Why Save Water?

Let us take the global picture into account. As per a recent study, by the year 2020 water shortage will be a serious worldwide problem. Our water resources will not be sufficient anymore. So an environmental approach is not only a good thing, it is necessary if we want our children to have water when they grow up.

In fact, USA ranks highest in per person water consumer. In the USA we use the equivalent of 152 gallons of water per day - or 55,000 gallons per year. This is 50% more than in Japan or Mexico, more than twice as much water as the average person from France, and almost three times as much as the average German or Brit. America’s per capita water consumption is 65% above the world average. At this rate, our water supplies (mainly ground-level sources) will not be able to support our growing needs and expanding population.

This means that even here, in our own towns, we will soon experience this shortage. You may have noticed recently that more and more municipalities have started restricting water consumption and increased water prices; this is a direct consequence. And it’s only just begun. Important changes will be asked of us over the coming years.

So, we may as well take advantage of this opportunity to do our part for the environment while also keeping our money in our pockets.

 

BRAC Grey Water Recycling

Brac systems can help you save 35% to 40% on your annual water bill, and while saving money, you will also help save the environment and provide a better future for our children and their children to come. With this amount of savings, your Brac Greywater Recycling System pays itself.

"UNESCO has predicted that by 2020 water shortage will be a serious worldwide problem."

The Brac Greywater Recycling System is a must for anyone who cares about the environment.

Brac Systems holds an international patent.

 

 

The Brac Greywater Recycling System was developed because home owners all over the world are experiencing water shortages, and the problem is only growing. During hot summers, people using wells can run out of water. What can we do? There is only so much water available, but we still need drinking water, water for the shower, the washroom, the laundry etc…

What if there was a way some of our water could be used twice? Let’s look at some figures: More than half of our water is being used to shower, bathe and do the laundry, while another third is being used to flush the toilet. This is a rather standard proportion throughout most homes.

This is why we developed a system that would recycle the greywater from the shower, bath and laundry, filter it, and reuse this water for the toilet tank. Using this solution we can now save approximately one third of our water consumption.

While this can be considered very useful on an individual basis, let us take the global picture into account. As per a recent study, “UNESCO has predicted that by 2020 water shortage will be a serious worldwide problem.” So an environmental approach is not only a good thing, it is necessary if we want our children to have water.

The US rates #1 in water consumption. So we need to start taking advantage of this to do our part while also keeping money in our pockets.

Brac Systems offers a real solution and gives us hope. And we are proud to share it with the world.

Thanks to our greywater recycling product, each household saves one third of its annual water consumption. Now, not only can we save money on our water bills but we can also extend our chances for water supply and give our children a future.

Brac Systems is a company built on the responsibility of every single individual who wants to see a real change in the environment.

The Global Water Crisis Of all the water in the world, only 3% is fresh. Less than a third of 1% of this is available to humans. The rest is frozen in glaciers or polar ice caps, or is deep within the earth, beyond our reach. To put it another way, if 100 litres represents the world's water, little more than half a tablespoon of it is fresh water available for our use. However, fresh water is essential to our existence, it allows us to produce food, manufacture goods and sustain our health. In fact, about 70% of our body is comprised of water. Global water consumption has risen almost tenfold since 1900, and many parts of the world are now reaching the limits of their supply. World population is expected to increase by 45% in the next thirty years, while freshwater runoff is expected to increase by 10%. UNESCO has predicted that by 2020 water shortage will be a serious worldwide problem. One third of the world's population is already facing problems due to both water shortage and poor drinking water quality. Effects include massive outbreaks of disease, malnourishment and crop failure. Furthermore, excessive use of water has seen the degradation of the environment costing the world billions of dollars. Some sobering examples of water consumption around the world include: • So much water is drawn from the Colorado River (which formed the Grand Canyon) that often it never flows to the sea.   Several U.S. states are already experiencing water shortages and are now tapping into Canada’s water supply. There is often a high amount of 'embodied water' associated with many items we use or consume. For example: • It takes 41 500 litres to produce a kilo of meat • It takes 500 litres to produce one orange • It takes 1 340 000 litres to produce 1 tonne of aluminium • It takes 50 litres to produce a copy of Saturday's newspaper • It takes about 5000 litres of water to create one kilogram of rice. • It takes 4 litres to produce a bottle of beer It’s time to be water efficient! It is obvious that we cannot increase demands for water much more without detrimental effects to the environment, society and the economy. It’s time to become water efficient! This involves reassessing our relationship with water, and learning to use it more sparingly. On the most basic level, it requires a behavioural change, and assigning a value to water that truly reflects its worth. We can also unlock economic benefits of being water efficient. Everybody has a responsibility to save water, if we are going to allow future generations to enjoy a similar standard of living that we enjoy now. In fact, many of the impacts associated with water use are likely to have an effect on our own lives!

 

Brac Greywater System RGW

The RGW-150 is our smallest and most affordable greywater recycling system.
The RGW-250 is our most popular greywater recycling system, designed for homes with up to 6 people who want to save money on their water bill, while helping the environment.

It is the perfect solution for homes or condos with up to three people who want to save money on their water bill, while helping the environment.

Features of the Brac System
- Long-lasting HDPE molded shell.
- 1/2 hp electronic control pressure boosting pump.
- 110v/220v switchable.
- Electronic control water "make-up" system.
- Programmable electronic chlorination system.
- Extra filter included.
- Greywater pipe marking tape included.

Technical Specs

MODEL	HEIGHT	WIDTH	WEIGHT	CAPACITY
RGW-150	45.5" (114cm)	22.5" (57cm)	90 lbs (41kg)	40 US gallons (150 l)
RGW-250	60" (150 cm)	22.5" (57 cm)	95 lbs (43 kg)	66 US gallons (250 l)
RGW-350	53" (134.5 cm)	30.5" (77.5 cm)	105 lbs (47.5 kg)	92.5 US gallons (350 l)
RGW-450	60" (152 cm)	30.5" (77.5 cm)	110 lbs (50 kg)	119 US gallons (450 l)

RGW-150	RGW-250	RGW-350	RGW-450

 

The Brac Systems Sump and Pump Kit

Because the Brac Greywater Recycling System relies on gravity for greywater to drain from your bath or shower into the inlet of the Brac System, single level homes on a slab foundation (or other single-level structures) require this kit to pump the greywater up to the inlet of the Brac System. The sump is installed in the foundation or floor, below the level of the lowest drain you intend to capture greywater from. As greywater collects in the sump, a float-activated sump pump elevates the greywater to the inlet of the Brac System. The sump and pump kit should be located near your Brac System. Kit includes tank, lid, sump pump, pump manual, and two-year warranty.

Technical Specs
Overall Size
15" height (38 cm)
15" width (38 cm)
15 lbs (6.8Kg) Shipping Weight

Nominal Tank capacity (below drain)
(approximate, and not including displacement by sump pump)
19 liters
5 US gallons
4 imp. gallons

Pump Specs
1/4 hp, 3A (7.5A startup)
115VAC/60Hz (230v/UK version also available)
2100 USGPH @ max lift of 10’

Brac Greywater Recycling Systems are guaranteed for 2 years world wide.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q: Can I use the Brac Greywater Recycling System for a different purpose?
A: The Brac System is not intended, nor is it approved for storing and delivering potable drinking water. But beyond that restriction, the system is essentially a water collection vessel which deliveres the water under normal household pressure, and many alternate uses can be imagined. For example, if one is already using composting toilets, the collected greywater can be used strictly for irrigation. The system might also be used as a rainwater collection/delivery device, for flushing toilets, washing cars, irrigation, or other outdoor uses. If you have a particular application which you think the Brac System might be useful for, feel free to contact us about it.

Q: How much water can the Brac Greywater Recycling System hold?
A: The Brac System was designed to hold 200 liters (52 gallons). If your water usage goes over that mark, the surplus will automatically be drained out so as not to overload or cause water damage.

Q: How much water will the Brac Greywater Recycling System save me?
A: The Brac System will save approximately one third of your total water usage.

Q: What is involved in cleaning the Brac Greywater Recycling System?
A: There are two simple cleaning procedures: Cleaning the filter, and flushing the holding tank.

Q: How do I clean the filter? And how often?
A: Every two to three weeks, simply remove the filter and rinse it. Soaking the filter in a vinegar solution on occasion is also recommended.

Q: How do I flush out the tank? And how often?
A: Drain the holding tank through the cleanout valve, add a vinegar solution, allow to soak for a short time, and drain again. This should be done two or three times a year.

Q: Are there any other products I should use with my Brac System?
A: We recommend dropping a tri-chlor tablet (available in bulk at pool supply stores) or a Lysol Brand Continuous Action Toilet Cleaning Tablet through the filter housing into the bottom of the tank every eight weeks or so. The use of chlorine tablets will prevent the growth of bacteria in the tank, and any accompanying odors. You may also choose to use a tablet of your choice in your toilet tanks. Some jurisdictions require that greywater be dyed blue or green before it enters the plumbing system. If you live in such an area, you may choose to use a tablet that also dyes the water.

Q: Will the chlorine tablets cause problems with my septic tank?
A: Considering the concentration of chlorine in the volumes of water involved, the chlorine in your greywater shouldn't cause any problems in a modern, healthy septic system. While we haven't had any reports of problems, there could be issues with older, smaller septic systems that are already operating on the edge of failure. In such cases, you should use the Lysol tablets that we recommend instead of the swimming pool type tri-chlor tablets. The Lysol tablets claim on the packaging that they are not harmful to septic tanks. If you choose another brand, be sure to check the packaging for a statement about septic tanks. There is also a variety of products available, such as "Septic Miracle" and "Organica Cesspool/Septic Treatment", to name two, that can help boost the bacterial culture of a struggling septic system. Consult with a waste professional if you have concerns about your septic system. Not using tablets at all is not recommended, as unpleasant odors will almost certainly result after a few weeks.

Q: How concentrated will the chlorine be in the Brac Greywater Recycling System?
A: We can't give an exact number, because the concentration of free chlorine will depend upon the exact quantities of water used in any particular case. However, through our own testing and observation using the 200g tri-chlor tablets in our test system, we have come up with the following approximate average numbers: A total of approximately 12.4mg/liter of chlorine is introduced to the greywater, with approximately 5mg/liter remaining free chlorine after treatment.

Q: How hard is it to install a Brac Greywater Recycling System?
A: While the connections are not difficult, your Brac System should only be installed by a qualified professional plumber. In new construction, it is easy to design the system into the plumbing of the home. In an existing home, new water supply lines for the toilets will need to be installed, and some of your drains will need to be rerouted. You should consult a plumber for an evaluation of your existing construction to determine the feasability/difficulty of installing a Brac System in your particular situation.

Q: What happens in the event of an extended power outage, or if my Brac Greywater Recycling System needs to be removed for some reason?
A: When your plumber installs your Brac System, he should install a fresh water bypass with ball and check valves between the fresh water supply and the grey water outlet lines. This will allow you to easily supply your toilets with fresh water (and prevent the contamination of your fresh water with grey water) in the event of an extended power outage or removal of the tank. If the tank must be removed, a drain pipe can be easily fitted between where the grey water inlet and over flow drain entered the tank, diverting your bath water to the sewer.

Q: Is a basement necessary to use the Brac Greywater Recycling System?
A: Not necessarily. The transportation of grey water to your Brac System is by gravity, so as long as the bathtub/shower/laundry drains are above the inlet of the filter housing, the system will function. For those who have a single-level home on a slab foundation, or who wish to utilize the Brac System in a "flat", Brac Systems now offers a Sump and Pump kit, which consists of a sump basin and fully submersible sump pump. The basin is installed in the foundation or floor to collect greywater from bathing fixtures, and the sump pump automatically pumps the greywater up to the level of the Brac System inlet.

Q: You state that use of laundry water in the Brac Greywater Recycling System is optional. What issues should I be aware of when considering this option?
A: Based upon customer usage, we have found that on average, if every member of a household bathes once per day, the amount of greywater generated nearly matches the amount of water used to flush the toilets in that household. In addition, laundry water contains a great deal of lint, which will clog your filter quicker, requiring more frequent filter cleanings. So you should balance your family's bathing habits against the increased maintenance that will be required. Since the drain hose of a washing machine can be easily moved, you may even consider having both a traditional sewage drain and a greywater drain behind your washing machine, so that you can switch back and forth as your needs and convenience dictate.

Q: Why does the Brac Greywater Recycling System have a potable water connection?
A: The jet pump in the system can be severely damaged by allowing it to run dry. While an average household will produce enough greywater to keep plenty of water in the tank, there will be occasions, such as dinner parties, when visitors may be flushing your toilets frequently, but not bathing. The fresh water system insures that there is always enough water in your tank to prevent the pump from running dry. A float connected to a fresh water valve will add potable water from your home's plumbing system when the level of water in your tank reaches a minimum level, and will automatically stop adding water when the water reaches a safe level.

Please find below BRAC brochures to download. These files are in PDF (Adobe Acrobat Reader) format. If you do not have Adobe Acrobat, please download from free at Adobe.

BRAC RGW150 327KB	BRAC RGW450 360KB
BRAC RGW250 332KB	IAPMO Master Certificate 2.07MB
BRAC RGW350 356KB