Will any amount of rain solve our water problems? No! Our water probelms are the amount of fresh water available for a growing population. Our needs and uses for water are growing as well. The demand for fresh water has grown exponentially. In addition to conservation efforts, alternate water sources important to meet this demand.
Alternate water sources consist of water sources other than the standard supply of water to the building. The most common sources for household use are rainwater and greywater. Other sources include landscape-scale stormwater harvesting, air conditioner condensate, and more involved systems like wastewater treatment and desalination.
For the household DIY project, greywater and rainwater provide the most practical and economical results for the amount of water delivered. Each has its strengths and weaknesses.
Watch the following introductory video on Alternate Water sources and then view the page links below for more details on each.
No, not with out a jackhammer and unreasonable expense. But upstairs tub/showers can be accessed from the ceiling below the fixture and piped to an exterior wall, out and down to the ground. Then to a below grade perforated leach line having a min. 2" of cover even if that cover is mulch.
Yes there are sealed vented 120 volt ejectors that are a couple hundred bucks, but installation should be done exactly as per manufacturers recommendations. If not, safety and code issues can have serious consequences.
It is best not to use the word purify when treating water of even talking about water. True water softeners do not remove anything except hardness and leave the "impurities" such as chlorine, viruses germs and such in the water. Treatment systems with out salt or magnesium actually do not remove hardness and as such do not soften the water. Instead can remove "impurities" such as chlorine, viruses,germs and such. These treatment systems most often have Granular Activated Carbon, or GAC in them. No one mechanism purifies water.
No, not at all, some include a 5th. stage that re alkalizes the water for better taste and ability for the water to be used inside copper piping. Since RO water with out being re alkalized can etch holes in copper tubing causing leaks Some RO units waste more water than others and others remove things that others do not. Some RO membranes can not be used on chlorinated or city water. Most RO rating specifications state "do not use on water not suitable for drinking" Meaning RO systems do not purify undrinkable into drinkable water. RO systems treat water to a finer point.
Reuse water from laundry, shower, and other household sources.
Capture and reuse rain water from rain barrels to 5000 gallon tanks.