Using RO Wastewater for Lawns/Gardens

[Buzz1329]

I’d like to use waste water from RO unit to water lawn/garden. I make about 60 gals a week of water for use in my tanks (for water changes and top offs) so I’m thinking wastewater would be several times that, which is not an insignificant amount. RO unit is currently set up in basement sump room with wastewater draining into sump below. So I’m thinking I could extend drain line to about 100’, run drain line up one flight of stairs, and then down through side door where line would then run to front lawn. I would periodically adjust direction of flow to different part of lawn. Would requiring wastewater to flow 10’ -12’ up negatively impact production of usable water?

Option 2 would be to direct wastewater flow into 30-50 gallon container in basement and use sump pump (with built in float switch) with garden hose attachment to pump water upstairs and out onto front lawn. This would be obviously be the most expensive (sump pump w float switch ain’t cheap) and biggest PITA (lugging garbage can in and out of basement everytime I run water).

Option 3 would be to drill hole in foundation wall at top of sump room, which would be at ground level of lawn), run discharge line through hole and carefully seal hole around tubing to make sure basement is waterproof. This would be the most efficient and easiest way of delivering wastewater to lawn, though I’m wary of drilling hole in foundation.

Those of you who are using wastewater for lawns/gardens, I would appreciate your suggestions and advice.

Mike

[BrettDS]

Originally Posted by Buzz1329

So I’m thinking I could extend drain line to about 100’, run drain line up one flight of stairs, and then down through side door where line would then run to front lawn. I would periodically adjust direction of flow to different part of lawn. Would requiring wastewater to flow 10’ -12’ up negatively impact production of usable water?

This would not be a problem.

[Ron Reefman]

I don't 'waste' my reject water on the lawn. I have a 250gpd RO system and 4 tanks in the house that equal about 600 gallons. So I have a big cistern in the garage between the RO and the washing machine (in south Florida it's not uncommon to have the washer and drier in the garage). I use the reject water for doing the wash cycle and city water for the rinse cycle. It saves us about $25 to $35 a month on our water bill.

[snorvich]

Originally Posted by Ron Reefman

I don't 'waste' my reject water on the lawn. I have a 250gpd RO system and 4 tanks in the house that equal about 600 gallons. So I have a big cistern in the garage between the RO and the washing machine (in south Florida it's not uncommon to have the washer and drier in the garage). I use the reject water for doing the wash cycle and city water for the rinse cycle. It saves us about $25 to $35 a month on our water bill.

Clever!!!

[shifty51008]

Any of those options will work just fine. For me we just get charged $40 a month for so much water then more if we go over that, however we never come close to going over the gallons so i just let the waste go down the drain. I wouldnt say im wasteing the water either as it goes right back to the treatment plant and reused.

[brett559]

My new RO is the BRS 4-stage that attaches to my hose outside. I run the waste line right into my swimming pool. Like my aquarium, my pool needs topoff, so the water gets put to good use. My old RO was under my sink, so I couldn't see how much waste water there was. I was sort of shocked at the amount of waste, and living where I do (CA), it's feels good to put that water to use.

[Reefstarter2]

Works great my plants grow huge from it

[Buzz1329]

Originally Posted by Ron Reefman

I don't 'waste' my reject water on the lawn. I have a 250gpd RO system and 4 tanks in the house that equal about 600 gallons. So I have a big cistern in the garage between the RO and the washing machine (in south Florida it's not uncommon to have the washer and drier in the garage). I use the reject water for doing the wash cycle and city water for the rinse cycle. It saves us about $25 to $35 a month on our water bill.

Hah. Seems like a great system, but not one that I have the room/resources to emulate. Thanks!

[Buzz1329]

Originally Posted by shifty51008

Any of those options will work just fine. For me we just get charged $40 a month for so much water then more if we go over that, however we never come close to going over the gallons so i just let the waste go down the drain. I wouldnt say im wasteing the water either as it goes right back to the treatment plant and reused.

Greenishness aside, here in NYC, seems like the water rates have increased by like 1,000% over the past few years and that I my water bill is fast approaching amount I pay for real estate taxes. So I would really like to use the "wastewater" for some productive purpose. I just ordered 125' of black tubing from BRS and will now run wastewater onto lawn and garden from spring to autumn.

Thanks everyone for your help,

Mike