RO/DI Membrane question

FragIt Dan · #1 12-02-2012, 06:43 AM

TDS in Nanaimo typically runs about 8ppm, if it gets above 15 I shut my system down and wait for the spike to pass (guess I am kinda spoiled here). I run a membrane and have had the same resin for well over a year (colour changing and is indicating it is close to done) and I go through a fair bit of water. I would expect to go through a lot of resin without a membrane and still not have clean water.
Dan

whatcaneyedo · #2 12-02-2012, 06:37 PM

There are some other alternatives you may want to consider. I've seen systems available which run two membranes for much less waste and others which return the waste to your hot water tank. If I had the room I would install a large plastic drum near the laundry machine and use all of the waste water for laundry.

I've been using RO/DI since 2005 because it gives me complete control over what goes into my tank. Think of it as risk management.

tim the toolman · #3 12-02-2012, 07:05 PM

In the years I have been using ro di I have never wasted a drop of waste water. I use it for laundry (especially washing filter socks) and watering house plants etc. just have a brute set up next to the washer and tied into that feed for my ro water.

bigmac · #4 12-03-2012, 02:31 AM

Thanks for the replies so far. I'd be very curious to see the TDS readings of the water after it was run through maybe two ro/DI systems (without the membranes in either). Therefore it would go through two sediment filters, two carbon filters and two resin chambers without passing through the membranes. It's an odd thought; I'm aware of that. Just curious if it would work and what the readings would be.
I'm not able to re-use the water for my washing machine as the tank will be in the basement and the washer is two floors above (or should I say it's too much work and it makes my head hurt). I'm not a fan of dumping it into the hot water heater as the extra energy utilized to heat the water isn't appealing.
I've also seen an article somewhere about baking the DI resin to recharge it (or was that just a dream I had). Anywho; I'll continue to do some more investigation and some testing once I'm closer to the new build.
Keep any comments or ideas coming.

whatcaneyedo · #5 12-03-2012, 04:09 AM

Here is one of the options I mentioned earlier, this system claims to reduce the waste of a standard 75gpd system by half. http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/brs-15...grade-kit.html

Some people claim to re charge activated carbon by baking it. But from what I've read that doesn't work. Apparently the true process requires pressure, steam and heat.

GFO can however be recharged with some harsh chemicals.