"Free" fresh water?
 

Recent talk of watermakers on another list got me thinking about an idea I came
up with on may last trip to the Bahamas. And as I well know, few ideas are
original, I thought I would run it by you folks and see what you think of it.
And whether anyone had tried it or seen it tried.

While sitting in the Exumas I got to thinking about how nice it would be to
have a watermaker while at the same time weighing the pros and cons of the cost
and maintenance involved.
At that point I started thinking about all the condensation water my A/Cs were
making and how it was just going overboard and being wasted. So I started to
wondering about setting up the condensation pans to drain into a shower sump
and pumping that water, perhaps using a higher pressure pump than the small
bilge pumps that come in most shower sumps, through a media/charcoal filter and
then through an ultraviolet sterilizer and into one of my water tanks.
A shower sump and an ultraviolet sterilizer along with the hoses and fittings
would be much cheaper and lower in maintenance than a watermaker.

The A/Cs can make 5 gallons or more condensation water in a 24 hour day. And I
have 3 units so I'm looking at, at least 10-15 gallons of "free" water per day.
And on part of the last trip to the Bahamas there were 5 of us on board and we
made 120 gallons of water last 7+ days no problem.
So at that rate, 10 gallons or more of condensation water per day would be as
good as a watermaker for me.

So, what do you think?
Has anybody tried it? Down sides? Problems you can for see?

While searching around the web I did run into this:
http://www.waterfromair.com/index.php


Capt. Bill

LaBomba182 wrote:
Recent talk of watermakers on another list got me thinking about an idea I came
up with on may last trip to the Bahamas. And as I well know, few ideas are
original, I thought I would run it by you folks and see what you think of it.
And whether anyone had tried it or seen it tried.

While sitting in the Exumas I got to thinking about how nice it would be to
have a watermaker while at the same time weighing the pros and cons of the cost
and maintenance involved.
At that point I started thinking about all the condensation water my A/Cs were
making and how it was just going overboard and being wasted. So I started to
wondering about setting up the condensation pans to drain into a shower sump
and pumping that water, perhaps using a higher pressure pump than the small
bilge pumps that come in most shower sumps, through a media/charcoal filter and
then through an ultraviolet sterilizer and into one of my water tanks.

I think this is a great idea. It sounds like it would definitely be
cheaper, less bulky, and less maintenance than a RO water maker. You
could run a rain collector into the same set-up.


The A/Cs can make 5 gallons or more condensation water in a 24 hour day. And I
have 3 units so I'm looking at, at least 10-15 gallons of "free" water per day.
And on part of the last trip to the Bahamas there were 5 of us on board and we
made 120 gallons of water last 7+ days no problem.
So at that rate, 10 gallons or more of condensation water per day would be as
good as a watermaker for me.

So, what do you think?
Has anybody tried it? Down sides? Problems you can for see?

The only problem I can see is that it limited to summer and hot climates
when you're running the A/C (how many hours per day do you run the
genset?) and is dependent on high humidity.


While searching around the web I did run into this:
http://www.waterfromair.com/index.php

Neat idea but I'm suspicious of a "water magnet" and the durn thing
costs $1K... you can buy about 1,250 gallons of distilled water at the
grocery store for that.

Fair Skies
Doug King

Subject: "Free" fresh water?
From: DSK

LaBomba182 wrote:
Recent talk of watermakers on another list got me thinking about an idea I
came
up with on may last trip to the Bahamas. And as I well know, few ideas are
original, I thought I would run it by you folks and see what you think of
it.
And whether anyone had tried it or seen it tried.

While sitting in the Exumas I got to thinking about how nice it would be to
have a watermaker while at the same time weighing the pros and cons of the
cost
and maintenance involved.
At that point I started thinking about all the condensation water my A/Cs
were
making and how it was just going overboard and being wasted. So I started
to
wondering about setting up the condensation pans to drain into a shower
sump
and pumping that water, perhaps using a higher pressure pump than the small
bilge pumps that come in most shower sumps, through a media/charcoal filter
and
then through an ultraviolet sterilizer and into one of my water tanks.

I think this is a great idea. It sounds like it would definitely be
cheaper, less bulky, and less maintenance than a RO water maker. You
could run a rain collector into the same set-up.


Yeah, I thought of that one while taking a "rain" shower under the run off from
the top deck. :-)



The A/Cs can make 5 gallons or more condensation water in a 24 hour day.
And I
have 3 units so I'm looking at, at least 10-15 gallons of "free" water per
day.
And on part of the last trip to the Bahamas there were 5 of us on board and
we
made 120 gallons of water last 7+ days no problem.
So at that rate, 10 gallons or more of condensation water per day would be
as
good as a watermaker for me.

So, what do you think?
Has anybody tried it? Down sides? Problems you can for see?

The only problem I can see is that it limited to summer and hot climates
when you're running the A/C (how many hours per day do you run the
genset?) and is dependent on high humidity.

GenSet run time? In the Bahamas, in the summer, 24 hours a day baby! :-)


Capt. Bill

Years ago I had the idea of watering my plants with condensate from my
dehumidifier. (At the time I was buying distilled water for that purpose.)
Someone knowledgeable told me the condensate was toxic. I have no
recollection of why that was (or even why I was watering my plants with
distilled water, for that matter) or if your filters would help at all; but
the idea is so obvious that it would be done if practical.

John wrote:
Years ago I had the idea of watering my plants with condensate from my
dehumidifier. (At the time I was buying distilled water for that purpose.)
Someone knowledgeable told me the condensate was toxic. I have no
recollection of why that was (or even why I was watering my plants with
distilled water, for that matter) or if your filters would help at all; but
the idea is so obvious that it would be done if practical.

Every now and then an idea is too obvious for anyone to think of doing
it...till someone finally does, and the rest of the world says "oh
duh...why didn't I think of that?" Even if the water collected weren't
potable-safe, it could still be used for other purposes to conserve the
potable supply.
--
Peggie
----------
Peggie Hall
Specializing in marine sanitation since 1987
Author "Get Rid of Boat Odors - A Guide To Marine Sanitation Systems and
Other Sources of Aggravation and Odor"
http://69.20.93.241/store/customer/p...40&cat=&page=1

On Sunday 24 October 2004 4:17 pm in rec.boats.cruising John wrote:

Years ago I had the idea of watering my plants with condensate from my
dehumidifier. (At the time I was buying distilled water for that
purpose.)
Someone knowledgeable told me the condensate was toxic. I have no
recollection of why that was (or even why I was watering my plants with
distilled water, for that matter) or if your filters would help at all;
but the idea is so obvious that it would be done if practical.

The condensate contains all of the pollutants which were
in the air. By recycling the condensate you will be
continually concentrating these pollutants into your
drinking water. This is a BAD idea.

Sweaty people + cooking byproducts being concentrated
with each recycling - YUK.

--
My real address is crn (at) netunix (dot) com
WARNING all messages containing attachments or html will be silently
deleted. Send only plain text.

The condensate contains all of the pollutants which were
in the air. By recycling the condensate you will be
continually concentrating these pollutants into your
drinking water. This is a BAD idea.

nice thought, but you breath in much more raw polluted air than if you drank a
glass of that condenser water that has been run though a purifier ....

besides, that distilled water you are buying...chances are it was reclaimed
from a sewage treatment center before being refiltered at the distillary.

something to think about

Chris Newport wrote:
The condensate contains all of the pollutants which were
in the air. By recycling the condensate you will be
continually concentrating these pollutants into your
drinking water. This is a BAD idea.

How is that different from collecting rain water for showering etc?

He's not necessarily suggesting mixing it with the potable water supply
(or the shower water), only collecting it in another sump.

--
Peggie
----------
Peggie Hall
Specializing in marine sanitation since 1987
Author "Get Rid of Boat Odors - A Guide To Marine Sanitation Systems and
Other Sources of Aggravation and Odor"
http://69.20.93.241/store/customer/p...40&cat=&page=1

Does the condenser coils on the A/C have any salt or scale type build-up?
I'm thinking that if there is any kind of build-up it would not stay there
long and then disolve into the water you are collecting and you might end up
with water almost as bad as you started with.
I know growing up my parents had a dehumidifier (similer to an A/C unit) in
the basement and the water that came off of that was fairly pure, but this
was in Minnesota...no salt in the air. The condensate coils were always wet,
so any impurities were being flushed down into the collection tank.

Eric

"Peggie Hall" wrote in message
...
Chris Newport wrote:
The condensate contains all of the pollutants which were
in the air. By recycling the condensate you will be
continually concentrating these pollutants into your
drinking water. This is a BAD idea.

How is that different from collecting rain water for showering etc?

He's not necessarily suggesting mixing it with the potable water supply
(or the shower water), only collecting it in another sump.

--
Peggie
----------
Peggie Hall
Specializing in marine sanitation since 1987
Author "Get Rid of Boat Odors - A Guide To Marine Sanitation Systems and
Other Sources of Aggravation and Odor"
http://69.20.93.241/store/customer/p...40&cat=&page=1

On Sunday 24 October 2004 6:58 pm in rec.boats.cruising Peggie Hall wrote:

Chris Newport wrote:
The condensate contains all of the pollutants which were
in the air. By recycling the condensate you will be
continually concentrating these pollutants into your
drinking water. This is a BAD idea.

How is that different from collecting rain water for showering etc?

Rainwater is fresh clean water, perhaps with a single dose
of atmospheric pollution collected on the way down. Condensate
from an aircon is recirclated moisture from the cabin, possibly
being rcirculated several times.

He's not necessarily suggesting mixing it with the potable water supply
(or the shower water), only collecting it in another sump.

So long as it is used once only for washing or showering and
then discarded I see no harm. This does, however, imply having
two tanks, one for drinking and the other unfit for consumption.

--
My real address is crn (at) netunix (dot) com
WARNING all messages containing attachments or html will be silently
deleted. Send only plain text.

The condensate contains all of the pollutants which were
in the air. By recycling the condensate you will be
continually concentrating these pollutants into your
drinking water. This is a BAD idea.


BSCHNAUTZ wrote:
nice thought, but you breath in much more raw polluted air than if you drank a
glass of that condenser water that has been run though a purifier ....

besides, that distilled water you are buying...chances are it was reclaimed
from a sewage treatment center before being refiltered at the distillary.

something to think about

I have the feeling that neither of you understand what distilling or
evaporating actually is.

At some point in history, all water on the Earth, including what's
currently locked in the ice caps, has been excreted by some animal...
possibly dinosaurs...

Something to think about.

DSK

One can only think of the Franklin Expedition where in 1845 all crew died
with the probable cause of death being lead poisoning from the cans their
food was in.
If I was going to drink water that had been in contact with metal coils, I
would make sure I knew what he coils were made of. Easiest way to ensure
your safety, is to have the water tested before you launch.
Jim

"Chris Newport" wrote in message
news:1946085.NTum0Vokl4@callisto...
On Sunday 24 October 2004 4:17 pm in rec.boats.cruising John wrote:

Years ago I had the idea of watering my plants with condensate from my
dehumidifier. (At the time I was buying distilled water for that
purpose.)
Someone knowledgeable told me the condensate was toxic. I have no
recollection of why that was (or even why I was watering my plants with
distilled water, for that matter) or if your filters would help at all;
but the idea is so obvious that it would be done if practical.

The condensate contains all of the pollutants which were
in the air. By recycling the condensate you will be
continually concentrating these pollutants into your
drinking water. This is a BAD idea.

Sweaty people + cooking byproducts being concentrated
with each recycling - YUK.

--
My real address is crn (at) netunix (dot) com
WARNING all messages containing attachments or html will be silently
deleted. Send only plain text.

A dino on the rocks sounds like a great drink either with or without lime or
lemon.

At some point in history, all water on the Earth, including what's
currently locked in the ice caps, has been excreted by some animal...
possibly dinosaurs...

Something to think about.

I read that in each breath you take in 1000 oxygen molecules that Alexander
the Great also breathed.
Presumably that goes back to dinosaurs also.

Subject: "Free" fresh water?
From: Chris Newport

On Sunday 24 October 2004 4:17 pm in rec.boats.cruising John wrote:

Years ago I had the idea of watering my plants with condensate from my
dehumidifier. (At the time I was buying distilled water for that
purpose.)
Someone knowledgeable told me the condensate was toxic. I have no
recollection of why that was (or even why I was watering my plants with
distilled water, for that matter) or if your filters would help at all;
but the idea is so obvious that it would be done if practical.

The condensate contains all of the pollutants which were
in the air. By recycling the condensate you will be
continually concentrating these pollutants into your
drinking water. This is a BAD idea.

Sweaty people + cooking byproducts being concentrated
with each recycling - YUK.

The air is filtered so somehow I doubt this. And with the use of an ultraviolet
sterilizer, I doubt it even more.

Capt. Bill

Subject: "Free" fresh water?
From: "Eric Currier"

Does the condenser coils on the A/C have any salt or scale type build-up?
I'm thinking that if there is any kind of build-up it would not stay there
long and then disolve into the water you are collecting and you might end up
with water almost as bad as you started with.

snip

Note, that's way I mentioned using filters and a UV sterilizer.

Capt. Bill

Subject: "Free" fresh water?
From: "JGW"

One can only think of the Franklin Expedition

!? You must be kidding!

where in 1845 all crew died
with the probable cause of death being lead poisoning from the cans their
food was in.

!? You must be kidding?

If I was going to drink water that had been in contact with metal coils, I
would make sure I knew what he coils were made of.

!? You must be kidding?

Easiest way to ensure
your safety, is to have the water tested before you launch.

I guess your not kidding.

Capt. Bill

Subject: "Free" fresh water?
From: "John"

Years ago I had the idea of watering my plants with condensate from my
dehumidifier. (At the time I was buying distilled water for that purpose.)
Someone knowledgeable told me the condensate was toxic. I have no
recollection of why that was (or even why I was watering my plants with
distilled water, for that matter) or if your filters would help at all; but
the idea is so obvious that it would be done if practical.

Did you check out the link? It is being done in another form.

Capt. Bill

Subject: "Free" fresh water?
From: "John"

Years ago I had the idea of watering my plants with condensate from my
dehumidifier. (At the time I was buying distilled water for that purpose.)
Someone knowledgeable told me the condensate was toxic.

At this point I think I need to take some condensation water and have it tested
for contaminates. Then see what kind of filtation I need.

Capt. Bill

DSK is totally RIGHT.
A cubic foot of 'clean' air contains greater than 30,000 particles
(equal to or greater than 0,01 micrometers diameter) per cubic foot -
with a great proportion of them bacteria and mold/mildew spores.

Your body traps these particles on the mucous membrane and hair-like
(cilia) linings of the upper respiratory tract .... (making 'boogers'
that you periodically expel).

Without some means of removal (a recirculation fltration, etc.) any
process that continually concentrates will eventually be totally fouled
with 'sludge' from ever increasing airborne particles.


In article , Keith
wrote:

Then how come water was here first?

Chris Newport wrote:

On Sunday 24 October 2004 4:17 pm in rec.boats.cruising John wrote:


Years ago I had the idea of watering my plants with condensate from my
dehumidifier. (At the time I was buying distilled water for that
purpose.)
Someone knowledgeable told me the condensate was toxic. I have no
recollection of why that was (or even why I was watering my plants with
distilled water, for that matter) or if your filters would help at all;
but the idea is so obvious that it would be done if practical.


The condensate contains all of the pollutants which were
in the air. By recycling the condensate you will be
continually concentrating these pollutants into your
drinking water. This is a BAD idea.

Sweaty people + cooking byproducts being concentrated
with each recycling - YUK.


Disitilled water is pure water. If you have a dirty condensor, or
it's soldered with lead (unlikely in an aluminium device) then you
will get dirty condensed water, or water with some lead in it.
Clean it, or use one without lead, etc. In this application there is
no recycling or concentrating of toxic dust, sweat (?), etc that is
any more likely to kill you than your daily life breathing the air
there.

If you boil water until the kettle goes dry, there will be some non
volatile stuff left in the kettle. It is mostly inert, but could
contain some of whatever was in the water before you boiled it, ie
arsenic, etc, but wou would know about the water you put in. The
steam given off and condensed is as pure as the driven rain that
lands on your roof, where it gets contaminated by whatever bird or
squirrel tracks, etc it may encounter on it's way to your downspout.

A little natural dirt is good for your immune system, keeps it
excercised and fit, primed, you might say. An immune system that
gets no work to do eventually atrophies, like any other human
facility unused.

A charcoal filter will remove most toxins.

Otherwise, the condensate is as pure as the rain, and if the rain is
poisonous, we are all doomed.

Terry K

Subject: "Free" fresh water?
From: (LaBomba182)

http://www.airwatercorp.com/brochure.pdf

Capt. Bill

I have the feeling that neither of you understand what distilling or
evaporating actually is.
hmmmm, if you go by a Biblical account of creation, the water was waaaaaay
before any form of life was. not counting an earth that's over 3/4 water
surface...man that's alot of dinosaurs!



At some point in history, all water on the Earth, including what's
currently locked in the ice caps, has been excreted by some animal...
possibly dinosaurs...

From your laser-like pin-point recollection of the discussion, sounds to me
like the "plants" were probably growing in a closet!
What are you watering them with now?
"John" wrote in message
...
Years ago I had the idea of watering my plants with condensate from my
dehumidifier. (At the time I was buying distilled water for that
purpose.)
Someone knowledgeable told me the condensate was toxic. I have no
recollection of why that was (or even why I was watering my plants with
distilled water, for that matter) or if your filters would help at all;
but
the idea is so obvious that it would be done if practical.