Each residential property has its own specific requirement when it comes to the installation of a rainwater harvesting. There are essentially three types three types of systems that can be installed. They range from a very basic system that can be used to top up the pool of for gardening to very complex systems that harvest and treat rainwater for potable use. Many systems integrate with a backup water and water pressure booster systems to ensure that households have backup water when there is an interruption in municipal water supply and or when the water pressure in the main supply is very low.
The basic rainwater harvesting systems.
This system is very basic. It will contain a well installed tank, a primary rainwater filter and a valve at the bottom of the tank where water can be drained or a hosepipe can be connected to. It will harvest water off a 50 to 150sqm roof and will be exclusively be used for watering the garden and filling your pool. It does not contain any pressurized pump.
Intermediate non potable rainwater harvesting system
This system is more complex than the basic system and has a pressurized pump and control system together with a municipal backup water system. Rainwater recovery of a roof or hard surface area is maximized. The harvested rainwater is filtered with a WISY primary filter and stored in a tank. The water will primarily be used for non-potable applications. Dedicated water supply pipes will be installed for the flushing of toilets, general washing or gardening. When the rainwater tanks are empty the supply to the applications will revert to municipal water until the rainwater tanks are topped up again.
Deluxe potable rainwater harvesting water installations
Our Deluxe system is recognized as the world standard for treatment of rainwater for the use as drinking water. It has a 4-step rainwater treatment and water purification process.
These 4 steps ensure that the water coming from a rainwater system is clear, contains no visible particles, no chemicals and has been sanitized of all possible bacteria and harmful micro-organisms. This system is complex and purifies harvested rainwater for potable use. It combines with a municipal backup water system to ensure that the building has potable water at all times - even during municipal water interruption. This system is designed to be integrated into a new building and it is designed together with the architects and constructed during the construction of a new building.
- Step 1 – Flushing and cleaning. Filtration begins with the collection of rainwater. Using our WISY system all debris, leaves and small particles are removed before it enters the system. A primary rainwater filter - like an inline collector or a vortex filter screen out the debris before it enters the tank. The vortex filter also acts as a first flush allowing the first amount of roof water to pass before it starts collecting rainwater for the tank. This ensures that the storage system remains clean and oxygenated. Any small number of debris that goes into the storage tank becomes part of the bio-layer that settles to the bottom. Supplying it with fresh oxygenated water (special inflow system) ensures that it is broken down effectively without leaving any taste in the water. Our inflow system ensures that the bio-layer is not disturbed and that it works effectively.
- Step 2 - Filtration of the water under pressure. Our pump floating suction system ensures that the bio-layer is not disturbed and pumps clear fresh water to the the filtration system. The floating suction draws the rainwater from just below the surface of the water in the tank. This is the cleanest rainwater and by doing this it also ensures proper rotation of rainwater through the tank. As a precaution the floating suction has a course filter-element.Our pump floating suction system ensures that the bio-layer is not disturbed and pumps clear fresh water to the the filtration system. The floating suction draws the rainwater from just below the surface of the water in the tank. This is the cleanest rainwater and by doing this it also ensures proper rotation of rainwater through the tank. As a precaution the floating suction has a course filter-element.
- Step 3 - Filter cartridges remove all particles bigger than 1-5 microns from the water so the water is completely clear and there are no visible particles in the water. After filtration the water is passed over an activated carbon filter which removes all tastes and chemicals from the water. These molecules and chemicals are absorbed by the activated carbon leaving the water clean and pure.
- Step 4 – Sanitization.After the water has been purified it can still contain bacteria or harmful micro-organisms. Our sanitation process uses a process called ultraviolet sterilization. The water is passed through a system where it is exposed to a high dose of ultraviolet light. The UV light kills off any other harmful micro-organism, bacteria, viruses in the water ensuring that the rainwater that you drink are safe for human consumption.
These systems will contain a backflow prevention valve and numerous components to ensure effective water quality management as well as a control system to top up the tanks,
