RO water wastage is a part of our daily lives even if we do not give it any thought. You enter your kitchen, and you can hear the steady trickle of water flowing out of the white pipe behind your water filter. Most of us simply drain it into the sink without giving it a second thought. It’s a sad state of affairs indeed.
Despite facing severe water scarcity issues during summers, we waste several liters of good quality water every hour in our country. Water conservation needs to become a habit, not just a trend. Using RO water efficiently can contribute to our effort to live a sustainable lifestyle. It requires minimal effort. All we need is some good planning and a change of thought.
What Exactly Is This Water?
Firstly, it is clear that this is not sewage water. The RO wastewater is just the water that seeps through the membrane during the water purification process. Think of it as hard water containing a higher concentration of minerals.
Although RO water purification systems remove all contaminants from water, the wastewater carries a higher amount of dissolved solids, including salts and minerals. It is characterized by high total dissolved solids (TDS) levels. Drinking water needs to have low levels of TDS, but this water has high TDS levels.
Its pH level may be slightly different, but it can be safely used for external purposes. The environmental implications of letting this go to waste are vast. When calculated, approximately 2-3 liters of water are discarded for every liter of drinking water produced. If we save this quantity of water daily, we can fill up a large tank in a month.
How to Use RO Wastewater
1. Gardening and Landscaping: The Best Use
If you have a green thumb, this is a goldmine for you. Gardening and landscaping provide easy ways to utilize this water.
Watering plants: All your outdoor plants would love water from this source. Talking of bushes, hedges, and big trees—they are hard. They can withstand the presence of minerals. However, be cautious while providing water to sensitive indoor plants or seeds. Due to its high salt content, it could cause them burns. Opt for hardy species.
Soil conditioning: Interestingly, regions with sandy soils can benefit from the minerals present in this water to condition the soil. It contributes to improving the texture of the soil.
Sustainable ecosystem: You can create a sustainable garden ecosystem. We are utilizing a resource to promote life which was earlier going to be discarded. Seeing your flowering plants bloom gives a sense of satisfaction knowing that we haven’t drained our water supply to enjoy such beauty.
2. Household Cleaning: Scrub and Shine
Mopping floors: This is the most common use. Collect the water in a bucket. You can use it for mopping floors. It works well. You can add your regular floor cleaner—perhaps some phenol or disinfectant—to get your floors shining bright. There will be no difference from using normal water.
Cleaning utensils: Indian kitchens require good cleaning equipment to clean a huge number of vessels. You can use the reject water for the initial stage of washing to clear out food residues and gravies. Then, follow it up with one more round of quick washing with fresh running water. Thus, you can save half of the fresh running water that you usually need for cleaning.
Washing vehicles: If you own a car or bike, you are aware of the amount of water needed to clean them. Use the reject water to give an initial scrub to remove dirt and grime from the surface of the vehicle. Your vehicle will be clean, and you can reserve fresh water for giving a clean, shining finish.
3. Toilet Flushing: Stop the Drain
We have a bad habit. We use costly drinking water to flush our toilets. It doesn’t make any sense.
Setting up a line: If you are remodeling, ask your plumber to provide a direct link to the piping system. You can channel the rejected water from the RO filter directly into the storage tank of the cistern. It is automatic and self-filling.
Manual method: If changing the pipe is difficult, you can try out the bucket method. Keep a bucket in the bathroom containing the rejected water. When needed, pour the water from the bucket into the toilet to flush.
Innovative Applications: Think Outside the Bucket
After getting used to saving wastewater, you’ll discover various areas where you can use it.
Washing Clothes: You can use it for washing clothes in your machine. Add it during the wash cycle to give clothes good amounts of soap and moisture. Be mindful of the kind of detergent you use. Hard water can create issues while making clothes clean. Consider using liquid detergents or increasing the amount of powdered detergent. Washing clothes is recommended; however, avoid using it to wash your expensive white clothes.
Aquatic Plants: If you have a pond or a water feature, aquatic plants can handle high mineral levels better than those found on land. For example, water lilies are very hardy. You can create a full pond without having to use a hose.
Construction and Maintenance: If you are doing any renovation work at your house, save this water. You can use it to mix cement required for construction purposes. Cement does not care about TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) levels. It sets well. You can also use it to water new sod or grass while renovating the garden. Newly laid grass requires consistent watering, and this is a good source of water.
How to Manage It All
You don’t need to be an engineer to set up this equipment. Keep it simple.
Water collection system: Start with a bucket. If the drainage pipe is sufficient, attach it directly to a large container. If there is ample space, buy a 50-liter water storage drum or a big water tank. You can even use several buckets. Ensure that each one is properly labeled so that no one mistakes it for clean drinking water.
Good hygiene first: Stagnant water provides an ideal breeding ground for mosquitoes. Store your containers with covers. Maintaining good hygiene and safety measures are essential. If after 2-3 days, the stored water develops any bad smell, do not use it for irrigating plants or cleaning purposes. You may flush it away or drain it out.
Instruct the Family
You can’t do this alone. You need help.
Teach the kids: Teach the children about the importance of conservation. Explain how much water can be conserved with our efforts. This will give them good lessons for life.
Inform the staff: The maid and the driver are often responsible for cleaning up. Provide practical examples. Indicate which tap to use and which bucket to fill. Once you create awareness about its importance, everyone will participate in creating a habit of saving water.
Challenges and Things to Watch For
It’s not perfect. We need to keep certain points in mind.
Contaminants: If your input tap water contains high impurities or bacteria, then the rejected water may also contain higher concentrations of these impurities as well. One should be aware of any possible impurities.
Monitoring quality: Every region has its own type of water. Sometimes the TDS level is very high (more than 2000 ppm). In such cases, it may lead to white salt deposition on the floor and houseplants. Monitoring of the condition of the rejects with a simple TDS meter can help identify places to utilize it.
Maintenance: Your RO system needs care. Periodic maintenance of the RO system ensures the filters are working. If the filters fail, the “reject” water might actually be dirtier than usual. Change your filters on time.
Conclusions
RO wastewater offers an opportunity to counter water scarcity challenges. It can be used in gardening, cleaning, and even in construction work. These measures are essential for all Indian households. Making use of them contributes to effective environmental care. Do not wait for a water shortage situation to arise in your apartment complex. Start creating a difference now. Place a bucket under the bathroom faucet. Conserve water. Keeping our cities’ water secured is the intelligent approach to build a better future.