Rainwater harvesting or recycling (RWH) is the collection and storage of rain, rather than allowing it to run off. Rainwater is collected from a roof-like surface and redirected to a tank.
Grey Water, greywater, or gray water recycling (GWR) depending on where in the world you are, is the collection, filtration and storage of waste water. Specifically from wash hand basins, showers, baths, ablutions, swimming pool back-wash, and condensate, for reuse in non-potable distribution such as WC flushing, Irrigation and Wash Down.
These are common terms in the industry. Basically, it simply refers to the way the water is distributed to the point of use.
Direct – the stored water is pumped directly from the storage tank to the point of use. mains water is topped-up into the main storage tank. This means that you have better pressure and higher flow rates. However, if you have a pump failure of power cut you lose your non-potable supply i.e. no toilet flushing!
InDirect – the water is pumped to a cistern, normally a header tank. The mains water is topped up into this tank with a mechanical ball valve. The water is distributed to the point of use from the cistern by gravity. This means that even in the event of pump failure or power cuts, you still have a supply of water. however, the pressure is not suitable for some high pressure WC cisterns, and not suitable for irrigation.
Absolutely! Our grey water systems collect water from the wash hand basins, showers and baths, for reuse in WC flushing. When you combine our system with a sewage treatment plant (STP) you are reducing the volume of water going into the system, and increasing biological density (more bacteria per litre of waste), and lowering the level of surfactants, this actually helps the treatment plant clarify and treat your waste more rapidly.
Of course, having a septic tank can be costly, and time consuming, with regular costs for tank emptying. By diverting the less contaminated waste of wash hand basins showers and baths, treating it, then using it for WC flushing, you are reducing the volume water entering the septic tank by the total volume of WC flushing.
This can reducing you emptying frequency by as much as 40%.
Our grey water system is a standard size, suitable for up to an 8 bedroom house. The rainwater system comes in multiple sizes from 1,500 litres up to 10,000 litres. We calculate the size of the tank using a complicated equation but two of the main considerations are the roof size (in m2) and the location.
We use the maximum capacity of the house, in order to future-proof the property.
Our grey water systems adhere to British Standard 8525, and our rainwater systems adhere to British Standard 8515.
If you are supplying water to your own home, it is not classed as a private water supply.
The electricals are rated to 3-5 years and the storage tank is rated to 10 years.
We recommend the installation of UV units (ultraviolet lights) in our water recycling systems to act as a biocide. This means it will kill or deactivate any bacteria that may appear. This gives a secondary measure against bacterial growth, the first being water treatment.
We would recommend a UV unit to anyone, but particularly to those wanting to use the collected water for irrigation, to mitigate the risks of aspirating airborne diseases.
The rainwater harvesting system can be adapted for attenuation purposes, by changing the size and fittings of the tank.
Absolutely! Our Vareo Blu Home range has been designed to be easy to install. Not just for engineers or domestic plumbers, but DIY-enthusiasts too.
Yes, delivery to mainland UK is included in the price of the system. Please contact us for a quote if outside of mainland UK.
The Vareo Blu Home Rainwater system can be connected to your washing machine with the addition of our laundry ad-on.
No. Discharge from kitchen sinks and dishwashers is blackwater, not grey water so this is not connected to the system, but instead goes to the sewer for treatment.
No, the domestic range of systems are basic and do not include a control panel.
Water use in the UK is approx. 150 litres per person per day meaning the average family of 4 uses over 600 litres of water per day.
No. The water that is collected, and treated from either the rainwater system or greywater system, is NOT to a potable standard. Therefore it can not be used for anything other than toilet flushing, irrigation or external uses such as vehicle washing.
This depends on the type of combined system that is installed but generally speaking, the two water supplies are kept separate, but are installed in the same place at the same time.
A residential maintenance kit can be purchased from us for £49.95 which includes consumables for 12 months, depending on the use and size of the system. Quotes can be provided for commercial maintenance too.
The pump within the system uses 1.1kW of power.
Vareo Blu does not install domestic/residential systems, but they have been designed to be easy to install, and not just by domestic plumbers. We will provide you with a comprehensive Operations and Maintenance Manual and we offer technical support over the phone during office hours.
There is no maximum distance, however the tank must be over 3m away from heavily rooted plants and 1m from building foundations.
Please make a request for installation details, to determine how deep the tank must be buried
The combined system includes the Grey water recycling system and the rainwater harvesting system, but both are kept separate. They are shipped together and can be installed in the same place at the same time but they are two separate systems.
Yes, because it is soft water, meaning it doesn’t include the chemicals that treated water contains e.g. calcium which creates a build-up of limescale.
The system includes mechanical gauze filtration plus optional extras, such as UV disinfection and carbon filtration
Yes, each residential system comes with a 12-month warranty.
You will receive a warranty certificate and the O&M Manual.
By installing a grey water system, you will be reusing the water that would otherwise be going into the sewer. So yes, you will therefore be saving money because less water will be going down the drain.
Water discolouration is not harmful but is not ideal. The installation of a carbon filter can prevent this.
