Plumbing New Water Tank and Watermaker

[witzgall]

Hi all;

One of our next projects is adding some water capacity and making ability to Jubilee. I have the watermaker - an old Powersurvivor 35. I have provisionally mounted it in the lazarette.

The water tank I would like to either place under the v-berth or a compartment under the setee. Since we only have about 44 gallons of capacity now, I would like to add 30+ gallons. This means either a large single tank in the vBerth, or two smaller tanks under the settees, one on each side. I think I prefer the vberth option as it seems simpler.

Plumbing this up is what I am not sure about. It is about 20 feet forward of the WM position. The hoses would run down initially, but it seems like a slight incline up to the bow. Is that ok, can the WM push the water that far? Can I just tap this into the supply line? The powersurvivor puts out only 1.2 gal an hour, so not alot of flow.

Another alternative - dump the WM output into the main tank, which is 4 feet away, and then pump the water up to the bow with the sink pump.

Overall, I would say I am confused as to how to do this. What is the best, easiest to install and use?

Chris

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by witzgall

... Plumbing this up is what I am not sure about. It is about 20 feet forward of the WM position. The hoses would run down initially, but it seems like a slight incline up to the bow. Is that ok, can the WM push the water that far? Can I just tap this into the supply line? The powersurvivor puts out only 1.2 gal an hour, so not alot of flow.

Another alternative - dump the WM output into the main tank, which is 4 feet away, and then pump the water up to the bow with the sink pump.

Yes, the PS35 will easily pump fresh product water up a small incline, even over a 20 foot run.

The fresh water should discharge into the top of the receiving water tank.
When shut off, the pump will try to suck a small amount of water back towards the membrane, which could be damaged if there's any residual chlorine in the tank water. Accordingly, it’s preferred to have a freshwater hose longer that 4-5 feet, so that (possible) chlorine cannot reach the membrane.

[witzgall]

Gord,

I know I have to have some way of getting product water to the WM for cleaning - pickling. Maybe a small additional tank, say 2-3 gallons, for this purpose?

Let's say the forward tank is a bladder type. Could I plump a single 1/2 inch line from that back aft as a supply line, and simply have the WM tee into that?

If I go the WM into main tank route, how long do you think the line needs to be to ensure chlorine does not "travel" down the line? I would think that I would need a charcoal filter in between the WM and tank.

Chris

PS - I don't have the main 30 micon filter for the intake. There is a strainer already, as this is also the line for the galery foot pump and refrigeration, but no filter. Can I simply buy an assembly from a hardware store?

PSS - I don't have the three-way valves either. Any sources for these other than from Katadyn?

[GordMay]

Supply Plumbing:
Connect the inlet three-way valve to the pre-filter housing. Connect the other ports of the valve so that in one position water can be taken in from the seawater intake, and in the other position cleaning or biocide solutions can be drawn in from a bucket, as shown in the plumbing Diagram.

Product Plumbing:
Connect the freshwater three-way valve as shown in the Plumbing Diagram, so that in one position clean water can be directed to a storage tank, and in the other position it can be directed to a sink or cup for sampling during pump start-up.

Reject Plumbing:
Run the reject brine line to any appropriate drain. Be sure it will not be discharged close to the system intake.

All Plumbing:
Use only high quality tubing connectors with use pipe sealant or Teflon tape on the threads at all connections. This will prevent air-locks will will damage or stall the pump.
Three-way valves will be available at any Plumbing supply outlet.

[witzgall]

Yep, Gord, I have the info above in the owners/install manual. What I am unsure of is the stuff that is not there, the tank specific stuff. They assume that you are going to plumb into an existing tank. I am looking at adding one, that may be only supplies with WM water, or may be not. The whole install gets more complicated, and I am trying to see what I can do to make it as simple as possible.

Do you have any insight to my PS and PSS questions above?

Chris

[GordMay]

What are your " PS and PSS questions above"?

[witzgall]

They are in my send post above.

Originally Posted by GordMay

What are your " PS and PSS questions above"?

[GordMay]

PS - I don't have the main 30 micon filter for the intake. There is a strainer already, as this is also the line for the galery foot pump and refrigeration, but no filter. Can I simply buy an assembly from a hardware store?

Yes.

PSS - I don't have the three-way valves either. Any sources for these other than from Katadyn?

Yes, but sorry - I’m a long way from Apex, NC, and don't have a specific source for small plastic valves.

[witzgall]

Thank Gord.

Chris