In many parts of the country today, within numerous buildings housing families as well as offices and business premises, people increasingly use air conditioning systems.
The need for air conditioning is especially high during the dry season when the weather tends to be hot and humid. However, during other seasons of the year, within modern office buildings, there is often little or no cross ventilation. Therefore, air conditioning equipment remains one of the most effective means of ensuring adequate ventilation.
This allows the inhabitants of any particular building the ambience to work in a comfortable environment.
Inside these buildings, air conditioning systems tend to be in operation during every season of the year. During such periods, temperatures usually range between 23 degrees Celsius and 34 degrees Celsius, varying depending on the part of the country the building is situated in.
Consequently, there is a strong case for air conditioning systems to be installed in such buildings, both public and private, across many different parts of Nigeria.
About two years ago, on this page, we discussed the abnormal situation in which practically every Nigerian state is unable to provide safe pipe-borne water for its inhabitants.
What they mainly provide is better described as hard water, which we have also previously discussed on this page. It is unsuitable for a host of regular activities.
Nowhere is this more scandalous than in the coastal states of Lagos, Rivers, Bayelsa, Cross River, Edo, Delta, Ondo, Ogun, and Akwa Ibom.
These states, as well as their major cities, practically sit on water or are almost completely surrounded by bodies of water. Yet, obtaining safe drinking water is more often a mirage than a reality.
Politicians occasionally step in and sink one borehole here and there, but most of these stop producing water after a couple of years, or even less.
It is in light of all these difficulties that we chose to discuss the issue of safely recycling water from air conditioning units. Many people are unaware of the potential of their air conditioners to provide them with safe drinking water. An air conditioner works by extracting moisture from indoor air as part of its cooling process.
This creates a steady stream of condensate water that typically drains away. What makes this water special is its purity; it is essentially distilled water, free from many of the minerals and contaminants found in tap water.
We have already established that tap water is unavailable in many states. Where it is found, it is unsafe for drinking. The challenge is to find a way in which cooling systems and other modes of air conditioning can provide clean alternative water sources.
This condensate water is naturally soft because it lacks the calcium and magnesium compounds that cause hardness. This characteristic makes it ideal for applications where mineral deposits would be problematic.
During the peak of usage in the dry season, therefore, a typical household air conditioning unit can produce between 20 and 80 litres of water daily, if the Power Holding Company of Nigeria agrees to provide electricity. This output depends on humidity levels and usage patterns.
Most parts of the country, especially the South and Middle Belt, have a high degree of humidity for most of the year. It is possible for people to generate this kind of water for themselves in many areas, including Victoria Island or Lekki, Port Harcourt, Warri, or Calabar, places where even boreholes are no guarantee of safe drinking water for residents and office workers. In some of these cities, borehole water may even be coloured and possess a peculiar smell.
The kind of water available in many of these areas is best described as hard water, which is neither useful for many essential purposes, except for laundry and general cleaning, nor safe for cooking. It forces users to use far more detergent than would normally be necessary, even for basic washing.
Water treatment facilities consume significant energy to process and deliver water through municipal pipes, so it is no wonder that many states and local governments have essentially abandoned this vital infrastructure, leaving individuals to provide water for themselves. By supplementing your household water needs with air conditioning condensate, you would indirectly reduce the energy consumption associated with water processing. This creates a ripple effect of environmental benefits beyond just water conservation.
As temperatures rise during the rainy months, these cooling systems produce condensation water that most homeowners simply discard.
This overlooked resource can actually help reduce your utility bills and minimise your environmental impact.
Let us explore how this reclaimed water can be harvested and used. Many homeowners elsewhere in the world have found that using this water for laundry pre-treatment helps remove stains more effectively.
The absence of minerals means it does not interfere with detergent performance. This application can be particularly useful for delicate fabrics that benefit from gentler washing solutions.
Water provided by air conditioners can become a valuable asset in your sustainable home management strategy.
Using such collected water for outdoor cleaning prevents runoff water containing cleaning chemicals from entering open drains in the streets. This helps protect waterways from contamination that can lead to pollution and result in damage to the ecosystem.
The sustainable mindset developed through this kind of water recycling often extends to other conservation behaviours. Many homeowners in such countries who begin collecting air-conditioning water report an increased awareness of recycling opportunities and resource conservation in other aspects of daily life.
The big challenge is how to collect this water and make it usable. Up to the point of collection, this water is not suitable for drinking due to potential bacterial contamination from air conditioning components. However, it offers numerous practical applications around the home.
Capturing this resource is simple; just place a clean container under your unit’s drainage pipe. Regular cleaning of your collection vessel helps prevent bacterial growth.
Such cleaning efforts must also be extended to the connecting hose, ensuring that the air-conditioning unit and its collection system, including the hose and container, are kept clean enough to provide water safely.
Here is a suggested scheme for doing this:
- Start with simple collection methods using existing containers such as used C-Way canisters.
- The hose that connects the air-conditioner to the collecting vessel is absolutely crucial. If the hose can be thoroughly cleaned by a competent plumber using available chemical agents such as chlorine, the user is indeed safe.
- Gradually extend the use of collected water to multiple household applications.
- Create seasonal storage solutions for excess water.
- Track water savings to motivate continued conservation.
- Share successful techniques with neighbours to multiply the impact.
By implementing these water-saving and reclaiming practices, a typical household can conserve thousands of litres of water annually. Such a significant reduction in water usage translates directly to lower utility bills while promoting environmental stewardship.
These small individual actions can collectively lead to meaningful environmental protection when widely adopted.
Reusing air-conditioning water aligns perfectly with environmental conservation practices by reducing unnecessary water consumption.
This approach not only saves money but also contributes to preserving our limited water resources, which are under increasing pressure worldwide. In the coming years, the world may witness conflicts over access to this vital resource. We might as well begin now to learn how to provide clean water for each building.
The mineral-free nature of air conditioner water also makes it suitable for several household tasks. Here are some practical ways to put this resource to good use:
- Wrinkle-free ironing solution: The absence of minerals prevents white residue on garments.
- Streak-free window cleaning: Ideal for glass surfaces, leaving no mineral deposits on panes.
- Car maintenance: Useful for topping up car batteries, solar systems, and windshield washer fluid.
- Humidifier filling: Extends the life of humidifiers by preventing mineral buildup.
- Steam iron reservoir: Prevents clogging of steam vents in irons.
For household cleaning, air-conditioner water works exceptionally well on mirrors and glass surfaces, helping to prevent the streaking that often occurs with tap water. This makes it an excellent choice for achieving spotless windows without needing special cleaning products.
Your garden can also benefit significantly from air-conditioner water. Most plants tolerate its slightly acidic nature, though the water lacks the beneficial minerals found in groundwater.
This can be compensated for with careful fertiliser use. The absence of chlorine and treatment chemicals found in public water supplies also makes it gentler on sensitive plant varieties, an added bonus if you are an avid gardener.
Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).
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