re: Rain water vs recycled water 17Oct 29, 2011 8:15 pm Yes I told the builder....his usual reaction was to shrug his shoulders and ask what I expected him to do about it. Try turning on the tap furthest from the meter and leave it running for a while, that should clear out any residue or debris. Then you can watch what's happening after that. If you want to catch out the tradies using the loo......very carefully spread a piece of ClingWrap across the top of the bowl. Unfortunately someone will have to clean up the mess but you'll prove your point!! In the main bathroom loo I turned off the water inlet (ClingWrap was already packed read to move) and dropped a piece of mandarin skin into the loo...next time I was there the skin was gone and the tap had been turned on, proving someone had also used that loo. There was a porta-loo out the front but you can't expect them to walk that far!! Heck it was about 15 metres!~~ Building Standards; Getting It Right! Hi all, My neighbour has built his 15m long garage on our boundary. It was agreed as part of the planning permit that the wall must be in exposed recycled brick. For some… 0 10914 Can a plumber put a tap on a rain water tank which is full? Tank is similar to one in photo. Cheers. 0 1670 Hi, does anyone have any experience with using Trex rain escape or EPDM rubber to waterproof a deck so you have dry space underneath. Popular in the US and realize that… 0 3450 |