IES20130276A2 - Low cost rainwater harvesting system - Google Patents

Abstract

There’s money falling from the skies every time it rains. The average person uses around 150 litres of water every day in the house. Typically 50 percent of domestic water is flushed down the toilet. The invention description relates to the simplicity and low cost water harvesting system. Collecting rainwater for use is not very difficult; it may be beyond the budget of many people. We believe every house owner should consider installing our low cost rainwater harvesting system. There are four elements of our rainwater harvesting system - the pump, the hoppers, the attic tank and the storage tank. The main problem and disadvantage is the space the water tanks take up. But it is possible to site them almost anywhere in the shed & garage or garden. Apart from the financial cost of metered water there is also an environmental cost. The amount of energy required to pump is 1 kW per day approx €1 per week. Benefits: 1. Savings of up to 65 percent mains water usage in residential buildings; 2. Savings of up to 85 percent mains water usage in commercial buildings; 3. Low cost rainwater harvesting system; 4. Rainwater free source of water; 5. Provides control over water supply; 6. Improves property value; 7. Low maintenance; 8. Reduces mains water bills; 9. No chemicals have been added to rainwater; 10. Rainwater is ideal for garden plants; and 11. Saves money.

Description

TITLE Low Cost Rainwater Harvesting System for Housing, Schools & Commercial Buildings FIELD OF THE INVENTION The Low Cost Rainwater Harvesting System relates to the process of capturing and storing rain water and using this stored water for use in WCs, washing machines, car washing and outside yard tap and also to help conserve resources that would have been wasted otherwise Over 65% of all mains water is wasted on uses that do not require drinking quality water. Rainwater is also better for your garden and growing vegetables because unlike tap water it does not contain any chemicals due to the absence of chlorine.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION The system provides the benefits of up to 65% savings for residential / commercial & public buildings; huge reduction in water bills; provides control over water supply and adds value to your property.

Our rainwater collecting and storage system is simple and easy to understand, install and operate.

Financial benefits for you - the system is less expensive, the system has low running costs and low maintenance.

The Low cost Rainwater Harvesting system will provide an independent water 25 supply other than drinking water.

STATEMENT OF INVENTION Mains water is expensive and likely to get more expensive in the future. Every House Public/Commercial building; Small Business; Schools; Clubs, can reduce water consumption dramatically by implementing our rainwater harvesting system, instead of your mains water (drinking water) for a variety of uses.

The rainwater harvesting system will create a business - based on a single product, is simple to construct and can be sourced from the local building Low Cost Rainwater Harvesting System for Housing. Schools & Commercial Buildings· -2materials providers while also supporting the local businesses.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be more dearly understood from the following detail drawing, 5 with reference to the accompanying drawing: Figure 1a & 1b shows the House Rainwater Harvesting system detail drawing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Low Cost Rainwater Harvesting System for Housing, Schools & Commercial Buildings' The Low Cost Rainwater Harvesting System includes attic storage tank 150L (1), pump (11), hoppers (6) and 2 x 1000L water tank (14).

Referring to the drawings Figure 1.a illustrates detailed drawings of rainwater harvesting system within a two story standard dwelling house, Figure 1b. illustrate the house plan Hoppers ¢6) are placed a min 8ft or 2.4 m above the ground level, to collect 100% of the rainwater from each downpipe (8) connected to 50mm piping, all piping must be water tight and brought to (14) 2 x1000L water storage tank on ground level.

A pump (6) is placed in the storage tank (1) and water is pumped to the storage tank in the attic (1) and then supplied to the WC's (3) / washing machine (4) outside taps (20) / car washing and watering garden.

A timer switch (24) is placed within the house for power to supply attic tank (1), also a float switch sensor (23) placed within the attic tank. An overflow (10) of 13mm is fitted in case of malfunction.

An on-off valve (19) is placed at WC's (3), washing machine (4), out side tap (20) in case of lack of rainwater. An overflow (10) is fitted at the 2xW00L extra WOOL storage tanks (14) can be added if required, storage tank (14) which in turn takes the access water to the storm water drain. (1) Storage Tank Low Cost Rainwater Harvesting System for Housing, Schools & Commercial Buildings (2) WCfs3 washing machine water tap supply (3) WC (4) Washing machine (5) UV filter ¢6) Hopper (7) Gutter ¢8) Continuous water tight piping from hopper (9) Water main from main supply (10) Ove rflow from storag e tan k ¢11) Pump (12) Rain water to tank from roof surface (13) Overflow from WOOL tank (14) WOOL water storage tank (15) Gully trap (16) Waist to main discharge (17) Cable from pump ¢18) Ridge of house (19) Valve ¢20) Outside tap ¢21) Filter (in the hoppers) (22) Filter (inlet of the storage tank) float sensor switch (23) Timer switch (24) Timer switch Low Cost Rainwater Harvesting System lor Housing, Schools & Commercial Buildings

Claims (2)

1. A rainwater harvesting system for collecting and distributing rainwater comprising: hoppers (6) for collecting the rainwater (12) from downpipes (8) h the water directed from the gutters (7) to a water storage tank (14) at ground level; a pump (11) for pumping the collected rainwater in the water storage tank 10 (14) to an attic storage tank (1) situated in the attic space of the premises, the rainwater (12) being cleaned by filters (21) situated in the hoppers (6) as it enters the storage tank (14) and by a UV filter (5) while being pumped to the attic storage tank (1); 15 an overflow system (10), incorporating a float sensor switch (23), from the attic storage tank (1) to allow an excess of water to be eliminated in case of malfunction; an overflow system (13) from the water storage tank (14) at ground level 20 connected to a gulley trap (15) and waste discharge system (16); a water delivery system using several valves ¢19) connecting the water outlet pipe from the attic storage tank ¢1) to several water heavy appliances such as WC’s (3), washing machines (4) and outside water 25 tap ¢20).

2. Aral n wate r harvest! ng system fo r co 11 ecti ng an d di stri buti ng rai nwate r as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. J .ow Cost Rainwater Harvesting System for Housing, Schools & ConunecciaJ Bui Idings