Thursday, April 4, 2013

Preliminary Abstract Outline

Alright everybody,
Here is my abstract outline so far. Please keep in mind it will be updated much more in the coming week! Feel free to comment on the content and layout of the outline!

A Grey Technology for a Blue Future

Introduction:  
Water is only a sustainable resource until overexploitation disrupts the natural cycle. Upon realizing this, many efforts have been made to preserve this resource, but they are not always affordable.  Greywater treatment is a method of greatly reducing household water usage. This report will aim to answer the question, “Can retrofitting a house to incorporate a Greywater Treatment System be an economical method of water conservation in the Okanagan?”

Research Application:
To obtain the results for this report, the water flow from various fixtures of a house in Penticton, B.C. was monitored to determine how much water is available for treatment. It is estimated that indoor fresh water consumption can be cut by at least 30%. During the summer, irrigation of lawns consumes between 50% and 70% of municipally treated water. Using treated greywater would not only save money on irrigational purposes, but would alleviate strain on municipal treatment centers as well.   

Conclusions and Recommendations:
            It is expected that while saving large amounts of water, it will not be economically beneficial for the person who retrofitted the house. This will be largely due to the overall cost of the treatment system and the cost of dismantling walls and floors in order to install the necessary piping. However, the payback time for houses that are attached to a septic tank is shorter because of the reduction in flow to the tank. It is recommended that a greywater system be implemented upon the construction of a house to reduce installation costs because once the system is in place, the water bill savings are high.

References:
See References posted at the bottom of the blog.

Household Water Usage

Here's a pie chart depicting the percentage of water usage designated to various fixtures/uses in an average household

Picture retrieved from http://bracsystemsbc.ca/home.html

Preliminary Plumbing Design




Above is the "assumed" plumbing system water flow (venting not included). The design will be updated this summer upon proper inspection of the house, and then modified to include the grey water treatment system.

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Thesis Question

Hello everybody!

Thanks to everyone who's commented, it's been very helpful in furthering my research project. That being said, it's time to state my potential thesis question:

Can retrofitting a house to incorporate a Greywater Treatment System be an economical method of water conservation in the Okanagan?

Let me know your thoughts on this question, or how it could be revised to improve on the impending research project!

Sunday, March 10, 2013

Applying the Idea

Hey guys! Here is my idea for how I am going to apply the research done on Greywater Treatment Systems! Feel free to post any ideas that could add onto, or even replace, my current ones!

I will be measuring the water flow in my family's house just outside of Penticton, B.C.  This includes sink taps, showers, toilets, the dishwasher, and the clothes washer   "Schedules" will be placed by these fixtures, and the user will record their usage, e.g. 5 minute shower, 1 toilet flush, etc. (my family is going to hate me).  These times will be combined with the information from the shop drawings of each of the fixtures to determine how much water grey water flows into the septic tank that could be treated instead.  These numbers can be used to determine a pay back rate for the cost of retrofitting the house with a grey water treatment system.

Sunday, February 10, 2013

Research Proposal


A Grey Technology for a Blue Future

Summary:

Humans are a species that rely heavily on fresh, potable water in order to carry out their daily lives.  Being such an important resource, it’s imperative to find ways to reduce water consumption on a day-to-day basis.  One of the many ways this can be achieved is through grey water treatment.  This report will look at the characteristics of grey water, and the treatment techniques used, in order to determine the amount of water and money that can potentially be salvaged by retrofitting buildings to accommodate grey water treatment systems.

Purpose:

Every time potable water is used by means of an appliance, such as a sink or shower that does not carry human waste, grey water is created.  As opposed to running into the sewer or a septic tank, the water can be treated, and subsequently used in toilets and irrigation. This is an “innovative way to reduce water consumption, [and] to be easier on [the] municipal infrastructure” (Owen, 2010).  The research being conducted is intended to acquire knowledge on grey water treatment systems to apply them to existing structures in the interest of sustaining water and saving money.  The researched techniques can be applied to buildings and residencies in cities to alleviate water use and ensure fresh water for years to come.  The university can even benefit from the studies, as they can be implemented on existing buildings around campus, reserving potable water and potentially saving money. 

Goals and Objectives:

The objective of this project is not only to research grey water treatment systems for educational purposes alone, but also to show that they should be a part of a sustainable future.  It is expected that the result of these studies prove that the system is effective at saving water, money, and in time, the environment.

Methodology and Analytical Approach:

Intensive research will be conducted in order to obtain information on grey water treatment, recirculation, and designs.  Meanwhile, routine measurements on the amounts of water flow from the sinks, baths, showers, dishwasher, and clothes washer in a specific single family residential building will be conducted.  Upon completion, the original plumbing drawing for the unit will be modified to incorporate a grey water treatment system in the design.  Using the measured water flow quantities, it will then be possible to determine how much grey water can be recycled, as opposed to using potable water for items such as toilets and irrigation.  Furthermore, the amount of water can be translated into terms of currency to figure out the economical savings and to establish a “pay-back time” for this particular case.

Previous Studies/Related Information

There are various books and articles on the characteristics of grey water, as well as the treatment it undergoes in order to be usable once again; some regions have included grey water treatment into their local building bylaws.  In addition, the 2012 edition of the British Columbia Building Code incorporates provisions for grey water treatment.  However, there is a lack of studies containing information referring to the amount of water and money that can be saved by implementing these systems into existing structures, especially specific to nearby areas. 

Dissemination of Work

The progress of this applied research project will be shared by means of a blog, which will be linked to related forums and available for others with similar issues.  Various websites and magazines will also be contacted (HPAC, Plumbing and HVAC, PMMAG, etc.) regarding publishing the report in an article or issue.

Contribution of the Project to my Academic Goals and Objectives

As the end of the penultimate year of this program approaches, I am attempting to focus in on what I want achieve with my schooling, and where it will take me in terms of a career.  Green initiatives have always been an interest of mine, as the way the planet is treated now will greatly affect future living conditions.  Conceiving the idea for this research project was a matter of taking that interest and applying it to a field that fascinates me; mechanical engineering was the predominate choice.  By researching the two subjects together, I was able to uncover information on grey water treatment systems, which immediately piqued my interest because there had to be a better way to handle the large amounts of water from sinks, showers, and other water using appliances.  To implement the acquired research, I will be monitoring the water flow from the sinks, showers, dishwasher, and clothes washer from my parents’ house in Penticton, B.C.  While this is being done, I will also be drafting the plumbing system in AutoCAD.  The plan will then be modified to incorporate a grey water treatment system, using the researched methodologies.  Once the water flow results are finalized, I will be able to analyze how much water can be recycled, predict the related effects on the water system as a whole, and calculate a “pay-back time” for the system.  Upon completion of the Architectural Engineering and Technology program, I intend to pursue a career in the mechanical engineering field.  By composing research on this topic, I will be substantially increasing my knowledge in the subject.  Furthermore, I will have a fully developed research article to present to potential employers in the future.

Budget:

This research topic has the potential to produce extraordinary results, while maintaining a low budget that consists of:

·         Travelling to, and attending, the BUILDEX convention in Vancouver, B.C. - $105.00
·         Gas money for travelling to and from the research site - $100.00

Attending this convention would give me the opportunity to get in contact with the professionals that specialize in this region of mechanical engineering.  Also, I will be required to make periodic trips from Kamloops to Penticton in order to conduct a portion of the testing.

Welcome!

Hello everyone!

The purpose behind this blog is to document any useful, relevant articles of information for my research project, and to urge myself to continue thinking about and progressing the report.  The information can consist of anything from pictures and ideologies, to academic sources and relevant websites. 

My chosen research topic is on the economical aspects of grey water treatment systems.  Feel free to post anything that could be help aid in the researching process!