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TREATS WATERto drinking water quality

STORES WATERwithout added chemicals

PRESSURISES WATERfor network distribution

MONITORS QUALITYwi-fi enabled performance monitoring

GREAT TASTING WATER - ALWAYS

IntroductionThe ECO Innovation project, RainSafe, has delivered a result which radically changes the underlying model for delivering potable water to households across the European Union. RainSafe uses harvested and stored rainwater, treating it to potable standard per the requirements of the Drinking Water Directive, thus enabling independent and decentralised water management. RainSafe has unique features which ensure that the water is continuously refreshed and always of the highest quality. RainSafe can also be used to treat water from wells and is currently being evaluated by a water utility as an addition to its network for remote locations.

BackgroundRainwater Harvesting (RWH) has been practised in remote dry areas without immediate or regular supply and was a traditional source of household water prior to mains. It is being revived in many countries, particularly Germany, Belgium and in the South East of England. This harvested water is generally used for non-hygienic purposes like watering gardens, flushing toilets and washing clothes.

RainSafe™ improves harvested rainwater by treating it to potable standard. The rainwater is filtered and treated with UV light to remove biological contaminants and then stored in a holding tank. Ozone, generated by Corona Discharge, is introduced by means of a diffuser to maintain the quality of the water and provide residual sanitisation, eliminating the need for chlorine. When water is required, it is pumped through a Carbon outlet filter, which improves the quality and taste.

The quality of the water is continually monitored by measuring the active ozone. If this reduces, the Corona Discharge is automatically engaged to refresh the water.

RainSafe is Wi-Fi enabled to facilitate remote monitoring.

The treated water can be used for drinking/cooking, personal hygiene, laundry, toilet flushing and for irrigation.

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The European Drinking Water Directive, 98/83/EC, concerns the quality of water intended for human consumption and forms part of the regulation of Water supply and sanitation in the European Union. EU member states are obliged to transpose the directive into law for the management of drinking water.

GREAT TASTING WATER - ALWAYS

ObjectivesRainSafe brought to market an innovative process for the treatment of water to potable standards, where the source of water is either rainwater, well-water or other sources which have not been processed through a municipal treatment centre. The project was concerned with setting up several demonstrators across Europe to validate the technical and environmental performance of the system. It also addressed issues in relation to certification, market access and finance. In addition, the project proposed setting up a supply chain to be able to deliver the expected high demand for the system.

PartnersThe technology behind RainSafe was invented by Ozone Industries Ireland Ltd. (OIIL), trading as Rainsafe and was formally set up in 2008 to develop the technology. An Irish, European and worldwide patent, ‘a rain water treatment process’ has been granted for the innovation. In 2011 the first prototype was completed and certified by KIWA in 2012.

OIIL was the lead partner in the RainSafe project. Its goal is to develop the RainSafe™ brand as the leading drinking water technology within the RWH sector and, over time, to adapt it to treat other sources of water, such as from wells or rivers.

Partner, KIWA, is a Notified Body for system and product certification. Established for 60 years, KIWA specialises in certification related to products in the field of gas and water distribution. KIWA was responsible for guiding the awarding of certifications in target markets across the world.

Partner, Flextronics, is a worldwide contract manufacturer for automotive, computing, consumer, digital, industrial, infrastructure, medical and mobile OEMs. It designs, builds, ships and services products for customers through a network of facilities in 30 countries on four continents. Flextronics was responsible for developing the supply chain for RainSafe.

OIIL’s sales model has been to appoint national distribution partners in each country, such as Valeco, is a specialist provider of rainwater harvesting systems for the Belgian market.

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The Centre for Water Systems (CWS) at the University of Exeter is an international centre for cross-disciplinary water engineering research. The strength of the Centre is in urban water management and hydro informatics. Its core expertise includes data mining, decision support, hydraulics, hydrology, numerical modelling, optimisation, simulation, systems thinking and water quality. The centre has published widely on the topic of rainwater harvesting. It was responsible for testing and environmental analysis in the project.

TechnologyThe key technologies involved in the final system include:

Corona Discharge for the production of ozone The use of diffuser tubes for the delivery of ozone Closed loop ORP (Oxygen Reduction Potential) monitoring to control the addition of

ozone The use of pressure switches for monitoring the water level in the holding tank Ozone leak detection Wi-Fi enabled for remote monitoring

The diagram illustrates a cross-section of the RainSafe, with main features numbered. The journey of water through the system is described in numerical sequence.

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1) Inbound Filter

2) Fine Filter & Neutralise pH

3) Re-Mineralise

4) UV destroys microbes

5) Ozonate & Flocculate

6) ORP monitoring

7) Tank stores treated water

8) Pressure sensor

9) Pressurisation & circulation

10) Re-Filter & Re-Oxygenate

11) Wi-Fi Enabled

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Field TrialsRainSafe carried out several field trials at different scales (small, medium, large) and in different countries (UK, Belgium, Germany, Ireland) to provide an analysis of technical performance (water quality and quantity). A range of microbiological and physicochemical parameters and volumetric indicators were monitored. The following summarises the results:

Pesticides were reduced below the prescribed concentration value (PCV); Total Viable Count (TVC) in the outlet water was reduced in line with Health and Safety

Executive and WHO recommendations; The levels of coliforms, enterococci, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Legionella were

reduced to <1 MPN, significantly lower than minimum standard; RainSafe™ achieved full pathogen removal RainSafe™ satisfied taste and odour parameters.

Additional independent testing carried out by City Analysts resulted in the following performance by RainSafe in the treatment of water from both rivers and wells:

Prior to Treatment

After Treatment

After Refresh

RiverColiforms MPN1/100ml 1,553.1 <1 <1TVC 222 Cfu3/ml 27,800 <1 <1TVC 37 Cfu/ml 5,800 <1 <1

Untreated WellColiforms MPN/100ml 7.4 <1TVC 22 Cfu/ml 98 2TVC 37 Cfu/ml 3 <1

Treated WellColiforms MPN/100ml <1 <1TVC 22 Cfu/ml 26 6TVC 37 Cfu/ml 20 <1

The TVC standard for bottled water is <20. Clearly, RainSafe meets the most exacting standards required. As such it has been fully certified by KIWA and is currently undergoing certification to ACS, WRAS and NSF requirements.

1 Most Probable Number2 Total Viable Count at 22’C3 Colony forming units

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Positioning of RainSafeThere is a growing trend from centralised to standalone and satellite systems for the delivery of water to users in order to protect the aquatic environment and water quality. Hybrid systems, where centralised and decentralised systems work together, can provide a more sustainable and resilient urban water model. In water-scarce regions, hybrid systems decrease peak demand and reduce the need to pipe water long distances.

RainSafe provides microbiological treatment of harvested rainwater to drinking quality, which removes the need for dual plumbing, particularly where there is sufficient rainfall to provide for the full needs of a household. Other areas where RainSafe can be applied effectively include:

Final treatment of substandard municipal water at the periphery of a network, particularly where microbial, colour or odour issues occur.

Harvested rainwater can be collected in artificial reservoirs designed into the urban environment creating wildlife habitats, public spaces and recreational activities. Untreated water is then distributed and treated at point-of-entry to buildings by RainSafe.

As a replacement for bottled water. This can have significant environmental benefits and will also provide equivalent quality water to households and other users at much reduced cost.

Market PositionEurope is the second largest rainwater harvesting market in the world after Australia, with Germany, Belgium, France, United Kingdom and Austria being the most advanced adopters. More than 100,000 rainwater harvesting systems are installed across Europe every year. The primary target for RainSafe is to address both existing RWH installations and provide a treatment system for new installations.

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WssTP, the European Water Platform, tackles societal challenges related to water. It emphasises hybrid grey and green water infrastructure: “more than 30% of all water demands will come from alternative water sources such as rainwater harvesting, brackish, saline and re-used water in the future water-smart Europe.” The WssTP vision aims for 50% reduction in the demand for fresh, ground and surface waters. The end goal is to avoid water scarcity in Europe.

OutcomesThe RainSafe™ project demonstrated the feasibility of using harvested rainwater for all domestic water uses, including drinking. It tested many prototypes and full systems, to eliminate any potential for contamination to occur during operation. The partnership carried out market analysis to determine demand in Europe and worldwide. The result is a certified and truly unique system which can provide guaranteed quality water to users.

The RainSafe project has proven that the treatment of rainwater to potable standard is a viable cost and environmental solution for households, particularly those in remote areas and those where government policy promotes rainwater harvesting.

There is a growing movement away from the traditional centralised treatment system towards decentralised and hybrid systems. Rainwater harvesting and the technologies required to make this water safe for human use have grown in importance.

The environmental impacts of rainwater harvesting and treatment with the RainSafe can be seen in the context of a larger vision of a sustainable, water-smart society, where water scarcity is actively addressed. On a consumer and community level, benefits include self-sufficiency, flood attenuation and high quality drinking water. Benefits on a societal scale

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The project has enabled OIIL, the project coordinator to take a leadership position within the area of decentralised water purification across Europe. RainSafe is being commercially marketed through distributors in Europe and worldwide and directly to water utility companies that seek to include it as part of their distribution networks, particularly in remote regions. The photograph is from the 2016 Irish National Ploughing Championship, where RainSafe was formally launched and where huge interest was generated, both for its use in treating rainwater and for treating water from wells.

include a reduced need for large infrastructural projects with their associated planning and acceptance issues.

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ContactFor further information, please contact Ozone Industries Ireland Limited (OIIL), sales@h2ozone.com, or http://www. h2ozone.com , phone +353 1 281 1646.

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RainSafe Water, Block 2, Newtown Business & Enterprise Park, Newtownmountkennedy, Co. Wicklow, Ireland, A63X V26

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