Our Ref: 20500933 P/00/0 1 1 Regulation 3:2 AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 ORIGINAL COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INNOVATION PATENT Applicant(s): Stephen Paul Holdings Pty Limited 39 Sheriff Street, Brisbane, Queensland 4000, Australia Address for Service: DAVIES COLLISON CAVE Patent & Trade Mark Attorneys 255 Elizabeth Street SYDNEY NSW 2000 Invention Title: "A method and system for reusing water" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:- A METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR REUSING WATER Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method and system for reusing water, and in particular, reusing water in any building where waste water is present. 5 Description of the Background Art The reference in this specification to any prior publication (or information derived from it), or to any matter which is known, is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgment or admission or any form of suggestion that the prior publication (or information derived from it) or known matter forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of endeavour to D which this specification relates. Presently, waste water services from buildings are dispersed into authority infrastructure, are absorbed directly into the ground, or the like. According to one particular example, grey water from the kitchen and laundry is generally sent to waste even if there is a treatment plant on site, as waste water from the laundry or kitchen areas generally contain impurities (such as 5 greases and oils from the kitchen and soaps and human greases from the laundry), that are difficult to clean for reuse by conventional grey water systems. Accordingly, water from the kitchen and/or laundry is often deemed untreatable and therefore unusable. Furthermore, in a domestic situation, the waste water from the laundry and kitchen can form the largest component of waste water in a household. 20 With water becoming a more precious resource through increases in population and changes in global climatic conditions, it is imperative that as much water as possible be reused to ensure that water resources collected in dams are available for drinking and cooking purposes. The present invention seeks to substantially overcome, or at least ameliorate, one or more 25 disadvantages of existing arrangements, or to provide an alternative to the existing arrangements.
P.\WPDOCS\MXX\Patet\eSpificanonsm205{ )33_5tCphenraumOIlmgsS mu _spec ONc-.... -2 Summary of the Present Invention In a first broad form, there is provided a method for reusing water, the method including the steps of treating water in a first chamber; further treating water in a second chamber, the second chamber being in fluid communication with the first chamber; and, storing water in a 5 third chamber for reuse, the third chamber being in fluid communication with the second chamber. According to one particular example, the method includes separating grease, oils and water borne particles in the first chamber; and, removing bacteria and viruses in the second chamber. D According to another aspect, the method includes determining if the second and/or first chamber is full; and, if the second and/or first chamber is full, passing water to a drain and/or authority waste system. In yet a further example, the method includes determining if the third chamber is empty; and, if the third chamber is empty, automatically using authority potable water. 5 In a second broad form, there is provided a system for reusing water, the system including a first chamber for treating water; a second chamber for further treating water from the second chamber; and, a third chamber for holding water from the second chamber, the water being for reuse. Brief Description of the Drawings 20 An example of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a flow diagram of an example method/process that can be utilised to embody or give effect to a particular embodiment; Figure 2 is a flow diagram of another example method/process that can be utilised to embody 25 or give effect to a particular embodiment; and, Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of an example of a system in which grey water from any domestic waste point is converted in to reusable water.
P \WPDOCS\MXK\Patents\NwSpcIcationuI)MX9Itom )cflftepraumoItogsuutYroppcciW oc..u... -3 Detailed Description Including Best Mode Figure 1 shows an example method for reusing water. In particular, the process of Figure 1 includes, at step 100, treating water in a first chamber, at step 110, further treating water in a second chamber, and at step 120, holding or storing water 5 in a third chamber, for reuse. It will be appreciated that in this particular example, the first and second chambers are in fluid communication, as are the second and third chambers. Thus, the first chamber can be used to separate grease, oils, and water borne particles, or the like, and the second chamber can be used to remove bacteria and viruses. In the event that it is determined that either one or both of the first and/or second chambers D are full, water can be passed to a drain and/or authority waste system. Furthermore, the if it is determined that the third chamber is empty, the method can include automatically using authority potable water, or the like. Figure 2 shows another example of a process for reusing water, where at step 200, water is captured from waste water pipes, and at step 210, water is passed to a first chamber. At step 5 220, greases, oils, water borne particles or the like are separated in the first chamber, and at step 230 it is determined whether the second and/or third chamber is full. If the second or third chamber is full, then the process continues to step 240, where water from the first chamber is passed to a authority waste, a drain, or absorbed directly into the ground. Otherwise, if the second and/or third chambers are not full, then water is passed to the second 20 chamber at step 250 and is treated from removal of bacteria and viruses at step 260. At step 270, water is passed to a third chamber and is stored therein for reuse purposes. Further Examples: A further example of a method/system for supplying fluid to a building is shown in Figure 3. In particular, Figure 3 shows an example of water travelling from water waste points in the 25 building 301 into the chamber that removes grease, oils and suspended particles 302. Once the grease, oils and suspended particles have been removed the water travels through a pipe -4 304 into the first holding tank (or chamber) 305. At this stage, a valve 307 is already closed to ensure the water flowing into the first holding tank 305 stays in the tank for treatment. When the first holding tank 305 is full, the sensor 306 closes valves 303 to isolate the water in the first holding tank 305 and opens the valve 317 to allow waste water continuing through 5 the chamber 302 to drain freely not backing up the system 318. The water in the first holding tank 305 is then re-circulated via a pump 308 through a unit that is capable of ensuring that all viruses and bacteria are removed at 309. Once a correct or predetermined amount of time has elapsed as programmed 310 to remove all bacteria and viruses, then a valve 307 opens allowing the treated water to flow via a pipe D 311 with the assistant of a pump 312 (if required) to the second holding tank (or chamber) 314. Once the first holding tank 305 has emptied, a valve 307 closes, isolating the two holding tanks. Accordingly, a valve 303 then opens to allow for waste water from chamber 302 into the first holding tank, and a valve 317 closes ensuring the water does not go to drain and travels into the first holding tank 305 to repeat the process. 5 Notably, whilst treatment is taking place in the second chamber or holding tank, water may continue to enter the first chamber or holding tank. This water is still treated for the removal of greases, oils and the water borne particles but passes directly to the authority waste system or absorbs directly into the ground. In this particular example, if the first holding tank 305 and the second holding tank 314 are 2o both full, the valve 303 remains shut and the valve 317 remains open and the water continues to drain through a pipe 318. When demand is created by a water fixture 323 to which the system is connected, water can then flow from the holding tank 314 through pipes 315 via a pump 316 (if required). Notably, electricity for the system may be derived from a solar source or authority supply 25 319. If there is no water present in the second holding tank 314 and water is demanded by a water fixture 323, then a sensor 320 closes the valve 323 and opens the valve 321, thereby allowing water from the authority water supply to enter the system and supply the fixture via piping 322, which in this example is connected to a pipe 315.
P \WPDOCS\MXK\Paternts\NwI piScationsu DCtnc aulSpCai.N:4g Mf_5pc - -C -k-N -5 If the water in the second holding tank 314 drops as recognised by a sensor 313, and the water in the first holding tank 305 has completed its cycle, a valve 307 can open, which can allow water to travel from the first holding tank 305 via a pump 312 (if required) to the second holding tank 314. Once the second holding tank 314 is full, then a sensor 313 can 5 close the valve 307 and the waste water process from the chamber 302 can begin again. Accordingly, the process to determine when the second chamber is isolated from the first may be determined by the use of detection systems and opening and closing valves. Once the system has completed removal of viruses and bacteria, the treated water is then passed through to the third chamber for storage until it is required for use at an outlet that the system 0 has been connected. If the second and third chambers are full, the controls can send the water into the first chamber directly. Thus, the water can still be treated for the removal of greases, oils and the water borne particles but the controls can determine that the water is passed directly to the authority waste system or absorbs directly into the ground. Furthermore, the treated water (depending on the local authority) may then via a pump 5 arrangement be sent to the water outlets as required. Additionally, the electricity for the controls requirement and pump arrangements may be generated via the use of electric producing solar cells or directly from an electric authority source. There has been described herein an example of a system that can be used for decontaminating water from normal domestic use, for example, water used in kitchen sinks, washing machines 20 (laundry), and showering, back to water that is able to be reused for the same purposes without causing contamination or heath concerns. It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the system may also be used in commercial and industrial buildings. Accordingly, the system/method described herein can be used for recycling waste water for reuse in domestic potable water applications, from ordinary waste water. The system can also 25 automatically send waste water to a drain if the system is full, and can automatically change over to authority potable, in order to ensure that the system keeps running upon demand when the recycled water holding tanks are empty.