Affordable filtration system that doesn't require waterline connection?

[subtle_variegation]

I'm trying to find a better water solution because the water quality in my location isn't great (hard enough to see deposits on my orchids' leaves). I'm looking for a standalone system or ideally, something that can link to the sink via the nozzle. I won't be able to use anything that requires a waterline connection at the moment because of limited space and the fact that I can't tamper with the pipes behind the sink where I am.

I have seen the countertop RO filters on Amazon but those are above my budget currently.

I could also just continue using tap and regularly flush with distilled, but that probably still wouldn't be enough for a couple of minis I have that probably need better water quality on a regular basis.

[Ray]

The Aquatic Life RO Buddie 3-stage 50 gpd is $62 at Amazon. That’s about as cheap as you can get for an RO system, and it would be fine for your application. I know it has an adapter to allow temporary connection to a hose thread, and it may have kitchen sink adapters as well (if it doesn’t, your local hardware store ought to have them).

It’s more or less the same as the counter-top system I used to build, with one exception- they use a standard membrane while I used a low-pressure one.

A standard membrane is rated at 65 psi and 77F water at the membrane. If pressure or temperature- or both - are lower, you will get less out of the membrane than the rated volume, and if higher, you’ll get more. The LP membrane (they are interchangeable) is rated at 25 psi.

[subtle_variegation]

Thank you, I think this may be the solution I'm looking for. The one on Amazon has a sink adaptor, which is perfect for what I need.

Good to know about a potentially needing a low-pressure membrane. Will using the one it comes with at first at lower pressure affect the longevity of it or will it just be less efficient?

Also, is there any benefit to getting the 4-stage for $8 more or is that level unnecessary?

[Ray]

The life span of the prefilters is typically about 3000 gallons, and the membrane about 12000. That's total throughput, not pure water produced. That holds true for the standard and LP membranes.

Let's say your water is at 65°F and 45 psi. Looking at THIS CHART, you can see that the output will be reduced to 54.46%, meaning that the 50 gpd system will put out about 27 gallons of pure water, but the flush water stream will be unchanged, resulting in a lower overall efficiency.

If that system had an LP membrane, at that same T & P, you'd get about 27% greater output, or 63 gpd with the same flush volume, giving you a greater efficiency.

The three stage system should remove 98-99% of the dissolved solids, which is plenty for even the most sensitive plants. Don't bother with the 4th stage, DI column.

[subtle_variegation]

My one gripe with the RO system is the wastewater, as I won't have any use for it.

Would I be able to get similar results to using RO water (assuming proper fertilization) with something like a ZeroWater filter? It looks like the ion-exchange resin is closer to what's used in water deionizers compared to water softeners, which should eliminate the risk of added potassium, but I'm not sure if I'm getting that quite right.

I ask because I read on your website that ZeroWater pitchers have similar output to what a regular water deionizer would give, but are cost-prohibitive because of having to change the filters. I have seen some examples online of people using a second pitcher to increase the longevity of the main filter but I'm not sure how well this would work in practice.

[Ray]

A Zerowater pitcher IS a deionization process. It involves the same resins as a DI cartridge that capture dissolved ions. They have a fixed capacity for doing so and every ion it captures reduces that. A second pitcher doubles the cost to do double the volume - i.e., offers no advantage.

There is no argument that one has to deal with “wasting” the flush water, so many folks find a use for it. Greenhouse growers often splash it on the floor for humidifying the air, while others use it to water less-sensitive plants. I originally put mine back down the well it came from, but later used it to keep an artificial bond full, just outside the greenhouse, keeping birds, frogs, deer, my dogs, and who know what else happy.

Reducing the size of the flow restrictor can reduce the volume of the flush water, but that can lead to more rapid fouling of the membrane. Putting a simple valved bypass around the restrictor offers a way to counter that by offering a manual flush.

There is a thread here on ways to use that stream, but one of the most efficient is a “zero waste” kit that pumps it into your residential hot water lines so it is used.

[WaterWitchin]

I've used the Aquatic Life RO Buddie 3-stage Ray's talking about for many years. You can usually get the replacement cartridges for around $40 +/-

Use a container of choice (depending on how much water you're running through it) for the waste water and use it on house plants or outside plants. Currently my setup is a trash can for waste water, and I have a small pump in it. Second floor of house. I open a window when finished and pump the water out onto a flower bed. There are plenty of ways to move water where you want it.

[subtle_variegation]

Oh okay, I got a bit confused because their website mentioned potassium in the resin system which made me think of soft water, but I guess that wouldn't make sense if the resulting water is 0 TDS.

Originally Posted by Ray

A second pitcher doubles the cost to do double the volume - i.e no advantage.

I think the idea is that a second filter is first used so that there are less impurities going through the second one which supposedly "preserves" it. Once the bottom filter fouls, it is switched with the top initial filter.

Because I'll be in a dorm/apartment situation, it would just be going down my drain since I don't have a yard or any other plants to use it on.

The zero waste kit is certainly something to keep in mind but probably wouldn't work because I'd have to make modifications to the plumbing. I couldn't find the thread to the bypass valve option, do you have a link to it?

[Dimples]

Minimizing waste water is a noble goal, but another factor to consider is that our sewer systems in the US were designed with an expected flow of water + solid waste. The widespread adoption of low-water appliances has skewed the ratio of water to solids in some places. This has caused widespread issues that most regular people aren’t aware of. Our current sewer system requires water to function, so don’t fret too much about a small amount of “waste” water. If you can use it to water a plant, awesome, but your 50 gallons a month (or whatever) isn’t the problem.

Source: studied this stuff in college.

[estación seca]

Originally Posted by WaterWitchin

Currently my setup is a trash can for waste water, and I have a small pump in it. Second floor of house. I open a window when finished and pump the water out onto a flower bed.

You must realize our neighbors think we're crazy.