June 2, 20197 yr 2-years ago, I started the lengthy process of going completely OFF-GRID on my residential water supply at my home in StHelena Bay, on the West Coast of the Western Cape. The property is situated +-150-200m from the beach. I was able to find water at approximately 8m. SALTWATER INTRUSION, gives me a salt content of around 1300ppm, which fluctuates slightly with tidal movement. I'm running a normal 0,75kw well-point pump, supplying the raw water to my treatment equipment in the garage. The raw water is fed through pressure control and safety valves, through a 3-stage filterset, UV sterilizer into the Primary storage vessel. From TANK 1, it gravity feeds a high pressure pump, driving 2 REVERSE OSMOSIS filters. The permiate is collected in 2 more storage vessels, and the brine waste returned to borehole. A DAB EASIBOX supplies the pressure to the house.
June 2, 20197 yr That's a cool setup! But is it really wise to return the brine back to the borehole? That way it's increasing the salinity of the water in the borehole... or am I missing something?
June 3, 20197 yr Author 20 hours ago, Youda said: That's a cool setup! But is it really wise to return the brine back to the borehole? That way it's increasing the salinity of the water in the borehole... or am I missing something? The permeate yield is 15% of the water delivered to the RO vessel(1500 liters/hour@14 bar). The 85% brine waste, is then split, 60% returned to the inlet supply to the HP pump, and the 40% then wastes out to the raw water supply. Technically, its a WELL POINT as the "borehole"is covered over. The aggregate or soil is extremely course, and drainage is almost instant, so any water returning simply returns to the water table. Incidentally, I can pump 1500 liters/hour year round, without affecting the water table.
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