WReuse: The Laundry Water Recycler

Revolutionizing Water Conservation in the Laundry Room

Granados was inspired to create WReuse after observing her mother's water-saving habits in their household. Many people, like her mother, collect the rinse water from the laundry machine in buckets and reuse it for various purposes such as cleaning or gardening. Recognizing the financial and environmental benefits of reusing water, Granados set out to design a system that would make this process more efficient and convenient for everyone.

What sets WReuse apart is its automatic system that saves the rinse water from the last laundry load and filters it in a treating tank. The water passes through a sand filter, removing any solids and impurities, ensuring clean and usable water for the next load. Unlike other systems, WReuse does not use chlorine bleach, which can be harmful to the environment and potentially ruin clothes in subsequent washes.

The installation of WReuse is simple. The washer outlet hose is connected from the back of the laundry machine to the WReuse tank. The water leaving the washing machine is pumped into the drain pipe through the storage tank with the sand filter system. The sand filter, consisting of a layer of gravel and sand, effectively filters the water, removing any particles and impurities.

To ensure the water is ready for reuse, the treated laundry water goes through a period of sitting and cooling. Solid particles sink to the bottom, oils and fats rise to the top, and the water in the middle is the treated laundry water. An inline disk filter in the outlet pipe catches any remaining particles, and an aerator oxygenates the water before it is used for the next wash load.

WReuse offers different modes of operation. The system has two drain tubes connected directly to the laundry machine, separating the water into different stations. Users can choose to drain the water directly to the grey water exit pipe or save it for reuse. When starting a new load, the system can be set to aspirate mode, which sucks in the treated grey water and pumps it into the tank inside the washer. This way, users can save 100% of the first load of wash water.

The benefits of WReuse are significant. By reusing rinse water, households can save up to 2500 gallons of water and 25 boxes of detergent per year. This not only reduces water consumption but also minimizes the environmental impact of detergent production and disposal. WReuse is a practical and effective solution for promoting sustainable living and water conservation.

Since its inception in January 2014, WReuse has been in the prototype phase in Bogota, Colombia. However, its potential impact on water conservation and sustainability has already been recognized. In 2015, WReuse was awarded the Iron A' Design Award in the Social Design category. This prestigious award is given to designs that meet professional and industrial requirements while contributing to a better world.

Angela Granados' WReuse is a game-changer in water conservation. With its innovative design and practical functionality, this laundry water recycler has the potential to revolutionize how we use and reuse water in our daily lives.