AU2005202822A1

AU2005202822A1 - Water diversion system

Info

Publication number: AU2005202822A1
Application number: AU2005202822A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Howard Pateman
Original assignee: Pateman Howard Stuart
Current assignee: Pateman Howard Stuart
Priority date: 2004-06-28
Filing date: 2005-06-28
Publication date: 2006-01-12

Description

-1-

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Applicant: HOWARD STUART PATEMAN Invention Title: WATER DIVERSION SYSTEM The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: WATER DIVERSION SYSTEM SFIELD OF THE INVENTION -n The invention relates generally to water management, 00 5 and more specifically to a water diversion system and associated methods. The invention has been developed (1 especially, but not exclusively for enabling wastewater from 00 a plumbing system to be reused for useful purposes such as the flushing of toilets or watering of gardens and the I1 0 invention is herein described in that context.

In the context of this specification, a plumbing system includes water supply and discharge infrastructure (such as pipes and fixtures) and the devices connected to that infrastructure that use water.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The quality of water is becoming more important and water is becoming a more valuable resource as populations expand. In many developed countries potable water is used for the watering of gardens and the flushing of toilets when wastewater streams from the household could potentially be used for these purposes.

The installation of a grey water recycling system typically involves the installation of a segregated plumbing system to separate wastewater streams at the source. The ability to retrofit a wastewater recycling system or decrease the cost of providing a wastewater recycling system in a new system would be advantageous.

;Z

00

CA

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In a first aspect, the invention relates to a water diversion system comprising a valve positionable on a 5 wastewater line in a plumbing system, the wastewater line carrying a wastewater stream, at least one sensor positionable upstream of the valve for monitoring at least one characteristic of the plumbing system, the valve operable to divert a portion of the wastewater stream from the wastewater line in response to the sensing of the at least one characteristic.

A water diversion system according to the above aspect may advantageously be incorporated in a wastewater line, such as a sewerage portion of the plumbing system, to selectively divert the wastewater stream for reuse. By monitoring for specific characteristics of water flow, water quality or status of a device, a system may be established where wastewater of acceptable quality is directed for reuse, whilst the remaining wastewater stream is carried off in a conventional manner. Accordingly, the system allows for water reuse without requiring the establishment of an independent plumbing system. Rather, the system provides for a secondary use of the primary wastewater line.

In one embodiment, the valve is operable in a first mode to allow the wastewater stream to be maintained in the wastewater line, and in a second mode to divert the wastewater stream from a downstream portion of the wastewater line downstream of the valve. The valve changes from the first mode to the second mode in response to the sensing of the at least one characteristic, and then upon sensing that the at least one characteristic is not present in the plumbing system it then changes from the second mode to the first mode.

In one embodiment, the wastewater stream includes a first feed stream that feeds wastewater into the wastewater -n line upstream of the valve, and wherein the at least one 00 0, 5 characteristic is associated with the first feed stream. In one form, the first feed stream includes at least one (Ni wastewater generating device that provides at least part of 00 the first feed stream and wherein the at least one of the characteristics monitored by the sensor is the operation of the wastewater generating device to provide the at least part of the first feed stream. In this way, the system can be used to either divert wastewater from that device or alternatively reject wastewater from that device for reuse based on the location of the sensor. As certain types of devices (such as washing machines) are known to produce a consistent class of wastewater, monitoring the operation of these devices provides a simple mechanism to characterise and select wastewater streams for diversion.

In one embodiment, the at least one sensor is adapted to be integrated with the wastewater generating device. In an alternative arrangement, the sensor is positionable to monitor a characteristic of the stream from the wastewater generating device. However, it is not limited to these configurations. The sensor can be positioned or configured in any manner that enables measurement or detection of the at least one characteristic of the plumbing system.

In a particular embodiment, the sensor monitors the operation of a toilet. In that arrangement, the diversion system may be arranged so that on operation of the toilet, the valve is set so that the wastewater is not diverted.

Monitoring of the toilet operation may be by monitoring the flushing action. Several characteristics of the flushing action can be monitored such as the start of flushing, end 'of flushing, duration of the flush, or a volume of flushing liquid dispensed. Alternatively, the operation may be Smonitored by a status of the toilet such as position of the -n toilet seat. Other wastewater generation devices that form 00 C 5 part of the plumbing system, and may be monitored include washing machines, dishwashers, baths or showers.

00 In another embodiment at least one characteristic that is monitored by the sensor is the flow rate in the wastewater stream. In an alternate embodiment, the sensor may monitor directly the water quality.

The system may further comprise a controller which determines the operation of the valve in response to outputs of the at least one sensor. Such a sensor may utilise process control functions, for example, a delay function in operation of the valve in response to the at least one characteristic by the at least one sensor. In this example, the delay can be used to account for the time it takes for the wastewater stream to reach the valve.

In one form, the system is operative to monitor several feed streams to the wastewater line. Several sensors may be used to monitor the various feed streams or a single sensor may monitor several feed streams.

The system may further comprise a storage apparatus for the diverted portion of the wastewater stream. The stored collection of wastewater streams can then be utilised at a later stage for grey water applications such as flushing toilets or watering gardens.

In a second aspect, the invention provides a method of diverting for reuse a wastewater stream flowing in a plumbing system comprising the steps of: -6a. detecting at least one characteristic of the plumbing system; and b. selectively diverting a portion of the wastewater n stream based on the at least one characteristic.

00 Embodiments of this method may further involve monitoring for the generation of a wastewater stream by a 00 wastewater generating source.

1 0 In one form, the method includes monitoring the flow from the wastewater generating source as the at least one characteristic. Alternate embodiments may have the at least one characteristic as an event or status of the wastewater generating source. For example, in the arrangement where the generating source is a toilet, the event could be the flushing of a toilet. Embodiments could have this event as the start or end of a cycle. In another example, where the source is a washing machine, the event may be the start or end of a spin cycle.

Embodiments of the second aspect can also further include the step of storing the diverted water for later reuse.

In a further aspect, the invention relates to a wastewater line that incorporates a diversion system according to any form described above.

In a further aspect, the invention relates to a control system for the diversion of water according to any form described above.

-7- BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS SAn embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the 00 5 accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a schematic drawing of a plumbing system with 00 three wastewater generating devices incorporating a water diversion system; and Fig. 2 is a schematic drawing of a plumbing system with three wastewater generating devices, two of these being toilets and incorporating a water diversion system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Fig. 1 illustrates a plumbing system 20 having infrastructure which includes a main wastewater line 21 carrying a wastewater stream 21A downstream of three wastewater generating devices 22. Each device 22 provides a feed stream 24, 25, 26 to the wastewater line 21.

The system 20 also includes a diversion system 10 that includes a valve 11 disposed in the wastewater line and operative to divert a portion of the wastewater stream in the waste water line 21A.

The water diversion system 10 also includes sensors 12, 13, 14 that are disposed in each of the feed streams 24, 25 26. A control system 15 is also provided which receives the signals 16, 17, 18 from the sensors 12, 13 14 and issues a control signal 19 to the valve 11. The valve 11 is an electro magnetic valve which is actuated in response to the control signal 19. The sensors (12, 13 and 14) measure a characteristic of water flow in the respective streams 24, -8- 26 and thus monitor for the generation of wastewater from each of the wastewater generation devices 22.

;Z

The diverted portion of the wastewater stream 21 forms 00 0- 5 a re-use water stream 27 that is stored in a sump 28. The remaining portion of the stream remains in the wastewater (1 line and forms an effluence stream 29 which flows down a 00 sewerage line for subsequent sewage treatment 30. The value 11 when in a first mode allows the waste water stream 21A to tt 10 continue along the wastewater line as the effluence stream 29. However, when signalled, the valve operates to be in a second mode where the waste water stream 21A forms the re-use water stream 27. This signal is provided in response to at least one characteristic of the system 10. This characteristic may be a function of the output from one sensor or from the output of multiple sensors. It is also possible for there to be additional modes where different water quality streams are diverted to separate re-use water streams.

The streams (24, 25 and 26) generated by the wastewater generation devices 22 in this example can be generally characterised into one of two types of wastewater. The first type is grey water which is generated from water used in the kitchen, bathroom, laundry etc. The second type is non-grey water which is water that includes human faeces and/or urine with flush water (yellow, brown and black water). In this particular embodiment the grey water generating devices are bath 31 and washing machine 32. The non-grey water generating device is toilet 33.

Through placement of the sensors 12, 13, 14, the control system 15 is able to distinguish between the generating devices 22 and accordingly can be programmed to divert off only grey water (from bath 31 and washing machine -9- 32) and not the non grey water (from toilet 33). The collected volume of water in the sump 28 can be drawn off in Sthe reservoir stream 35 for grey water applications such as -n flushing the toilets or watering the garden. The sump 28 may 00 5 also be connected to a separate system 31 which collects and supplies rainwater to the sump through feed line 32.

00 The control system 15 utilises a programmable logic

(N

controller to control the actuation of the valve 11 to divert V) 10 portions of the wastewater stream in response to the outputs of the sensors. The control system 15 is configured to account for the pipe length and the residence time of wastewater in the water system.

Alternate embodiments of the invention have the sensors integrated into the wastewater generation devices 22.

Embodiments where the sensors are integrated into the device may be able to trigger the valve by a specific event on the wastewater generating device. For example, the trigger may be the start of a spin cycle on a washing machine or the flushing of a toilet. Alternatively it could be the status of the device such as the opening or closing of a toilet seat. The signal can be transmitted to the control system from the devices by a radio transmission.

Furthermore, the sensors need not be limited to detecting the characteristic of the flow of water. An online water quality sensor could be used on the aggregated wastewater stream 21A to detect the water quality the valve 11 being operated based on the sensing of this measurement.

A further embodiment of the plumbing system 50 is disclosed in Figure 2. As system 50 incorporates many of the features of the earlier embodiment, like features have been given similar reference numbers. A diversion system 60 is V positioned on a main waste water line carrying wastewater stream 21. The system includes a valve 11 positioned on the Swaste water line downstream of two toilet devices (51, 52) -n The default position of the valve enables any wastewater oo 00 5 generated upstream of the valve to flow as an effluence stream 29 for subsequent sewage treatment 30. This default (Ni position also prevents against contamination of stored water 00 in case of power or system failure.

V- 10 Each of the two toilets has a detector (53, 54) fitted that senses position of the toilet seat and transmits the position of the toilet seat to a control system 15 via a wireless transmission (17, 18). The control system 15, based on the position of the two toilet seats, provides a signal or command 19 to the valve 11 to divert the wastewater stream 21A to a water store 28 when each of the two toilets (51, 52) has the seat in the closed position. The system also incorporates a delay in providing the signal or command 19 after each of the two toilets has the seat in the closed position. This delay accounts for flushing of the toilet just after the seat is closed. The delay also enables any residual flow from the flushing of the toilet to enter the effluence stream 29.

The detector sensors can be sold as a kit together with the control system and the valve. This kit can be fitted to existing household systems.

An advantage of some embodiments of the disclosure is that it can be fitted to conventional domestic water systems without the requirement to install separate plumbing for separate wastewater streams to be classified.

Water quality tests have been performed on a diverted water stream stored in a new storage tank at a domestic 00 oo 00 -11residence and compared to a water stream collected from the roof of the domestic residence and stored in an existing tank. These results are provided in the table below: Rainwater Diverted Water Total Organic 2 3 Carbon (mg/L) Chemical Oxygen 20 6 Demand (mg/L) E.Coli (cfu/100mL) 100 Faecal Coliform 200 (cfu/100mL) These results indicate that there are substantially lower measurements of chemical oxygen demand, Escherichia coli and faecal coliform in the collected diverted wastewater stream than water collected from the roof of the residence.

The higher levels recorded from the rainwater can be attributed to faecal matter deposited on the roof by birds.

In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention.

Variations and modifications can be made to the parts previously described without departing from the spirit or ambit of the invention.

Claims

2. A water diversion system as defined in claim 1, wherein the valve is operable in a first mode to allow the wastewater stream to be maintained in the wastewater line, and in a second mode to divert the wastewater stream from a downstream portion of the wastewater line downstream of the valve.
3. A water diversion system as defined in claim 2, wherein the valve changes from the first mode to the second mode in response to the sensing of the at least one characteristic and changes from the second mode to the first mode in response to the sensing that the at least one characteristic is not present in the plumbing system.
4. A water diversion system as defined in any preceding claim, wherein the wastewater stream includes a first feed stream that feeds wastewater into the wastewater line upstream of the valve, and wherein the at least one characteristic is associated with the first feed stream. A water diversion system as defined in claim 4, wherein the first feed stream includes at least one wastewater generating device that provides at least part of the first feed stream and wherein the at least one of the characteristics monitored by the sensor is a mode of operation of the at least one wastewater generating device.
6. A water diversion system as defined in claim 5, wherein the at least one sensor is adapted to be integrated with the wastewater generating device. -13- S7. A water diversion system as defined in claim 5, wherein O the at least one sensor is positionable to monitor the stream Sfrom the wastewater generating device.
8. A water diversion system as defined in any one of 00 5 claims 1 to 7, wherein the at least one characteristic monitored by the sensor is a characteristic of the flow rate C-i in the wastewater stream. 00 9. A water diversion system as defined in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the at least one characteristic monitored by the sensor is a characteristic of the water quality. A water diversion system as defined in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the at least one characteristic monitored by the sensor is the status of the at least one wastewater generating device.
11. A water diversion system as defined in any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the system further comprises a controller which controls the operation of the valve in response to outputs of the at least one sensor.
12. A water diversion system as defined in claim 11, wherein the controller introduces a delay function in operating the valve in response to the at least one characteristic monitored by the at least one sensor.
13. A water diversion system as defined in any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the system has a plurality of sensors.
14. A water diversion system as defined in claim 13, when dependent on claim 11 or 12, wherein the controller determines the at least one characteristic from two or more of the sensors. A water diversion system as defined in any one of claims 5 to 14, wherein the wastewater generation device is any one of a toilet, washing machine, dishwasher, bath or shower. -14-
16. A water diversion system as defined in any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the valve is an electrically Scontrolled valve. -n 17. A wastewater line incorporating a water diversion 00 0- 5 system as defined in any preceding claim.
18. A wastewater line as defined in claim 17, wherein the (Ni wastewater line is a sewerage line. 00 19. A method of diverting for reuse a wastewater stream flowing in a plumbing system comprising the steps of: V) 10 detecting at least one characteristic of the plumbing system; and selectively diverting the wastewater stream based on the at least one characteristic. A method as defined in claim 19, further comprising the steps of generating at least a portion of the wastewater stream by a wastewater generating source; and monitoring the wastewater flow from the wastewater generating source to detect the at least one characteristic.
21. A method as defined in claim 19, further comprising the steps of: generating at least a portion of the wastewater stream by at least one wastewater generating source; and monitoring an event at the at least one wastewater generating source to detect the at least one characteristic.
22. A method as defined in claim 21, wherein the event is initiation of a cycle of the wastewater generating source.
23. A method as defined in claim 22, wherein the action is ending of a cycle of the wastewater generating source.
24. A method as defined in any one of the claims 19 to 23, wherein the wastewater generating device is one of a toilet, washing machine, dishwasher, bath or shower. A method as defined in any one of claims 19 to 24, further comprising the step of storing the diverted water for later reuse. S26. A control system for a water diversion system as O defined in claims 1 to 18 wherein the control system is Soperative to generate a signal indicating the at least one characteristic transmitted from the at least one sensor, and 00 00 5 to provide a command to the valve to divert the portion of the wastewater in response to the signal. (1 27. An operating assembly for a water diversion system 00 comprising a control system according to claim 26, and at (N least one senor operative to sense a characteristic and to transmit a signal indication the characteristic to the control system.
28. A water diversion system substantially as herein described with reference to the examples and/or the accompanying drawings.
29. A method of diverting a wastewater stream for reuse substantially as herein described with reference to the examples and/or the accompanying drawings. Dated this 28 th day of June 2005 HOWARD STUART PATEMAN By his Patent Attorneys GRIFFITH HACK