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World Pumps Volume 2014, Issue 4, April 2014, Pages 10–11
Company Focus
Turning grey water into a vital resource Serge Becker Show m ore
doi:10.1016/S0262-1762(14)70071-9
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Grey water is becoming increasingly important. In the past removing condensate water from an air conditioning unit was a challenge and was often not viewed as being economically viable. However, Aspen Pumps has been providing water condensate recycling solutions for more than 20 years and the benefits are huge as Serge Becker, sales and marketing director at Aspen Pumps explains.
Fresh water is the most valuable and yet scare commodity on the planet. Grey water is becoming increasingly important. It is the most used type of water in the world, and the most wasted on a daily basis. Grey water is categorised as water that is created through waste water in the home, excluding toilet water (or black water). We unknowingly generate up to 636 litres of it every day when we have a shower or a bath, or use the washing machine or wash the dishes. It is a common misconception that grey water cannot be recycled, when in fact it can be used to wash clothes, water the garden, wash our vehicles or water a constructed wetland. When thinking about recycling, what most people don't realise is that they have an additional source of grey water in their houses that can produce between 22-90 litres of water per day. Commmercial and domestic air conditioning is becoming more and more commonplace. Condensate water is generated as a by-product of an air conditioning unit. This condensate is then usually collected in the unit and traditionally is then deposited straight out of the building using gravity. A standard air conditioning unit can produce on average 25,000 litres of water a year; if recycled it's enough to fill 110 bathtubs, wash a car 547 times, do 138 loads of washing, or could flush a toilet 2,737 times per year! Water is becoming more valuable with the realisation growing that we need to recycle this precious resource.
Aspen Pumps Hi-Lift 2 litre Tank pump can pump up to 12 m of head and has a flow rate of 11 litres an hour. Figure options
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Helping sustainability With more people looking to air conditioning systems to keep their homes cool, and the need to actively recycle water becoming more important, the theory of recycling grey water generated from air conditioning units has become a reality. With the correct pumping methods, it is entirely possible to have sufficient recycled grey water to significantly reduce water bills and help sustainability. Adrian Thompson, CEO of Aspen Pumps, commented: “Being able to reuse grey water is important in ensuring that we do our bit to protect the environment. It is critical that we can offer people the tools to reuse their grey water. We have a range of pumps that will lift the water up and into storage tanks, outside water butts, and other water drainage systems, which means that the water can then be reused and recycled as appropriate.” More companies are beginning to realise the value both financially and environmentally that grey water recycling could bring them, with many companies already beginning to utilise this valuable source of water. One such establishment is a prominent university that has already started to recycle the grey water produced from its air conditioning systems. The system that was implemented produces between 5-6% of the water the university requires on a yearly basis which is an estimated 45 million litres annually.
Aspen's Mini Lime elbow pump: Mounted w ithin a dedicated trunking system, its compact design allow s for good installation and maintenance. Figure options
Fantastic opportunities Serge Becker, sales and marketing director at Aspen Pumps, said: “Our pumps have the ability to pump grey water up to 20 metres straight up, meaning that the water can be pumped into a roof top storage tank and reused for washing clothes, cars and watering gardens. The sustainability opportunities are fantastic.” Aspen Pumps' Hi-Lift Tank pump can pump up to 12 metres of head. This would be more than enough to transport water from an air conditioning unit to a water storage tank ready for recycling. Whatever the country or environment, if there is an air conditioning unit, there is an opportunity to recycle grey water. The average person uses 140 litres of water per day, with only approximately 5-10 litres of this used for drinking and cooking. With this in mind, with the right pump, trunking and accessories, everybody can greatly benefit from water sustainability, opportunities and economical savings. Aspen Pumps For more information on water sustainability pumping systems, please contact Aspen Pumps on
[email protected] or visit www.aspenpumps.com
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