Rejected water from RO/DI

Chimone · 01/27/2012, 09:39 PM

So the rejected water from my new RO/DI filter runs through a sediment filter and a carbon block and is rejected from the membrane right? I'm thinking this water is still much cleaner than the water that originally comes out of the tap correct?

I mean just because it's considered "rejected" doesn't mean it's not safe to drink? Does it contain 1/4 more of the minerals than it originally did?

Just thinking out loud here, I'm was going to use the waste water for my peach trees. But it's safe to drink if one wanted to?

zigzag1 · 01/27/2012, 09:45 PM

Should be just fine. Some folks use 'grey water' from laundry to water fruit trees, I would think this would be cleaner that that. Watering fruit trees would be much better than just tossing it down the drain like most do. JMTC & GL!

sleepydoc · 01/27/2012, 09:55 PM

... unless it's softened water. then it probably contains an higher concentration of softener salt and wouldn't be so good for plants.

thegrun · 01/27/2012, 10:10 PM

My rejected water has about a 15% higher TDS reading than my tap water. While I think it would be okay to drink, I would not recommend it. You are getting the smaller molecular pollutants at a higher dosage than straight tap water. It's fine for watering plants, but I wouldn't drink it if there were alternatives.

Chimone · 01/27/2012, 10:48 PM

Out here in the desert we have very hard water and high mineral content. From a brewers aspect it's great for brown ales sucks for blondes.

radicaltimes · 01/27/2012, 10:49 PM

It will be fine. In Columbus ,Ohio my TDS before the RO/DI is 120. So if it is 15% higher it would be around 138 TDS. The township I work in has a TDS of 500 from there tap water. Any use you have for it would be better than putting it down the drain. Even though that is where mine goes.

disc1 · 01/28/2012, 12:46 AM

Yes, that water is safer for you to drink. It's also great for freshwater tanks since the carbon gets rid of the chlorine.

tuawcxs · 01/28/2012, 07:58 AM

I keep my outdoor Koi inside during the winter in a 150 gallon tub. I use the "waste water" from the RODI to water change them and in the summer I use the water to change the outside ponds and water plants. No need to not use it. Fish are healthy and growing.

Guillaume · 01/28/2012, 08:17 AM

No water should be wasted, especially this one that is pretty clean. Next summer I plan putting a valve and a pipe up to our garden outside.

I would not worry about a little more TDS. And there is some good side from not having the chlorine in it.

Copod RC · 01/28/2012, 08:17 AM

I fill a livestock trough when weather allows. Horses don't seem to mind, and they don't jump out the paddocks. I have a "T" that changes flow to our septic in the winter.

James77 · 01/28/2012, 10:18 AM

Unless your city water is polluted crap, it would be harmless to drink the "wastewater". If anything, it has some benefits over the original tap water where the chlorine and large sediments have been removed.

lokii_37 · 01/28/2012, 10:27 AM

I water plants and my dogs with it. I have even heard of people keeping a bucket next to the toilet and using it to flush

Agu · 01/28/2012, 10:46 AM

I've used the RO/DI waste for most of the above.

Have found one application where regular tap water is preferred though. I was using RO/DI waste water to top off a small outdoor fountain and had all kinds of slime algae problems. Realized that the chlorine in regular tap water kept the fountain substantially cleaner

.

Randy Holmes-Farley · 01/28/2012, 11:21 AM

Be careful with RO/DI waste water as it will contain substantial ammonia if your utility uses chloramine. In that case, it is likely unsuitable for other aquarium applications.

rogster · 01/28/2012, 11:42 AM

I would be interested in finding how people are reclaiming this water. Like running the pipe from kitchen sink to some type of reservoir.

01/27/2012, 09:39 PM	#1
Chimone Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Sierra Vista, AZ Posts: 67	Rejected water from RO/DI So the rejected water from my new RO/DI filter runs through a sediment filter and a carbon block and is rejected from the membrane right? I'm thinking this water is still much cleaner than the water that originally comes out of the tap correct? I mean just because it's considered "rejected" doesn't mean it's not safe to drink? Does it contain 1/4 more of the minerals than it originally did? Just thinking out loud here, I'm was going to use the waste water for my peach trees. But it's safe to drink if one wanted to?

01/27/2012, 09:45 PM	#2
zigzag1 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Anderson, Indiana Posts: 1,276	Should be just fine. Some folks use 'grey water' from laundry to water fruit trees, I would think this would be cleaner that that. Watering fruit trees would be much better than just tossing it down the drain like most do. JMTC & GL! __________________ :beer: Mixed Reef, started 10/2004: 6' BB 125g DT, 100lbs LR, 40g sump, Dual Ehiem 1000 returns, Eshopps dual overflow, JBJ ATO, Vertex IN-180, PM Ca reactor, 250w MH w/VHO Actinic, AC3 w/Aquasurf, Tunze 6105 pair & 40B frag tank 8 Fish, 20+ corals, shrimp, snails, worms, bugs, etc.

01/28/2012, 12:46 AM	#7
disc1 -RT * ln(k) Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Little Rock Posts: 9,705	Yes, that water is safer for you to drink. It's also great for freshwater tanks since the carbon gets rid of the chlorine. __________________ David Current Tank: Undergoing reconstruction...

01/28/2012, 08:17 AM	#9
Guillaume Another reef dependant Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Québec Posts: 505	No water should be wasted, especially this one that is pretty clean. Next summer I plan putting a valve and a pipe up to our garden outside. I would not worry about a little more TDS. And there is some good side from not having the chlorine in it. __________________ G Current Tank Info: 150g mixed reef

01/28/2012, 10:18 AM	#11
James77 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 8,158	Unless your city water is polluted crap, it would be harmless to drink the "wastewater". If anything, it has some benefits over the original tap water where the chlorine and large sediments have been removed. __________________ Jim Current Tank Info: 120g Mixed Reef and 75g Freshwater

01/27/2012, 09:55 PM	#3
sleepydoc Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 3,907	... unless it's softened water. then it probably contains an higher concentration of softener salt and wouldn't be so good for plants.

01/27/2012, 10:10 PM	#4
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	My rejected water has about a 15% higher TDS reading than my tap water. While I think it would be okay to drink, I would not recommend it. You are getting the smaller molecular pollutants at a higher dosage than straight tap water. It's fine for watering plants, but I wouldn't drink it if there were alternatives.

01/27/2012, 10:48 PM	#5
Chimone Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Sierra Vista, AZ Posts: 67	Out here in the desert we have very hard water and high mineral content. From a brewers aspect it's great for brown ales sucks for blondes.

01/27/2012, 10:49 PM	#6
radicaltimes Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Columbus, Oh Posts: 274	It will be fine. In Columbus ,Ohio my TDS before the RO/DI is 120. So if it is 15% higher it would be around 138 TDS. The township I work in has a TDS of 500 from there tap water. Any use you have for it would be better than putting it down the drain. Even though that is where mine goes.

01/28/2012, 07:58 AM	#8
tuawcxs Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 91	I keep my outdoor Koi inside during the winter in a 150 gallon tub. I use the "waste water" from the RODI to water change them and in the summer I use the water to change the outside ponds and water plants. No need to not use it. Fish are healthy and growing.

01/28/2012, 08:17 AM	#10
Copod RC Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 18	I fill a livestock trough when weather allows. Horses don't seem to mind, and they don't jump out the paddocks. I have a "T" that changes flow to our septic in the winter.

01/28/2012, 10:27 AM	#12
lokii_37 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Santa Rosa Posts: 1,270	I water plants and my dogs with it. I have even heard of people keeping a bucket next to the toilet and using it to flush __________________ Mostly SPS 90G DT with 50G sump, SRO2000 INT, DIY LED T5 hybrid

01/28/2012, 10:46 AM	#13
Agu Registered Member Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Sarasota, Florida Posts: 30,279	I've used the RO/DI waste for most of the above. Have found one application where regular tap water is preferred though. I was using RO/DI waste water to top off a small outdoor fountain and had all kinds of slime algae problems. Realized that the chlorine in regular tap water kept the fountain substantially cleaner . __________________ Less technology , more biology . Current Tank Info: 30 gallon half cube and 5.5, both reef tanks

01/28/2012, 11:21 AM	#14
Randy Holmes-Farley Reef Chemist Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Arlington, Massachusetts Posts: 86,233	Be careful with RO/DI waste water as it will contain substantial ammonia if your utility uses chloramine. In that case, it is likely unsuitable for other aquarium applications. __________________ Randy Holmes-Farley Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef

01/28/2012, 11:42 AM	#15
rogster Moved On Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 38	I would be interested in finding how people are reclaiming this water. Like running the pipe from kitchen sink to some type of reservoir.