The University of Aberdeen has discovered a latest technology for cleaning up contaminated ground and waste water from Scotland’s national drink whiskey which is said to have the potential worth of million pounds. This innovative method is called DRAM technology: Device for the Remediation and Attenuation of Multiple pollutants is suitable for industries having groundwater contamination problem.  According to the UK government report, there are more than 33,000 contaminated sites in UK and £ 1.2billion is spent annually on their clean ups (1). This method promises a lot in terms of the efficiency and cheaper expense.

The DRAM technology removes multiple contaminants simultaneously in a pioneering move that is far quicker and more cost effective than current clean up techniques. This technique has only used a whiskey bi product so far in its operation but experiments demonstrates that this technique can be applied in other products from food and drink production(1). These by-products are enhanced and incorporated into a unique patented device which can be introduced into contaminated waters in a variety of ways.  The DRAM technology is the first of its kind which can remove metal contaminants at the same time as the degrading organic pollutants including pesticides and chlorine pollutants (2). It doesn’t require any interventions to the contaminants as it can utilize the existing infrastructures and remain in place for years which means less expensive. Being a cheaper method the DRAM technology is said to be used in low value land that might not have been regenerated before.

The process of manufacturing beverages gives out many bi products that have been put through strict quality control process and later the material is deployed into manufactured devices. These bespoke devices can then be placed in either wastewater streams or directly into surface waters. The novelty of these devices is not just into the material but also into the design of these devices and the intellectual understanding of their applications (1). Alongside surface water this technique has also been proved tracked tested in groundwater cleanup which in UK is estimated to be a very significant market of £500m. As far as the groundwater goes it may be used as a barrier in a flannel system in which water is channeled through the reaction of the DRAM. Or, it may be applied directly down to boreholes to purify the contaminated water through the devices(2).

As well as being able to utilise contaminated water, it is also important to consider your personal water usage too. Many products and gadgets are available to help you easily reduce your water consumption across the home.

References:

[1] http://www.abdn.ac.uk/ibes/news_archive/apr08.php

[2] http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/sciencetech/waste-from-whisky-cleans-contaminated-water/889

These days in our household people use more than 70% of the water during toilet and bathroom activities. About 5 percent of all domestic water consumption runs from the water closet into the sink and eventually into the sewer. A shower timer is an easy and simple way to consider your water consumption. About 40 percent of all domestic water consumed is used to flush toilets. Its always an efficient way to capture and reuse the lavatory water. A United States water saving company called Water Saver Technology has developed AQUS.

AQUS is a simple system which uses water coming out from bathroom sinks and kitchen sinks to flush toilets (1). AQUS can help individual households, hotels, schools, commercial buildings, government structures and multi-family complexes save volumes of water. It is can be ideal for typical single and multi family homes, Corporate and Commercial properties, Eco-friendly buildings, underprivileged water districts, water districts which provides conservative incentives.  It is hardly noticeable and there is no change to the normal operation of your lavatory sink and toilet. And it is also easy use: AQUS is simple to install and requires minimal annual maintenance.

It has been reported that AQUS can reduce metered water usage in a two-person household by about 10–20 gallons a day – or approximately 5,000 gallons a year(1).  In addition to water conservation Aqus helps save a lot of money, reduced water consumption charges and wastewater treatment or sewer fees.   According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Water, more than 4.8 billion gallons of water is flushed down U.S. toilets each day (2). The American Water Works Association estimates that if water–saving features were installed in every U.S. household, water use would decrease by 30 percent. That would reduce daily water used by about 5.4 billion gallons, resulting in $113 million dollar–volume savings a day (2).

The Household test results speak volume about this innovative technology. In 2004, Water Saver Technology conducted a 24 hour, 20 household tests to determine the various contaminants, and volume of fresh water which goes down to bathroom drains (3). The contaminant data was used to develop treatment options to make the reused water safe for pets and people. 6 households tested used in excess of 9 gallons of fresh water per day in their lavatory sink. The average of these was 12.5 gallons. The range of fresh water savings is between 3,500 and 6,500 gallons of fresh water per year and an equal amount of wastewater savings (3).  Another six households (30%) used between 6 to 8 gallons per day. This amounts to 2,200 to 3,000 gallons of fresh water per year and an equal amount of wastewater savings. The remaining eight households used less than 6 gallons per day.

This method serves as a great means to control water loss and encourage water conservation. As a result, it can be recommended to be applied in under developed countries in Africa and South Asia where water scarcity is a major issue. This technology can act as a major positive influence towards the uplifment of the standards of environment and public health.

There are other methods and products you can purchase that will help you save water within your home, have a look at Energy Saving Warehouse’s range.

(1) http://www.watersavertech.com/AQUS-System.html

(2) http://water.epa.gov/

(3) http://www.watersavertech.com/Household-Savings.html