Method and apparatus for conserving water

Claim 2

A PROCESS FOR CONSERVING WATER IN HOUSEHOLD OR LIKE SYSTEMS WHICH COMPRISES: ACCUMULATING AND POOLING WASTE WATERS FROM THE NON-SANITARY AND LOW-DISSOLVED SOLIDS GENERATING COMPONENTS OF SAID SYSTEM, ESTABLISHING CLOSED-LOOP RECIRCULATION OF SAID ACCUMULATED AN POOLED WASTE WATERS THROUGH A FILTER MEDIUM COMPRISING ACTIVATED CARBON FOR A TIME SUFFICIENT TO RREMOVE SUBSTANTIALLY ALL UNDISSOLVED SOLIDS AND A LEAST A PORTION OF THE DISSOLVED SOLIDS CARRIED BY SAID POOLED WASTE WATERS AN IMPART SUBSTANTIALLY FRESH WATER CLARITY TO SAID RECIRCULATING WASTE WATERS, DIVERTING THE THUS FILTERED AND CLARIFIED WASTE WATERS FROM SAID CLOSED-LOOP RECIRCULATION, ACCUMULATING SAD DIVERTED FILTERED AND CLARIFIED WASTE WATERS, AND RESUPPLYING SAID SYSTEM FROM SAID ACCUMULATED FILTERED AND CLARIFIED WASTE WATERS.

Claim 3

The process of claim 1 wherein chlorine in pathogen-controlling amounts is added to the waste waters prior to establishing closed loop recirculation through the filter medium.

Claim 4

The process of claiM 1 wherein chlorine in pathogen-controlling amounts is added to the waste waters during closed-loop recirculation through the filter medium.

Claim 5

The process of claim 1 wherein chlorine in pathogen-controlling amounts is added to the filtered and clarified waste waters.

Claim 6

APPARATUS FOR CONSERVING WATER IN HOUSEHOLD OR LIKE SYSTEMS WHICH COMPRISES IN COMBINATION: A FIRST RECEPTABLE FOR RECEIVING AND ACCUMULATING WASTE WATERS, MEANS FOR DELIVERING WASTE WATERS FROM THE NON-SANITARYAN LOW UNDISSOLVED SOLIDS GENERATING-COMPONENTS OF SAID SYSTEM TO SAID FIRST RECEPTACLE, A SECOND RECEPTACLE CONTAINING A FILTER ELEMENT HAVING DIVERSE FILTER MEDIA, AT LEAST ONE OF SAID MEDIA BEING ACTIVATED CARBON, MEANS FOR RECYCLING SAID WASTE WATER IN A CLOSED LOOP FROM SAID FIRST RECEPTACLE TO SAID SECOND RECEPTACLE AND THROUGH SAID FILTER ELEMENT BACK TO SAID FIRST RECEPTACLE UNTIL SUBSTANTIALLY FRESH WATER CLARITY HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED IN THE WASTE WATER, MEANS FOR DIVERTING THE FILTERED AN CLARIFIED WASTE WATER FROM SAID LOOP TO A STORAGE RECEPTABLE, AND MEANS FOR DELIVERING THE WATER FROM SAID STORAGE RECEPTACLE BACK INTO SAID SYSTEM.

Claim 7

APPARATUS FOR CONSERVING WATER IN HOUSEHOLD OR LIKE SYSTEMS WHICH COMPRISES IN COMBINATION: A FIRST RECEPTABLE FOR RECEIVING AND ACCUMULATING WASTE WATERS, MEANS FOR DELIVERING WASTE WATERS FROM THE NON-SANITARYAN LOW UNDISSOLVED SOLIDS GENERATING-COMPONENTS OF SAID SYSTEM TO SAID FIRST RECEPTACLE, A SECOND RECEPTACLE CONTAINING A FILTER ELEMENT HAVING DIVERSE FILTER MEDIA, AT LEAST ONE OF SAID MEDIA BEING ACTIVATED CARBON, MEANS FOR RECYCLING SAID WASTE WATER IN A CLOSED LOOP FROM SAID FIRST RECEPTACLE TO SAID SECOND RECEPTACLE AND THROUGH SAID FILTER ELEMENT BACK TO SAID FIRST RECEPTACLE UNTIL SUBSTANTIALLY FRESH WATER CLARITY HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED IN THE WASTE WATER, MEANS FOR DIVERTING THE FILTERED AN CLARIFIED WASTE WATER FROM SAID LOOP TO A STORAGE RECEPTABLE, AND MEANS FOR DELIVERING THE WATER FROM SAID STORAGE RECEPTACLE BACK INTO SAID SYSTEM.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said recycling means comprises pump means.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said storage receptacle is a pressure tank and the filtered and clarified waste water is delivered back into the system by air pressure means.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the means for diverting the filtered and clarified water to the storage receptacle comprises a time-responsive valve.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said time-responsive valve is shut-off-responsive to the liquid level in said storage receptacle.

Claim 12

The apparatus of claim 9 including a domestic water supply conduit to said storage receptacle and means in said conduit responsive to low water level-sensing means within said storage receptacle to permit the inflow of make-up water into said receptacle and shut-off responsive to a higher water level in said receptacle.

Claim 13

The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the storage receptacle comprises a hot water heater in the household system.

Claim 14

The apparatus of claim 7 including means for back-washing the filter media.