The past 6 months our team tackled the water shortage problems in Lobitos & Piedritas. As everybody needs water to survive, our aims were to reduce the reliance on the neighbouring city Talara for their water supply, in turn regulating a consistent supply of potable water.
With affordability in mind the videos and image below depicts the Full Concept surrounding the grey water recycling system. Some of the key design features include underground storage tanks, solar powered pumps, UV filters and more.
Brief summary of how it all works:
To start the localized water recycling system, grey water is gravity fed from the hotel into an underground storage tank. A small pump is used to pass the water through smooth plastic pipe into the condensing building. The pump and material of the pipe were suitably chosen so no cavitation should occur.
The condensing building is made up of 2 concrete brick walls for structural integrity and 2 toughened glass walls and roof. This allows the maximum amount of thermal radiation into the building so that the maximum amount of water is evaporated. This is then condensed by the internal fog catchers and netting which drains into another storage tank.
The fog catchers also have a mechanical function allowing them to open and close. They have been designed this way so that they can be used in various ways according to specific demands.
​Next this water is pumped out into the deep bed filter, where it is then gravity fed down into a UV filter where it will then end up in the final storage tank. The use of a these two filters allows for the water to be safe for human consumption and is reused in the hotel. All the pumps and the filter are solar powered from a 450W panel that is on top of the hotel making the design sustainably powered.
Lastly, this design will benefit the people of Lobitos and Piedritas as over the course of 10 years price per litre of water will drop drastically.
An inspiring and innovative concept!
Great design! Especially the benefits to the local community
Wow love this!