Part 1 – Getting Started With Recycled Water
Part 2 – Continues below
Part 3 – Tips & Tricks to Unload Recycled Water More Efficiently Added July, 7, 2015
The first time driving home was interesting. It took longer to get home, but I didn’t care. My lawn was dormant (probably dead) but I wanted to see if that would change. This would be the first of many loads.
Lets establish a baseline of how dead the front yard looked prior to watering.
Nearly dead grass, lilies suffering, etc.
After 2 weeks of watering, the grass started to come back and the lilies turned around. The ground was so dry it soaked up Recycled H2O so fast I could barely tell if I had watered the next day.
After 2 weeks of watering with recycled water.
Honestly, I could have been watering with potable water, but we’re in a drought so sprinklers were switched off a long time ago. I’m sure similar results would be had if I had kept watering the lawn, but that’s not the point here.
So now we know that the lawn likes the water… how do I unload it from the truck??
Unloading
I work nights, so I get Recycled H2O before work and when I get home I unload it. I don’t mind being up late watering my yard at night. Everyone else is, but they have automatic sprinklers. I have a pump, some extension cords and a hose.
Pump, reused old hose and an extension cord.
My father-in-law gave me an old pump he had laying around his garage. The label reads
Max Capacity: 13.7 gal/min
Max Head: 21.3 feet
Horsepower 1/11HP
Basically, its just barely enough power to get the water up my driveway and onto my lawn. I can put my thumb over the hose end and spray the water about 10 feet. Its just enough to make it worth it. The pump was free so I don’t mind.
There are pumps for sale at Home Depot that would fit the bill if I didn’t get a pump for free. This one is highest rated at HomeDepot.com and its very similar. Wayne 1/10 HP Portable Transfer Utility Pump $80.80
I plug the extension cord into an outlet, and leave it unplugged from the pump until I am ready to unload the tank in the truck.
I hook my hose segment from my tank up to the suction side of the pump. In the picture it would be the white part on the end. The longer teal colored hose connects to the brass fitting on the top of the pump, that is the discharge side of the pump. It took me a few times to figure out the routine and how to do it quickly and efficiently without spilling any water on pavement.
The tank is pretty well emptied. Hose segment leading from tank to suction side of pump. Discharge leading to front yard.
I extend my hose onto the ground in the front yard and then plug in the pump. With gloves on I hand water everything in the front yard and then usually leave the hose on the ground while the rest of the water is pumped out of the truck.
It takes about 35-45 minutes to unload the tank. It all depends on where I move the hose to. Like I’ve said before, I don’t mind the time it takes to unload. It is excellent thinking time, I get to talk to the neighbors walking on the side walk and I know I’m doing good by watering my yard with Recycled H2O.
When the tank is nearly empty, the pump will usually go air bound or cavitate as water is no longer flowing out of the tank. At this point I unplug the pump, disconnect the hoses and roll up the back of the bag and drain the water onto the flowers next to the driveway.
Wrapping It Up
When I’m done, I fold up the bag and movers mat and put it in the garage until the next time I need it.
That’s it really.
I’ll post the additions I’ve made to the yard soon – including the ripping out of the lawn and installation of swale/patio/garden, how vibrant the flowers are growing without any added fertilizer and some idea’s I’ve had to make this process WAY more efficient once the water is home.
Stay tuned!
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