Recycling Bath Water Easily: The Ban Beater
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 08.28.06
From the U.K., comes this handy device called the "Ban Beater". It is a large siphon with hoses attached, and it's used to suck up all the used "greywater" in a bath. The inventor, Dominic Flinton, says that one simple upward pull will start the siphon action, and fill the hose until the bath runs dry. You can then take the "Ban Beater" outside and water your garden or wash your car with the greywater you've collected. Flinton was inspired to create the device during the recent periods of drought in England.
This device allowed him to water his garden during periods of water restriction.
The Ban Beater is made of recycled plastic piping and is fitted with a copper and chrome handle that is pulled to create a vacuum which siphons the greywater.
It's selling for £39.99.
:: Ban Beater
What I really want to see is a replacement for the tub drain. You know how you have a lever that opens/shuts the drain? I want a replacement for that, with two levers. One open/shuts the tub drain, and the second toggles a flapper that either sends the water down the regular drain, or diverts it to a second outflow pipe for grey water. No electronics needed. Now you could recapture shower water too, without having to stand in it....
Really shouldn't take much engineering. Might make one myself if I free up some time.
Thats expensive, what ever happened to the good old suck the end of the pipe to syphon the water out?
Have anyone looked at whether or not our shampoos, bubble bath, epson salts, etc. can kill our gardens or hurt the grass?
In theory this is a great idea however I live in the southwest United States and this is actually not good for us. We have such strict drought control that water that is treated and returned back to our water supply is then given back to us in Return Flow Credits. We only have a certain allotment every year. Water that is used on landscaping is actually never returned and thus return flow credits do not apply. Aside from the fact it saves energy cause the water doesn't have to be treated. There isnt a lot of water in the desert anyways so why have plants that need it they were never here to begin with.
I am sure many shampoos, bubble baths can harm grass and gardens. Epsom salt could wreak havoc in minor quantities. But organic bio-degradable shampoos and soap would be a different thing.
I have thought of the lever idea myself Ken. A most excellent idea to help save water and water my grass at the same time.
Good idea, that'd be nice to have. Granted, it should probably come with a warning not to use it on food items in your garden. I have a feeling some diseases could be passed on that way...
(ya, the owner should be smart enough, but you can't count on people's intelligence all the time...I'd hate to be a guest and discover the pepper I bit into was watered with some dude's bathwater!!!). And I won't even touch the "peeing in the shower" debate ;)
There is a similar device on sale called a droughtbuster www.droughtbuster.co.uk
It uses a simpler mechanism to start the suction - a rubber bladder rather than a plunger.
It weighs in at £19.99
Sorta pointless for me since it rains every other day...
It's a big add, very big add it's just so freaking huge. It's a big add for carlton drought, it better sell some freaking beer
Hi this is anonymous again I hope you like what I sent bye for now not forever