Water is a Precious Resource

[Gary Hatt - Publisher BCM]

Whilst Boondocking, water is a precious resource, especially in the southwestern desert.

Has anyone set up a system in their bus to either capture rain water using rain gutters on their roof and/or recycling the water in the shower or kitchen sink and maybe or maybe not filtering it before using it in the toilet?

My Sportsmobile had a separate pump where I could draft water out of a creek or lake if necessary but I had and still have a Clearsource Water Filter System so I can pump water out of a sewer and drink it if I had to, not that I ever tried it. 

Looking for ideas from smart people to stretch out my water usage so I decided to post this on our Forum rather than Facebook. 

[Nova Eona]

When I rebuilt my pump pack I made it so that I could use the pumps to draw from an external source with the flip of a few valves - there's no automated collection or recycling, but in a pinch I could generate pressure or refill the onboard tanks from any available water source in reach of a hose.

[CrabbyMilton]

Collect the water that drips from the AC condenser. Probably not a good idea to drink it unless you boil and recapture it.
Think about this though: We have the same amount of water on the earth as we did since it was created. The water cycle works the same as it did since the beginning. Anyone who preaches water shortage is to be taken with a few boxes of salt.

[epretot]

I capture 4 gallons a day from the dehumidifier. Don't currently use it, but it's a viable resource.

If you have a Berkey or clearly filtered pitcher, it would be ideal.

[Jim Blackwood]

Condenser water is essentially distilled water with some aluminum ions and whatever dirt it manages to pick up along the way. Has no salt or minerals so it won't taste very good, might taste like aluminum which could maybe be removed with a RO filter. Should be fine for anything but drinking.

Jim

[luvrbus]

Collect the water that drips from the AC condenser. Probably not a good idea to drink it unless you boil and recapture it.
Think about this though: We have the same amount of water on the earth as we did since it was created. The water cycle works the same as it did since the beginning. Anyone who preaches water shortage is to be taken with a few boxes of salt.

It does work the same except now you have billions of people using the source

[dtcerrato]

It has been said that by the time the Mississippi River flows through Grand Isle Louisiana it has gone through seven human bodies!

[Iceni John]

I have a gallon jug to catch any overflow from the radiator header tank, but for reasons known only to God and people smarter than me it fills up with rainwater whenever it rains, which isn't very often here.   As I've now finally learned after fifteen years how to not overfill my cooling system, I now have a source of excellent and free water for the radiator, its mister and the batteries.   It does however taste very bleough...

I vaguely remember reading some chatter on the Skoolie forum a while ago about collecting rainwater and reusing grey water, but the consensus of opinion then was that it's usually more trouble than it's worth to do.

John

[freds]

Actually sort of working on a recirculating shower but as a tinker, it's about 75% done so no testable benefit yet..

[Jim Blackwood]

So how's that work then? Sprays you in the face with water that came off your balls and @$$ does it? Not real sure I'd like that.

Jim

[dtcerrato]

We diy-ed a recirc loop on our shower head. It is controlled with a 12V electric solenoid valve actuated by a variable timer. We have the timer set to 15 seconds in our case. So when you get in the shower - remembering where you like the water temp in reference to the mixing valve joy stick position - with the joy stick in that position & a press of the timer button with the water supply button on the shower head in the off position after the 15 second countdown open the shower head supply button and Wala! You get instant shower water temp w/o wasting a drop waiting for the warm water. During the 15 second recirc time water is returning back to the potable tank. It also doubles as a way to warm the potable tank in case of subfreezing conditions. A great way to not waste the precious fixed amount of potable water we carry. It works great for us.

[windtrader]

What about used water collection and disposal? That is the issue I face now. I've got 150 fresh and 150 gray and 50 black. If I hook to water, I can't take much in as the tanks are full. If you can't dump gray, then the.solution has to be less consumption not more supply.

[freds]

So how's that work then? Sprays you in the face with water that came off your balls and @$$ does it? Not real sure I'd like that.

Jim

Filtering and UV sterilization of the recycled water.

Also thinking of just using it sort of as a vertical hot tub. Do a quick shower, followed by long session of just hanging out while the water recirculates.

[epretot]

We diy-ed a recirc loop on our shower head.

Do you have a tankless or traditional water heater? I suppose your setup would work with either.

[Jim Blackwood]

Glad I live in the East where a gray water dump only requires a green hose into the grass.

Jim