10-21-11
The Essential Three: Water, Sewer and Power
There is a current migration of humans into cities and as the density swells , more and more humans
are seeking wild places to get a change of scenery and recreate. These people might venture out
beyond the infrastructure of the centralized water, sewer and power tethers, the cost of continuing
these umbilical conduits becomes prohibitively expensive. The purpose of this document is to provide
examples of alternatives to essential infrastructure that are both rational and responsible in this era of
less predictable climate patterns and resource depletion. An ideal demonstration site for these
proposed features lies in Portland, Oregon where civic leaders are contemplating how to best provide
services to the nascent Gateway Green project. With this project in mind I wish to offer examples of
decentralized solutions that have proven track records of being both cost effective and highly functional
without compromising health or comfort standards.
1. ) Potable Water : Rain Water Catchment system by
Ole Ersson in Portland, OR
SOURCE OF INFORMATION
http://www.rwh.in/
Rainwater Harvesting and
Purification System
In January 1996 we installed a
rainwater catchment system to
capture Oregon's abundant rainfall.
Portland receives between 3 and 4
feet of rainfall annually. During a
gentle rain a typical Oregon
downspout sheds several gallons per
minute. Our twelve hundred square
foot roof captures on average 3600
cubic feet (27,000 gallons) of water
per year.
In 1998 we received approval from
the city of Portland to use this water
for all household use. This system,
which cost less than $1,500, consists
of the following components:
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A 1500 gallon plastic cistern, approximate cost: $500. Purchased from Northwest Irrigation,
Tangent, Oregon, 541-928-0114. Contact local agriculture/farm stores for best prices.
A 1/2 horsepower shallow-well pump to pressurize the water to between 20 and 30 psi
(pressure is adjustable), approximate cost: $250. I utilized a Jaccuzzi brand pump.
Plastic (outdoor PVC and indoor CPVC) piping to connect to the household cold water system.
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Two particulate filters in series, rated at 20 and 5 micron particle size, approximate cost: $20
each; replaceable filter cartridges cost $3-5 each.
An ultraviolet light sterilizer capable of sterilizing water at 10 gallons per minute. This appliance
was recently approved for use in Oregon. I used the PURA (1-800-292-PURA, Valencia,
California) model UV20-1, cost approximately $350. Uses about 40 watts. Fluorescent ultraviolet
light rated at 9600 hours, about one year of continuous use. Replacement cost of fluorescent
tube: about $80.
Screen covering the cistern to prevent entry of mosquitoes and to catch any large particles that
make it past the gutter screening.
A roof-washer which wastes the first 7.5 gallons of captured water which has "washed" the roof.
Once the roof washer has filled, the rest of the water flows to the cistern. See below for details.
A 20 gallon water butyl rubber diaphragm pressure storage tank, approximate cost: $150.
A reduced pressure backflow prevention device. This was required by the city to prevent flow of
rainwater into the public system. Cost: $120. This would not be necessary if we used rainwater
exclusively. However, Oregon has very dry summers and our cistern is exhausted by July. We
currently depend on city water during the summer. The city requires annual inspection of these
devices, costing about $30. (See photo below.)
 A
(optional)
water
meter to
measure
rainwater
output,
approxim
ate cost:
$45.
Maintena
nce
consists of keeping gutters and cistern screen clean.
Filters and ultra-violet lamp will need periodic
replacement. The tank is thoroughly cleaned annually
in the summer when it empties. Backflow prevention
device requires annual inspection. Public health
authorities recommend periodic testing of water for
fecal coliform bacteria, as for any private water
system. Several recent tests showed none. The inside
components of our system, pictured here, take up
about 6 square feet of floor space.
At the current time we continue to use the public water supply only for summertime water and occasional
drinking and cooking. In fact, during the rainy season, which lasts from about September to June, our
only connection to the public utility is one faucet at the kitchen sink which uses less than one gallon per
day, which got us into hot water with the city water bureau.
In my research on rainwater catchment systems the best single reference I have come across for detailed
design guidelines is the Texas Water Development Board's Texas Guide to Rainwater Harvesting.
Roofwashers. A simple prototype is shown in the TG. It consists of a length of pipe for storage of the
initial flush of water with a trickle valve (hose bib just slightly opened) and clean out valve at the bottom.
Only when the this pipe fills is water then allowed to continue into the cistern. It's very simple, no moving
parts. The only thing I would change is to have a narrow section or trap configuration at the top to reduce
mixing of the flush water with the still arriving (clean) water. Yet another method to aid this is to add a
lightweight (like styrofoam) ball that would seal the intake when the roof washer fills. This simple design
is very inexpensive, easy to drain or clean manually, and works very well. The TG suggests one gallon of
washer capacity for each 100 square feet of roof. So make your roof washer pipe length long enough. For
our model we used 20 feet of 3" ABS. We made it in the shape of a giant U to get this length. Remember,
volume equals length times area. Area equals pi times radius squared (in our case 3 inches internal
diameter, or .25 foot) and one cubic foot equals 7.5 gallons. To avoid long lengths of roofwasher pipe, it
makes sense to use larger diameters. Portland's chief residential plumbing inspector commented that our
use of ABS didn't conform to code as plastic may eventually decay in sunlight. Therefore, you should use
copper, iron, or other sunlight-resistant materials to be completely correct.
Rainbarrels. A rainwater harvesting system can be as simple as a barrel connected to a downspout.
Check the Rainbarrel Tutorial for tips on how to put together a system for as little as $15-20. One of our
neighbors has connected his rainbarrel to his basement washing machine and gets virtually all his laundry
water from this super-soft source for a miniscule investment.
One notable advantage of rainwater is its softness. Rainfall in the Portland area contains about 5 mg/liter
of dissolved minerals. Compare this with some hard groundwater which exceeds 500 mg/liter. Portland
city water, which has an exceptionally pure source, is rated at 18 mg/liter.
According to two officials in Alaska and Hawaii with whom I have communicated, there is a long
established tradition of rainwater collection in some parts of their states. According to Sourcebook
Harvested Rainwater, in some areas of the Caribbean, new houses are required to have rainwater capture
systems. Hawaii apparently is currently developing (or has already developed) guidelines. In Oregon,
there is no regulation of water quality for individual residences -- this is left up to the homeowner. The
only regulations I have come across relating to rainwater harvesting are from Ohio, whose Department of
Health Administrative Code regulates private water systems. Note, in particular, Rules 3701-28-09
Continuous disinfection and 3701-28-13 Construction and surface design of cisterns, hauled water storage
tanks, and roof washers.
Two other great resources for rainwater harvesting information are Warwick (Coventry, United Kingdom)
University's Development Technology Unit Roofwater Harvesting Programme and the roofwater
harvesting listserve archives.
Update Summer 2002 -- A different style of roof washer. This summer we installed a commercially
available roof washer that uses a programmable valve to divert a rain's first flow away from the cistern. A
purported advantage is the absence of standing water that can stagnate and potentially contaminate the
cistern water. (This could happen, for example, if the trickle valve on the conventional device were to
clog or it were left closed.) Below are two photos of the system with this new device. The first photo
shows the roof washer mounted on a window frame near the cistern. Rainwater, which enters from the
two downspouts above, can be observed from inside the dwelling. The first flush is diverted downwards
into a holding barrel. An overflow hose from the top of the cistern also empties into this barrel. Post-flush
water enters the cistern via the roof washer's side port through a screened cistern entry hole. The barrel
overflow is directed to a swale in the middle of our back yard.
Update January 2004 -- An American-made roof washer and rainwater sculpture. I never was able
to get the SafeRain roof washer to function properly in Oregon's often drizzly weather. Either the roof
washer diversion valve would not properly close, thus diverting all the rainwater into the overflow, or it
would not open after the rainfall event ended, retaining dirty water in the device. I attempted numerous
times to adjust it, all to no avail. Unfortunately, for this reason, I can not recommend this device. The last
straw came during recent freezing weather when the device froze with water in it, rendering it nonfunctional. Therefore, recently, I installed a newer style of first-flush device. This device is considerably
less expensive (approximately $66 versus $140 at currency exchange rates 22 Jan 2004, including
shipping) for North Americans, since it is locally made and uses standard pipe fittings. The first-flush
valve kit consists of a hollow ball (see middle two photos below) which, when filled by the initial flow of
water, seats itself onto a rubber gasket. This closes the overflow pipe and subsequent rainwater is then
diverted to the cistern. After the rain stops the ball empties and the diversion valve returns to the open
position. I will post a review of how well this device performs at the end of this rainy season. At this time
it already seems to be functioning properly.
At the same time I installed this roof washer I also installed a more elaborate piping configuration (see
photo, above, left) leading from the downspouts to the cistern that is intended to act as a water sculpture.
Viewable from our dining room window, it will display ten areas of flowing water, depending on the time
in a rainwater event and the rainwater flow. During a typical Oregon drizzle, only the left most vertical
pipe (see photo, above right) carries water. During a downpour all three pipes will be filled to capacity
and additional flow will emerge from the 2" elbow.
Update January 2005 -- final roof washer review. Unfortunately, this second roof washer employs the
same mechanism as the earlier, Australian, model to reset itself after a storm event. Both devices use a
small, hollow, plastic ball that fills with water when rain begins. While the ball fills, the initial dirty
rainwater is wasted. When the ball is full, it lowers over a drain hole, causing the remaining clean
rainwater to be diverted into the cistern. The problem with both these devices is that their ball depends on
a tiny pin-hole to empty their water when the rain stops. However, it is all too easy for this hole to
become obstructed with small particles of sand or other debris common in a gutter. The ball then does not
drain properly and the device does not reset itself. Thus, both devices required close monitoring and
frequent manual cleaning in our system. I regret to say that I cannot recommend either one. My
recommendation at this time is to employ a homemade Texas style standpipe roof washer. Its simplicity
allows it to be constructed and maintained inexpensively.
We have now sold this house and moved to a different residence. We will work with the new owners who
will continue using this system.
Rainwater Harvesting Discussion Forum Click here.
Rainwater Harvesting and Purification System / Sitemap / November 14, 2006.
Copyright: Mr. Ole Ersson
As on today Mr. Ole Ersson has sold this house and moved in nearby locality.
2.) Sanitation: Composting Toilet Installation
Quail Ridge County Park St. Charles, Missouri
Quail Ridge is one of a series of spectacular county parks along the Mississippi River near St. Charles,
Missouri . The ACS designed, prefabricated, and installed building features cedar siding and cultured
stone rockwork. Inside, the washrooms are equipped with faucets that dispense enough water for
washing when touched. Rainwater, caught from the roof, is stored in a cistern in the basement and
distributed by electric pumps that are powered by batteries charged by photovoltaic panels in the roof.
A ground tube air cooling system helps lower the temperature in the toilet rooms during the summer
(the region is lush, but hot and humid)
Insert excerpt from a maintenance superintendent personal correspondence via email :
From: Kent, Jim [mailto:JKent@sccmo.org]
Sent: Monday, May 17, 2010 8:09 AM
To: Jeff Holiman
Subject: RE: composting toilet feedback
Jeff
I started working with the Phoenix units when I came here about 4.5 years ago.
Nothing but praise for these units in our situation.
Effective, efficient, low maintenance, high satisfaction, all good things here.
Perfect for remote locations and along trails, fishing lakes, streams, etc.
3 notes of caution.
1.
I previously worked in St. Louis County Parks.
At several of those locations, a Phoenix placement would need much more use analysis.
Putting a Phoenix in a high-use area may present some volume/capacity problems.
Some of our St. Louis County sites had a capacity of 500-1000 visitors at a single pavilion.
At those sites, if composters were installed, it would require several Phoenix-type units.
This is where the “art” of the decision rests.
Only you can make that assessment based on your use patterns and levels
as applied to the capacity spec’s that Glen uses in the design of the units.
2.
Low maintenance does not mean NO maintenance.
We do a thorough cleaning EACH DAY during the non-winter seasons.
As a result, other park departments that visit our sites think they are new.
We take great pride in this but have seen units in other locations where this is lax and the units look
bad.
The design doesn’t make them a magic bullet for maintenance.
3.
The chemistry of the units does not allow for the use of much hand soap.
Introducing these chemicals into the tanks can have a bad effect on the organic chemistry.
When we’re going to have a VIP group in an area where we have composters,
we provide some type of bottled sanitizer and trash cans for paper towel disposal.
Glen Nelson can speak to this as it’s been handled elsewhere.
Some of our users comment on this issue, especially with the germ-o-phobes.
Again, local assessment and cultures where they’re located.
If you’d care to discuss these units more, please feel free to call me at 314-609-8555 – cell.
Good Luck.
Jim Kent
St. Charles County Parks
3.) Decentralized Power Generation:
A gasifier is a device that can convert any biomass source (wood chips, grass straw, dried spent coffee
grounds, card board, anaerobic digestate, manure, biosolides, etc…) by combustion, can generate heat
that can be exchanged into storage of thermal energy by water (hydrothermal ) or directly power by
generation of syngas to an internal combustion engine that can convert chemical energy (exhaust from
combusting wood) to electrical energy by utilizing generator (genset). This generator can power off-grid
power loads such as Gateway Green Nature Center and Restroom facility. The beauty of this project lies
in the potential to convert urban waste into valuable energy for the purpose of demonstration and
education, while performing tangible work. The Gateway Green facility could become an actual
functional monument to practical, resilient technologies that could be disseminated throughout the
greater metropolitan area. This self-replicating model can be utilized in every neighborhood thereby
spreading the resilient concepts that would ultimately lift the burden of central government from
supporting essential services.
Introduce Gasification to Portland audience:
Source :
http://gekgasifier.com/gasification-store/gasifier-genset-skids/
Power Pallets: Integrated Gasifier-Genset Skids
Store Front | Gasifier-Gensets | Gasifier Kits | Biochar | Parts & Upgrades | Electronics
& Test EQ | Distributorships
The Full Solution: 10kw and 20kw
The GEK Power Pallet is a complete
biomass power generation solution that
converts woody biomass to electricity,
heat, and PTO shaft power. It is a
compact, integrated and fully automated
system –from wood chips in, to power
out– delivered at the breakthrough price of
$1-$2/watt.
The Power Pallet is comprised of the GEK
Hot TOTTI multi-stage gasifier, spark
fired industrial engine, generator head, and
electronic controller. The system
automatically adjusts syngas/air mixture
via a wide band Bosch oxygen sensor,
shakes the grate when needed, and
removes ash via a mechanical auger. The
Gasifier Control Unit (GCU) monitors and
responds to all internal reactor, filter and
engine conditions, displaying the results on
an LCD screen.
Power Pallets are available in 10kw and
20kw sizes, using Kubota or GM industrial
engines. Genheads are configurable to
single, split or three phase, at
120/208/240vac, 60hz or 50hz.
See photo set of Kubota engine based
“Power Pallet”
Why it’s different
The GEK Power Pallet is the culmination of our long-standing project to create an expertly engineered,
small-scale gasification solution that is realistic for today’s user. While personal scale gasification has
long held tremendous promise, the realities of making it work usually prove too much for regular mortals.
The high bar of operator expertise and extreme sensitivity to fuel particulars, usually combine to make
what seems simple in principle, exceedingly difficult in practice.
The Power Pallet has significantly widened this window for success by embedding the needed “expertise”
in an onboard electronic brain. These smarts are further extended by a multi-stage gasification
architecture, and an innovative “waste heat” capture and recycling system– what we call the Tower of
Total Thermal Integration (Hot TOTTI). In traditional systems, hot engine exhaust and hot output wood
gas have been “problems” requiring extra space and cooling components to counter. With the GEK Hot
TOTTI, we’ve transformed these “wastes” into useful new inputs to the gasification process. It’s like
adding a new “free” heat source to fix the old and well known thermal challenges of a gasifier.
This Gasifier-Engine thermal integration significantly improves tar conversion, fuel flexibility and general
efficiency of the gasifier-engine system. It enables the GEK to solve the tar issue in the reactor, not via a
large downstream filtering system, saving much cost, complexity and installation footprint in the process.
The result is a compact and technically advanced solution. It is a solution that can deliver the hands-off,
non-tended operation we expect from contemporary power generation equipment. And given its
minimized component architecture, we can also deliver it an unprecedented price point that makes ROI
sense without subsidies or other artificial financial supports.
(Note, the above features graphic shows the Power Pallet with a Kohler engine. We’ve now switched to
Kubota and GM engines.)
Engine and Genhead Options
The Power Pallet is available in two basic forms: 10kw and 20kw. The 1okw unit is uses a Kubota 3cyl
962cc spark fired engine. The 20kw unit uses a GM 4cyl 3.0 liter spark fired engine. Both of these
engines are extreme longevity, all cast iron industrial engines, optimized for dry gaseous fuels. They both
have long track records of exceeding 10,000 hours of run life. Actual longevity of the engine is, as
always, highly dependent on your maintenance schedule.
Either engine option is mated to a Mecc alte genhead of related size. These genheads have automatic
voltage frequency and 3x rated amperage at surge for high machinery start capacity. The genheads are
12 wire so they can be configured to single, split or three phase, in wye or delta configuration. They
support all common global voltages, 120, 208, 240 and 400 vac, at either 50hz or 60hz.
Actual power produced is highly dependent on the fuel shape, size and moisture content. Solid biomass
is not the consistent fuel source like we assume with diesel or gasoline. We have used “10kw” and
“20kw” as an average of what can be expected for continuous running. Your actual experience might be
slightly above or below this.
See here for complete photo set the Kubota-Meccalte based 10kw Power Pallet.
See here for photo sets of previous versions of the Power Pallet.
ENGINE AND GENHEAD MANUALS:
coming in a minute
Purchase and Shipping
10kw GEK Power Pallet, Kubota engine – Mecc alte genhead: $16,995
20kw GEK Power Pallet, GM engine – Mecc alte genhead: $25,995
Skids are built in the common 48″ x 48″ form factor, so can ship via typical pallet freight services.
Shipping weight is approximately 850lbs/400kg Shipping within the continental US is $500-800.
Overseas is usually in the $1800-2500 range, but inquire for specifics.
To place your order by phone, call 510-845-1500 during the hours of 11 AM and 6 PM Pacific Standard
Time. We’ll be happy to answer your questions and discuss your intended project.
If you would like to pay by wire transfer, or need a formal invoice, please write to us
at gek_at_allpowerlabs_dot_org.
All prices are freight on board, Berkeley, CA, 94710. California sales tax of 8.75% applies to all orders
within California.
In closing, while conducting feasibility proposals for potential sites for urban development, it would
behoove policy makers to demonstrate decentralized options for potable water, sanitation and power
generation, for the public is in need of some real-time, functional demonstration sites that could serve
as examples for establishing and maintaining neighborhood resilience.
Best regards,
Jeff Holiman
503-329-7912
PHLUSH Volunteer