Water is my special interest, and yes, this is a great way to go in areas damp enough. Removing bacteria is critical. Cheapest way is to add a very small amount of hot tub or pool chlorine and test with a test strip to 3-5 ppm residual. You can get both at a big box hardware store. The filter is great too, but the cost is higher. A multistage RO filter, also from a big box store, is another great way to go, but it needs some pressure. You'd put the source water upstairs and run PEX tubing to the RO filter and reservoir downstairs.
I already have the RO unit, so you have me thinking!.
Awesome! Yeah, an RO filter would definitely do the job even better. We just got a sturdy manual pump that could do it. I think we might put a hose splitter on it and run one end through the RO and the other back into the reservoir.
We live on an island with abundant groundwater and many wells. Even in an earthquake, some would survive. Attach a generator or solar charged battery and pump.
We are currently looking at community disaster preparedness.
Again, you've achieved impressive results, Jessica! The filtered dehumidifier water has almost nothing in it. I guess you have to trust the filter manufacturer's specs regarding viruses and bacteria.
I'd be interested to know how the water tastes. With so few minerals, probably pretty flat, which is good. You could boil some if you try tasting it. Or maybe you'd rather wait until times get bleak. Good work!
We ran a bacteria test at home and it passed, but of course that result is going to depend a lot on the air quality, the age and condition of the dehumidifier, and any final purification you'd do afterward. But it's good to know that we don't have to worry quite as much about a new unit itself leaching metals. That was one of my biggest concerns. Running an air purifier did have a noticeable impact on the "funkiness" of the raw water. Much less. As for the taste, yeah, it's probably going to be flat, but drinkable. :)
"Dehumidifiers that use refrigeration will have cold metal tubes to turn water vapor from a gas to a liquid. According to the EPA, stagnant condensate water can harbor biological contaminants, including mold, mildew and algae, especially if the collection bucket isn’t cleaned regularly. These contaminants have the potential for causing diseases such as hypersensitivity pneumonitis and humidifier fever. Evaporation trays in air conditioners, dehumidifiers and refrigerators should also be cleaned frequently. Moreover, the condensate can contain lead and other metal residues from the component parts of the dehumidifier. Unlike distilled water, dehumidifier water is never sterilized through boiling.
The Black Berkey® Elements are capable of removing the various potential contaminants that are typically found in dehumidifier water. We recommend that you always use the cleanest water source possible and we do not recommend using dehumidifier water in your Berkey® system on a regular basis. However, IF no other water source is available during an emergency, the water from a dehumidifier could be used, on a short term basis only."
Thanks. Sounds like they are covering their asses. I certainly like the idea of a dehumidifier as a water source. I live next to a huge lake so water is not a problem to me.
Thanks for the informative article. Great project!
Water is my special interest, and yes, this is a great way to go in areas damp enough. Removing bacteria is critical. Cheapest way is to add a very small amount of hot tub or pool chlorine and test with a test strip to 3-5 ppm residual. You can get both at a big box hardware store. The filter is great too, but the cost is higher. A multistage RO filter, also from a big box store, is another great way to go, but it needs some pressure. You'd put the source water upstairs and run PEX tubing to the RO filter and reservoir downstairs.
I already have the RO unit, so you have me thinking!.
Awesome! Yeah, an RO filter would definitely do the job even better. We just got a sturdy manual pump that could do it. I think we might put a hose splitter on it and run one end through the RO and the other back into the reservoir.
Let me know what you try!
We live on an island with abundant groundwater and many wells. Even in an earthquake, some would survive. Attach a generator or solar charged battery and pump.
We are currently looking at community disaster preparedness.
Again, you've achieved impressive results, Jessica! The filtered dehumidifier water has almost nothing in it. I guess you have to trust the filter manufacturer's specs regarding viruses and bacteria.
I'd be interested to know how the water tastes. With so few minerals, probably pretty flat, which is good. You could boil some if you try tasting it. Or maybe you'd rather wait until times get bleak. Good work!
We ran a bacteria test at home and it passed, but of course that result is going to depend a lot on the air quality, the age and condition of the dehumidifier, and any final purification you'd do afterward. But it's good to know that we don't have to worry quite as much about a new unit itself leaching metals. That was one of my biggest concerns. Running an air purifier did have a noticeable impact on the "funkiness" of the raw water. Much less. As for the taste, yeah, it's probably going to be flat, but drinkable. :)
What is your opinion on Uniseals?
Add a Solar cooker to sanitize for bacteria and possible cook off the VOCs?
Truly amazing. Thank you
Truly impressive work.
Pardon me for the ignorance but why do you need to filter water from a dehumidifier? Isn’t it just distilled water?
I always assumed I would use a backpacking filter if I needed emergency water.
Here's what Berkey says:
"Dehumidifiers that use refrigeration will have cold metal tubes to turn water vapor from a gas to a liquid. According to the EPA, stagnant condensate water can harbor biological contaminants, including mold, mildew and algae, especially if the collection bucket isn’t cleaned regularly. These contaminants have the potential for causing diseases such as hypersensitivity pneumonitis and humidifier fever. Evaporation trays in air conditioners, dehumidifiers and refrigerators should also be cleaned frequently. Moreover, the condensate can contain lead and other metal residues from the component parts of the dehumidifier. Unlike distilled water, dehumidifier water is never sterilized through boiling.
The Black Berkey® Elements are capable of removing the various potential contaminants that are typically found in dehumidifier water. We recommend that you always use the cleanest water source possible and we do not recommend using dehumidifier water in your Berkey® system on a regular basis. However, IF no other water source is available during an emergency, the water from a dehumidifier could be used, on a short term basis only."
https://www.usaberkeyfilters.com/blog/2021/10/can-i-use-my-berkey-system-to-filter-water-from-my-dehumidifier/?srsltid=AfmBOopfdzg33dU3d7QHmB3GNMoZcJkDJkpiXyASNYY_SIqGOnujD85M
Thanks. Sounds like they are covering their asses. I certainly like the idea of a dehumidifier as a water source. I live next to a huge lake so water is not a problem to me.
Thanks for the informative article. Great project!