Water Filtration Systems ...

[The Cell]

The Cell Habitat's filter system consists of a surge tank that will be buried, a bolt-on lid that can be sealed and walked on, water-proof grommets, waste backflow valve, heavy-duty high pressure submersible pump, float switch, and bag filter. Our advanced filter system will also have an outdoor-rated fiberglass sand filter system that will be fully automated, with a fresh water valve to backwash the filter vessel, a pressure-reduced valve to provide supplemental irrigation when needed, and a reduced pressure principle device to protect the fresh water supply from a reverse flow of greywater. It will be a larger filter system normally used commercial buildings and our filter systems will deliver filtered greywater to our subsurface drip irrigation network or surface emitters.

Filter and irrigation operations can be controlled by a 21-station controller, which starts when water is available, sends water out as programmed, and stops when the tank empties, holding its place in the program until more water becomes available. This process keeps the water fresh and full of oxygen, which is good for the filter and the plants. The controller has 156 features, including 4 independently operating programs, to make sophisticated irrigation easy yet highly efficient under real-world conditions. Our irrigation system uses readily available off the shelf valves, tubing, emitters, and hundreds of little fittings needed for a landscape of the size we're planning.

The Cell's system will be plumbed to showers, tubs, sinks and clothes washer directly into our surge tank: about 95% of the reusable water comes from these few sources. Bathroom sinks produce another 3%, and guest showers, tubs, and bathroom sinks contribute the remaining small portion.

The above view is an example of what our system will look like when installed, but there are countless iterations possible, given normal plumbing scenarios, the on-site design, and topography that will be encountered at the site.

1. 1" 24 VAC solenoid valve
2. Tees (1/2", 3/4", 1" & 1 1/2")
3. 90° elbow (1/2", 3/4", 1" & 1 1/2")
4. 45° elbow (1/2", 3/4", 1" & 1 1/2")
5. 1” threaded male adapter
6. Slip reducers (1/2"x3/4", 3/4"x1", & 1"x1 1/2")
7. Reducing tees (1 1/2"x1 1/2"x1")
8. Polyethylene tubing (1/2", 3/4" & 1")
9. Polyethylene tubing Ends (1/2", 3/4" & 1")
10. Emitter
11. Emitter screens
12. Controller
13. Relay junction box
A. Surge tank, 70 gallons (37"x29")
B. Lid w/6 SS screws
C. Bulkhead adapters, 3 @ 2", 1 @ 1 1/2"
G. 1 1/2" discharge pipe
H. 3-way Tee valve with 24 VAC actuator
I. Filter vessel with PVC pipe adapters
J. 1 1/2" solenoid valve for backwash
K. 1 1/2" PVC swing checkvalve
L. Pump, 1/2 hp high pressure
M. Float switch
N . Backflow valve with viewing port
O. 1" reduced pressure valve for irrigation supplement
P. Reverse pressure assembly
Q. Platform



Well water and shipped in water should be filtered before consumption. This discussion is about various units we are considering....










the cell mgmt.

[The Cell]

When pump (L) turns on because float switch (M) rises in water in tank (A) during the irrigation cycle, water is sent to the top of filter canister (I) and forced down through the 12 grit sand filter media, where hair, lint, and other debris is trapped in tiny spaces between the sand particles. Water then travels out to a series of irrigation valves for use in the yard. Larger systems have larger surge tanks and pumps, but act on the same principle of using water as it is produced, instead of storing it. This keeps the water fresh and oxygenated, which is good for plants. Our controller starts and stops based on water availability, and our filter is backwashed with fresh water based on accumulated run-time.

*The schematic shown is for illustration purposes only.


To keep the filter clean, when the controller has accumulated a certain (programmable) amount of run time, it begins a self-cleaning cycle after that day's irrigation has been completed.

At the end of the day's irrigation cycle, the controller begins the self-cleaning cycle by opening valve (J) to let city water in and rotating valve (H) to divert the backwash to waste. Well water is then rapidly forced up into the 12 grit sand filter media, causing sand particles to rise and separate from each other, releasing the trapped debris. Lighter than the sand, the debris rises to the top and flows out to the waste line.

When the process is over, the valves return to their irrigation position. This cleaning process has been used in agriculture, swimming pools, and water purification for decades.