BajaNomad
Not logged in [Login - Register]

Go To Bottom
Printable Version  
Author: Subject: Anybody have a Desalinization system?
Timinator
Nomad
**




Posts: 244
Registered: 6-27-2014
Member Is Offline


[*] posted on 6-4-2022 at 09:16 AM
Anybody have a Desalinization system?


I'm wondering if anybody has installed a DIY or an off the shelf desal system in their houses in Baja? If you have, I'd love to hear your thoughts on it.
View user's profile
larryC
Super Nomad
****




Posts: 1495
Registered: 8-11-2008
Location: BoLA
Member Is Offline


[*] posted on 6-4-2022 at 02:19 PM


I have had one in the past but it was too much trouble. Here in BoLA we can buy 5 gallons of drinking water for less than a dollar so why mess with it>



Off grid, 12-190 watt evergreen solar panels on solar trackers, 2-3648 stacked Outback inverters, 610ah LiFePo4 48v battery bank, FM 60 and MX60 Outback charge controllers, X-240 Outback transformer for 240v from inverters, 6500 watt Kubota diesel generator.
View user's profile
Alm
Ultra Nomad
*****




Posts: 2729
Registered: 5-10-2011
Member Is Offline


[*] posted on 6-4-2022 at 04:35 PM


Quote: Originally posted by larryC  
I have had one in the past but it was too much trouble. Here in BoLA we can buy 5 gallons of drinking water for less than a dollar so why mess with it>

...and city water there is cheaper yet, where available. Though by how soft it feels, one might just want to do RO. I wouldn't bother.
View user's profile
JDCanuck
Super Nomad
****




Posts: 1669
Registered: 2-22-2020
Member Is Offline


[*] posted on 6-5-2022 at 07:58 AM


I also have an interest in further reducing scaling and Calcium/ Magnesium Carbonates deposits throughout the house, especially in hot water tanks. We have installed a TAC whole house conditioner, but this only reduces hot water scaling. Deposits remain a troublesome issue. Anyone found any inexpensive solutions that do not include wasteful back flushing of limited water supplies or salt based softeners?



A century later and it's still just as applicable: Desiderata: http://mwkworks.com/desiderata.html
View user's profile
Bob and Susan
Elite Nomad
******


Avatar


Posts: 8813
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: Mulege BCS on the BAY
Member Is Offline

Mood: Full Time Residents

[*] posted on 6-5-2022 at 08:50 AM


i check our water...

currently no bacteria
550 parts per million
drinking water is 12-15 parts per million

to desal you need a govt permit
and a place to dump the wastewater into a collection pit not the ocean

we use a "zero water" filter to reduce to 0 parts per million




our website is:
http://www.mulege.org
View user's profile Visit user's homepage
Don Pisto
Banned





Posts: 1282
Registered: 8-1-2018
Location: El Pescador
Member Is Offline

Mood: weary like everyone else

[*] posted on 6-5-2022 at 09:54 AM


just put a cup of this in your 5 gallon bottle

but seriously I installed an RO system and I use it to fill a bottle then turn it off, saves a bunch of water and makes the filters last longer with our well often going dry.




there's only two things in life but I forget what they are........
John Hiatt
View user's profile
RFClark
Super Nomad
****




Posts: 2462
Registered: 8-27-2015
Member Is Offline

Mood: Delighted with 2024 and looking forward to 2025

[*] posted on 6-5-2022 at 06:46 PM


We ran an RO system for over 10 years. Our water is about 2700 ppm minerals. The RO took it down to about 100. We had an ion exchange filter for battery water that put out 10 ppm battery water. The system required an engineer to keep it working (Me)! When we were selling the house we changed over to 5 gal bottles of RO water from town with an ice maker filter and a pump. Works fine and it’s simpler. RO membranes require TLC!
View user's profile
dtbushpilot
Ultra Nomad
*****




Posts: 3288
Registered: 1-11-2007
Location: Buena Vista BCS
Member Is Offline

Mood: Tranquilo

[*] posted on 6-5-2022 at 08:03 PM


I have one in my boat, 12v, 8gph, works great. All of the water we use on the boat comes from the water maker, we don’t put water in the tank from outside sources. We have a 100gal tank on the boat, we wash everything down with fresh water, never salt water. Second best thing on the boat.



"Life is tough".....It's even tougher if you're stupid.....
View user's profile
Alm
Ultra Nomad
*****




Posts: 2729
Registered: 5-10-2011
Member Is Offline


[*] posted on 6-6-2022 at 09:32 PM


Quote: Originally posted by lencho  
Quote: Originally posted by Alm  
...and city water there is cheaper yet, where available.

There are very few municipal water systems in Mexico which I would trust for potable water.

I didn't see anybody asking about potable, but wouldn't use tap water in Mexico for drinking or making meals - not without further treatment.
View user's profile
Alm
Ultra Nomad
*****




Posts: 2729
Registered: 5-10-2011
Member Is Offline


[*] posted on 6-6-2022 at 09:37 PM


Quote: Originally posted by RFClark  
We had an ion exchange filter for battery water that put out 10 ppm battery water.

Doesn't ion filter exchange work by exchanging hard minerals like calcium and magnesium for soft ones like sodium and potassium?
View user's profile
RFClark
Super Nomad
****




Posts: 2462
Registered: 8-27-2015
Member Is Offline

Mood: Delighted with 2024 and looking forward to 2025

[*] posted on 6-6-2022 at 09:51 PM


No, this was a resin bed filter that reduces the remaining minerals in the RO water. The resin bed changes color as it is used up. We’ve been running the AC units these last few days. I'll test the water produced for mineral content to see if it can be used for battery water. Between two units we’re probably generating 7-10 gal/day! It works for plants!
View user's profile
Alm
Ultra Nomad
*****




Posts: 2729
Registered: 5-10-2011
Member Is Offline


[*] posted on 6-7-2022 at 01:36 PM


Quote: Originally posted by RFClark  
No, this was a resin bed filter that reduces the remaining minerals in the RO water. The resin bed changes color as it is used up. We’ve been running the AC units these last few days. I'll test the water produced for mineral content to see if it can be used for battery water. Between two units we’re probably generating 7-10 gal/day! It works for plants!

Ah yes, this is a different resin. I wonder how well it would work on its own without RO.
View user's profile
RFClark
Super Nomad
****




Posts: 2462
Registered: 8-27-2015
Member Is Offline

Mood: Delighted with 2024 and looking forward to 2025

[*] posted on 6-7-2022 at 01:59 PM


Too Slow and expensive!
View user's profile
Alm
Ultra Nomad
*****




Posts: 2729
Registered: 5-10-2011
Member Is Offline


[*] posted on 6-7-2022 at 05:41 PM


Quote: Originally posted by RFClark  
Too Slow and expensive!

Got it. How do you measure minerals at these low concentrations, - some of those multicolor strips?
View user's profile
RFClark
Super Nomad
****




Posts: 2462
Registered: 8-27-2015
Member Is Offline

Mood: Delighted with 2024 and looking forward to 2025

[*] posted on 6-7-2022 at 05:58 PM


No, I have an electronic tester. It does sodium, Potassium and a couple of other things in ppm or ppt. Got it when we had a saltwater pool.
View user's profile
Bob and Susan
Elite Nomad
******


Avatar


Posts: 8813
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: Mulege BCS on the BAY
Member Is Offline

Mood: Full Time Residents

[*] posted on 6-8-2022 at 03:49 PM


tester

https://www.ebay.com/itm/333577552582




our website is:
http://www.mulege.org
View user's profile Visit user's homepage

  Go To Top

 






All Content Copyright 1997- Q87 International; All Rights Reserved.
Powered by XMB; XMB Forum Software © 2001-2014 The XMB Group






"If it were lush and rich, one could understand the pull, but it is fierce and hostile and sullen. The stone mountains pile up to the sky and there is little fresh water. But we know we must go back if we live, and we don't know why." - Steinbeck, Log from the Sea of Cortez

 

"People don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care." - Theodore Roosevelt

 

"You can easily judge the character of others by how they treat those who they think can do nothing for them or to them." - Malcolm Forbes

 

"Let others lead small lives, but not you. Let others argue over small things, but not you. Let others cry over small hurts, but not you. Let others leave their future in someone else's hands, but not you." - Jim Rohn

 

"The best way to get the right answer on the internet is not to ask a question; it's to post the wrong answer." - Cunningham's Law







Thank you to Baja Bound Mexico Insurance Services for your long-term support of the BajaNomad.com Forums site.







Emergency Baja Contacts Include:

Desert Hawks; El Rosario-based ambulance transport; Emergency #: (616) 103-0262