Circulating water toilet, toilet circulating water utilization system, and toilet circulating water utilization method

Abstract

Provided are a circulating water toilet, a toilet circulating water utilization system, and a toilet circulating water utilization method with which it is possible to further effectively utilize toilet circulating water.　A circulating water toilet 1 comprises: a toilet 10; a purification treatment part 20 for purifying wastewater in the toilet 10; a middle water tank 30 for storing purified water; a supply pump 31 for supplying stored water in the middle water tank 30 to the toilet 10; a surplus water storage tank 40 capable of storing a part of the stored water; a detection part 41 capable of measuring the concentration of one or more kinds of predetermined substances included in the preliminary storage water stored in the surplus water storage tank 40; a water supply pump 42 for supplying the preliminary storage water to the outside; a control device 50 for controlling the water supply pump 42; and a determination part 514 for determining whether the preliminary storage water can be sprayed to a plant on the basis of the concentration of the predetermined substances by the detection part 41. A water supply control part 515 controls the water supply pump 42 so as to supply water to the outside for spraying to the plant when the determination part 514 determines that the preliminary storage water can be sprayed to the plant.

Description

Circulating water toilet, toilet circulating water utilization system and toilet circulating water utilization method

[0001] The present invention relates to a water-circulating toilet, a system for utilizing circulating toilet water, and a method for utilizing circulating toilet water.

[0002] Conventionally, there has been known a technology for purifying water used in a toilet, circulating it, and reusing it. One example of this type of technology is Patent Document 1. Patent Document 1 describes a main toilet unit that has a purification treatment tank that biologically treats wastewater discharged from the toilet bowl and regenerates it as flush water, and a purification tank that stores the regenerated flush water.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2022-158623

[0004] In a water-circulating toilet, the amount of circulating water increases due to human waste and other waste, resulting in the generation of excess water. While the excess water is currently used for purposes that do not require high water quality, such as for landscaping, there is a need for more effective use of the water.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a water-circulating toilet, a system for utilizing toilet circulating water, and a method for utilizing toilet circulating water that can utilize toilet circulating water more effectively.

[0006] (1) A circulating water toilet according to the present invention comprises a toilet, a purification treatment unit that purifies wastewater from the toilet, a water storage unit that stores water purified by the purification treatment unit, a supply unit that supplies the stored water stored in the water storage unit to the toilet, a spare water storage unit that can store a portion of the stored water, a concentration measurement unit that can measure the concentration of one or more predetermined substances contained in the spare water stored in the spare water storage unit, a water supply unit that sends the spare water to the outside, a water supply control unit that controls the water supply unit to send water to the outside, and a judgment unit that determines whether the spare water can be sprayed on plants based on the concentration of the predetermined substance measured by the concentration measurement unit, and the water supply control unit controls the spare water to be sent to the outside as water to be sprayed on plants when the judgment unit determines that the spare water can be sprayed on plants.

[0007] The circulating water toilet of (1) can make more effective use of the circulating water in the toilet.

[0008] (2) In the circulating water toilet described in (1), the specified substance includes chloride ions, the concentration measurement unit has a chloride ion concentration meter capable of measuring the concentration of chloride ions, and the judgment unit judges that the pre-stored water can be sprayed on plants when the concentration of chloride ions resulting from the measurement is less than a first concentration, and judges that the pre-stored water cannot be sprayed on plants when the concentration of chloride ions resulting from the measurement is equal to or greater than the first concentration.

[0009] (2) The circulating water toilet can adjust the chloride ion concentration of the reserve water appropriately, so the reserve water can be used to spray plants, allowing for more effective use of the toilet circulating water.

[0010] (3) In the circulating water toilet described in (1) or (2), the specified substance includes sulfate ions, the concentration measurement unit has a sulfate ion concentration meter capable of measuring the concentration of sulfate ions, and the judgment unit determines that the pre-stored water can be sprayed on plants when the concentration of sulfate ions resulting from the measurement is less than a second concentration, and determines that the pre-stored water cannot be sprayed on plants when the concentration of sulfate ions resulting from the measurement is equal to or greater than the second concentration.

[0011] (3) The circulating water toilet can adjust the sulfate ion concentration of the reserve water appropriately, so the reserve water can be used to spray plants, allowing for more effective use of the toilet circulating water.

[0012] (4) In the circulating water toilet described in (2), the first concentration is less than 1,500 mg / L, and the judgment unit judges that the pre-stored water can be sprayed on plants when the measurement result of the chloride ion concentration is less than 1,500 mg / L, and judges that the pre-stored water cannot be sprayed on plants when the measurement result of the chloride ion concentration is 1,500 mg / L or more.

[0013] (4) The circulating water toilet can more easily adjust the chloride ion concentration of the reserve water to an appropriate level, allowing the reserve water to be used for spraying plants while minimizing the impact on plant growth, thereby making more effective use of the toilet circulating water.

[0014] (5) In the circulating water toilet described in (3), the second concentration is less than 1,000 mg / L, and the judgment unit judges that the pre-stored water can be sprayed on plants when the measurement result of the sulfate ion concentration is less than 1,000 mg / L, and judges that the pre-stored water cannot be sprayed on plants when the measurement result of the sulfate ion concentration is 1,000 mg / L or more.

[0015] (5) The circulating water toilet can more easily adjust the sulfate ion concentration in the reserve water to an appropriate level to prevent a decrease in pH and the generation of hydrogen sulfide, while also allowing the reserve water to be used to spray plants, thereby making even more effective use of the toilet circulating water.

[0016] (6) The circulating water toilet described in at least one of (1) to (5) is provided with a water level detection unit that detects the water level of the reserve water, and the judgment unit determines whether the reserve water can be sprayed on plants based on the concentration of the specified substance, which is the measurement result at the time when the water level of the reserve water detected by the water level detection unit exceeds a predetermined amount.

[0017] (6) The circulating water toilet can control the amount of excess water, allowing for more effective use of the circulating water in the toilet.

[0018] (7) In the circulating water toilet described in at least one of (1) to (6), the judgment unit determines, at predetermined time intervals, whether or not the pre-stored water can be sprayed on plants based on the concentration of the specified substance, which is the measurement result.

[0019] (7) The water-circulating toilet can determine the amount of reserved water with simpler control, and can make more effective use of the toilet's circulating water.

[0020] (8) In the circulating water toilet described in at least one of (1) to (7), the purification treatment unit has an anaerobic tank, a contact oxidation tank, a sedimentation tank, a first contact filtration tank chamber, a second contact filtration tank chamber, and a sedimentation filtration tank.

[0021] (8) The circulating water toilet can utilize the circulating water in the toilet more effectively.

[0022] (9) In the circulating water toilet described in at least one of (1) to (8), the pre-stored water contains a growth-promoting substance that promotes plant growth, such as phosphorus, nitrogen, or potassium, the concentration measurement unit has a concentration meter that can measure the concentration of the growth-promoting substance, and the judgment unit judges whether the pre-stored water can be sprayed on plants based on the concentration of the specified substance and the concentration of the growth-promoting substance.

[0023] (9) The circulating water toilet can be sprayed onto plants as liquid fertilizer to promote plant growth, allowing for more effective use of the circulating water in the toilet.

[0024] (10) In the circulating water toilet described in (9), the concentration measurement unit has a pH meter capable of measuring pH and a turbidity meter capable of measuring turbidity, and the judgment unit determines whether the pre-stored water can be sprayed on plants based on the concentration of the specified substance, the concentration of the growth-promoting substance, pH, and turbidity of the pre-stored water.

[0025] The water-circulating toilet of (10) can be sprayed onto plants as liquid fertilizer to promote plant growth, allowing for more effective use of toilet water.

[0026] (11) The toilet circulating water utilization system of the present invention comprises a circulating water toilet described in at least one of (1) to (10) and a sprinkler device outside the circulating water toilet that can spray pre-stored water supplied from the water supply unit onto plants.

[0027] The toilet circulating water utilization system (11) can be adapted to water plants, so that the toilet circulating water can be utilized more effectively.

[0028] (12) The method for utilizing circulating water according to the present invention is a method for utilizing circulating water in a circulating water toilet as described in (1), and includes a water storage process for storing a portion of the stored water in the water storage section in the auxiliary water storage section; a measurement process for measuring the concentration of the specified substance using the concentration measurement section; a judgment process for determining whether the auxiliary water can be sprayed on plants based on the concentration of the specified substance that is the measurement result in the measurement process; and a water supply process for controlling the auxiliary water to be supplied to the outside as water for spraying on plants when it is determined in the judgment process that the auxiliary water can be sprayed on plants.

[0029] The circulating water utilization method (12) can utilize the circulating water in the toilet more effectively.

[0030] 1 is a diagram showing a toilet circulating water utilization system according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of a control device according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of a control device according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining a toilet circulating water utilization method according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the results of confirmation of the effect of excess water on plant growth in terms of the number of flower buds. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the results of confirmation of the effect of excess water on plant growth in terms of plant height. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the results of confirmation of the effect of excess water on plant growth in terms of plant weight (wet weight). FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the results of confirmation of the effect of excess water on plant growth in terms of plant width. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the results of confirmation of the effect of excess water on plant growth in terms of leaf color (SPAD value). FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the EC and pH of the soil at the end of the experiment.

[0031] <Recirculating Toilet Water Utilization System> A recirculating toilet water utilization system S according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to Figures 1 to 3. The recirculating toilet water utilization system S is a system that utilizes excess water generated in the circulating water circulating in a recirculating water toilet 1, which will be described later. As the toilet is used, the amount of circulating water in the recirculating water toilet 1 increases due to the addition of moisture contained in human waste and the like. As a result, the recirculating water in the recirculating water toilet 1 becomes excessive, generating excess water. The recirculating toilet water utilization system S according to this embodiment utilizes the excess water as water for spraying plants.

[0032] The excess water preferably contains a growth-promoting substance that promotes plant growth. The growth-promoting substance is, for example, at least one of phosphorus, nitrogen, and potassium. In the toilet circulating water utilization system S according to this embodiment, the excess water can be sprayed on plants as liquid fertilizer that can promote plant growth. However, the excess water may also contain substances such as salt that cause salt damage to plants. For this reason, the water-circulating toilet is configured to determine whether the excess water can be sprayed on plants and to utilize the water, as described below. The toilet circulating water utilization system S includes a water-circulating toilet 1, a sprinkler device 2, and an external water supply flow path L4.

[0033] The water-circulating toilet 1 purifies and circulates used water so that it can be reused in the toilet. The sprinkler 2 is a device for spraying excess water circulated in the water-circulating toilet 1 onto plants. The external water supply flow path L4 connects the sprinkler 2 to a water supply pump 42 (described below) that sends excess water to the outside, and is a flow path through which excess water supplied by the water supply pump 42 flows to the sprinkler 2.

[0034] <Recirculating Water Toilet> An example of a recirculating water toilet will be described using Fig. 1. The recirculating water toilet 1 includes a toilet 10, a purification treatment unit 20, a gray water tank 30 as a water storage unit, an excess water tank 40 as a reserve water storage unit, a control device 50, a circulation flow path L1, a disinfectant injection flow path L2, and an excess water flow path L3.

[0035] The toilet 10 is a known flush toilet that uses circulating water circulating through a flow path L17 (described later). The toilet 10 may receive water from a water supply or the like in addition to the circulating water.

[0036] The purification treatment unit 20 is configured to purify wastewater from the toilet 10. The purification treatment unit 20 has an anaerobic tank 21, a contact oxidation tank 22, a sedimentation tank 23, a first contact filtration tank chamber 24, a second contact filtration tank chamber 25, a sedimentation filtration tank 26, and a disinfection tank 27.

[0037] The anaerobic tank 21 is a known storage tank. The circulating water that has flowed through the anaerobic tank 21 contains a large amount of organic matter, so oxygen is consumed and the water is in an anaerobic state. The contact oxidation tank 22 is a known tank for decomposing contaminants contained in the purified treated water using aerobic microorganisms. The contact oxidation tank 22 is also called a contact aeration tank. The settling tank 23 is a known tank for separating and settling sludge contained in the purified treated water that has been biologically treated in the contact oxidation tank 22.

[0038] The first contact filtration tank chamber 24 is a tank for further removing residual organic matter and suspended solids remaining in the purified treated water. In addition, the first contact filtration tank chamber 24 according to this embodiment uses oyster shells as a contact material, and can maintain a neutral pH after the pH has decreased due to biodegradation in the contact oxidation tank 22. The second contact filtration tank chamber 25 is a tank with the same configuration as the first contact filtration tank chamber 24.

[0039] The settling filtration tank 26 is a tank for settling and filtering sludge remaining in the purified treated water. The disinfection tank 27 is a tank for storing a disinfectant solution to be injected into the purified treated water after settling and filtering in the settling filtration tank 26.

[0040] The middle tank 30 is configured to store water purified by the purification treatment unit 20. The middle tank 30 includes activated carbon (not shown) and a supply pump 31 as a supply unit. The activated carbon makes the water stored in the middle tank 30 colorless and odorless. The supply pump 31 supplies the water stored in the middle tank 30 to the toilet 10.

[0041] The middle water tank 30 is configured so that overflowing water flows into the surplus water storage tank 40. For example, a pipe is provided that communicates with an opening formed at a predetermined height inside the tank, and when the water level rises to the predetermined height, the water that reaches the opening flows and flows into the surplus water storage tank 40. The method of sending water from the middle water tank 30 to the surplus water storage tank 40 is not limited to this. For example, the middle water tank 30 may be provided with a water level meter and a pump that sends water from the middle water tank 30 to the surplus water storage tank 40, and the pump may be caused to send water based on the detection result of the water level meter.

[0042] The surplus water tank 40 is configured to store a portion of the water stored in the middle water tank 30 as reserve water. The surplus water tank 40 according to this embodiment stores a portion of the water stored in the middle water tank 30 that is surplus as reserve water. The surplus water tank 40 may store a portion of the water stored in the middle water tank 30 as reserve water even when there is no surplus water in the middle water tank 30. For example, this may be the case when there is sufficient water stored in the middle water tank 30 and reserve water is needed for watering plants. The surplus water tank 40 has a detection unit 41 as a concentration measurement unit and a water supply pump 42 as a water supply unit.

[0043] The detector 41 is configured to measure the concentration of one or more predetermined substances contained in the surplus water stored in the surplus water storage tank 40. The predetermined substances are used to determine whether the surplus water can be sprayed on plants. The predetermined substances include, for example, at least one of chloride ions and sulfate ions.

[0044] For example, the detection unit 41 measures the concentration of chloride ions to estimate the salt content of the excess water and confirms and determines whether the salt content causes salt damage to plants.For example, the detection unit 41 measures the concentration of sulfate ions to confirm and determine whether the excess water contains an appropriate amount of sulfate ions that can be effectively used as liquid fertilizer without acidifying the soil and that do not cause the generation of hydrogen sulfide.

[0045] In this embodiment, the predetermined substance includes chloride ions and sulfate ions. However, the predetermined substance is not limited thereto. As shown in FIG. 2 , the detection unit 41 includes a chloride ion concentration meter 41 a, a sulfate ion concentration meter 41 b, and a water level meter 41 c as a water level detection unit.

[0046] The chloride ion concentration meter 41a is a known ion concentration meter for measuring the chloride ion concentration of the surplus water. The chloride ion concentration of the surplus water is measured by the chloride ion concentration meter 41a in a measurement step (step S11) described below. The sulfate ion concentration meter 41b is a known ion concentration meter for measuring the sulfate ion concentration of the surplus water. The sulfate ion concentration of the surplus water is measured by the sulfate ion concentration meter 41b in a measurement step (step S11) described below.

[0047] The water level meter 41c is a known water level meter for measuring the water level of the surplus water in the surplus water storage tank 40. The water level meter 41c is also used to detect a predetermined amount of water level. For example, the timing of a measurement step (step S11) described below is determined based on information about the water level of the surplus water measured by the water level meter 41c of the detection unit 41. Specifically, the measurement step (step S11) is started when the water level of the surplus water measured by the water level meter 41c of the detection unit 41 exceeds a predetermined amount.

[0048] The water level meter 41c may be capable of detecting only a predetermined water level. For example, the water level meter 41c may be a float type or an electrode type, and may detect the water level when the water level of the excess water exceeds a predetermined amount. The timing of the measurement step (step S11) is not limited to this.

[0049] The water pump 42 is a known pump for supplying excess water to the outside. For example, the water pump 42 according to the present embodiment supplies excess water to the sprinkler device 2 via the external water supply passage L4.

[0050] The circulation flow path L1 is a flow path for purifying and circulating water used in the toilet 10. The circulation flow path L1 has a flow path L10, a flow path L11, a flow path L12, a flow path L13, a flow path L14, a flow path L15, a flow path L16, and a flow path L17.

[0051] Flow path L10 connects the toilet 10 and the anaerobic tank 21, and is a flow path through which water used in the toilet 10 flows to the anaerobic tank 21. Flow path L11 connects the anaerobic tank 21 and the contact oxidation tank 22, and is a flow path through which water stored in the anaerobic tank 21 flows to the contact oxidation tank 22. Flow path L12 connects the contact oxidation tank 22 and the settling tank 23, and is a flow path through which water treated in the contact oxidation tank 22 flows to the settling tank 23.

[0052] Flow path L13 connects the settling tank 23 and the contact filtration tank first chamber 24, and is a flow path through which water treated in the settling tank 23 flows to the contact filtration tank first chamber 24. Flow path L14 connects the contact filtration tank first chamber 24 and the contact filtration tank second chamber 25, and is a flow path through which water treated in the contact filtration tank first chamber 24 flows to the contact filtration tank second chamber 25. Flow path L15 connects the contact filtration tank second chamber 25 and the settling filtration tank 26, and is a flow path through which water treated in the contact filtration tank second chamber 25 flows to the settling filtration tank 26.

[0053] Flow path L16 connects the sedimentation filtration tank 26 and the middle water tank 30, and is a flow path through which water treated in the sedimentation filtration tank 26 flows to the middle water tank 30. Flow path L17 connects the supply pump 31 in the middle water tank 30 to the toilet 10, and is a flow path through which stored water in the middle water tank 30, supplied from the supply pump 31, flows to the toilet 10.

[0054] The disinfectant injection flow path L2 is a flow path for injecting disinfectant into water flowing from the settling filtration tank 26 to the middle water tank 30. The disinfectant injection flow path L2 connects a disinfection tank 27 (described later) to a part of the flow path L16, and is a flow path through which the disinfectant in the disinfection tank 27 flows to the flow path L16. The disinfectant injection flow path L2 has a valve (not shown) and is configured to be able to adjust the amount of disinfectant injected.

[0055] The surplus water flow path L3 connects the middle water tank 30 and the surplus water storage tank 40, and is a flow path through which water overflowing from the middle water tank 30 flows to the surplus water storage tank 40. The external water supply flow path L4 is a flow path for supplying surplus water stored in the surplus water storage tank 40 to the outside. Each flow path of the circulation flow path L1, the disinfectant solution injection flow path L2, the surplus water flow path L3, and the external water supply flow path L4 are formed in piping such as a hose or a pipe, for example.

[0056] The control device 50 is a device for controlling various operations of the toilet circulating water utilization system S. An example of the hardware configuration of the control device 50 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 2. As shown in Fig. 2, the control device 50 includes a processor 500, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 501, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 502, a bus 503, an input / output interface 504, an input unit 505, an output unit 506, a storage unit 507, and a power supply 508.

[0057] The processor 500 is the central part of a computer that performs calculations, control, and other processes required for the operation of the control device 50, and performs various calculations, processes, and the like.

[0058] The processor 500 controls each unit to realize various functions of the control device 50 based on programs such as firmware, system software, and application software stored in the ROM 501 or the RAM 502. The processor 500 executes processing based on the programs.

[0059] The processor 500, ROM 501, and RAM 502 are connected to one another via a bus 503. An input / output interface 504 is also connected to this bus 503. An input unit 505, an output unit 506, a memory unit 507, a power supply 508, the supply pump 31, the water pump 42, and the chloride ion concentration meter 41a, sulfate ion concentration meter 41b, and water level meter 41c of the detection unit 41 are connected to the input / output interface 504. The above configuration is an example, and the supply pump 31 and the like may be connected to the control device 50 so as to be able to communicate with each other.

[0060] The input unit 505 and output unit 506 are user interfaces electrically connected to the input / output interface 504 via wired or wireless connections. The input unit 505 is composed of, for example, a keyboard, a mouse, etc., and inputs various information in response to user instructions. The output unit 506 is composed of a display for displaying images, a speaker for amplifying audio, a printer, etc., and outputs images, audio, and printed materials.

[0061] The storage unit 507 is an auxiliary storage device configured with a hard disk drive (HDD), a solid state drive (SSD), etc. The storage unit 507 stores various types of information such as programs related to various processes and reference values ​​for determining whether or not to spray on plants.

[0062] The program stored in the memory unit 507 may be, for example, a program for a toilet circulating water utilization method to be executed by the processor 500 of the toilet circulating water utilization system S, and may be a program that executes a measurement result acquisition step, a judgment step, and a water supply step.

[0063] In this case, the measurement result acquisition step is a step of causing the processor 500 to execute a process of acquiring information on the concentration of the predetermined substance measured by the detection unit 41. The determination step is a step of causing the processor 500 to execute a process of determining whether or not the water in the surplus water storage tank 40 can be sprayed on plants based on the concentration of the predetermined substance measured by the detection unit 41. The water supply step is a step of causing the processor 500 to execute a process of controlling the water supply pump 42 to supply the water in the surplus water storage tank 40 to the outside as water to supply to plants, if it is determined in the determination step that the water in the surplus water storage tank 40 can be sprayed on plants.

[0064] The functional configuration of the control device 50 will be described with reference to Fig. 3. The control unit 51, which is a functional component that performs various controls of the control device 50, is realized by a processor 500 that performs arithmetic processing executing programs stored in a ROM 501, a RAM 502, a storage unit 507, etc. The control unit 51 of this embodiment has a supply control unit (supply control function) 511, a measurement result acquisition unit (measurement result acquisition function) 512, a memory management unit (memory management function) 513, a determination unit (determination function) 514, and a water supply control unit (water supply control function) 515.

[0065] The supply control unit 511 controls the water supply operation of the supply pump 31. For example, the supply control unit 511 controls the supply pump 31 to supply the water stored in the waste water tank 30 to the toilet 10 via the flow path L17.

[0066] The measurement result acquisition unit 512 acquires information on the measurement results measured by the detection unit 41. The chloride ion concentration meter 41a, sulfate ion concentration meter 41b, and water level meter 41c of the detection unit 41 are connected to the input / output interface 504 of the control device 50 according to this embodiment, and the measurement result acquisition unit 512 can automatically acquire information on the measurement results measured by the detection unit 41.

[0067] For example, the measurement result acquisition unit 512 executes a process of acquiring information on the concentrations of one or more predetermined substances in the surplus water measured by the detection unit 41. More specifically, the measurement result acquisition unit 512 acquires information on the chloride ion concentration in the surplus water measured by the chloride ion concentration meter 41a of the detection unit 41. The measurement result acquisition unit 512 acquires information on the sulfate ion concentration in the surplus water measured by the sulfate ion concentration meter 41b of the detection unit 41.

[0068] For example, the measurement result acquisition unit 512 acquires information about the level of excess water measured by the water level meter 41c of the detection unit 41. As described above, in this embodiment, the timing of the measurement step (step S11) described below is determined based on the information about the level of excess water measured by the water level meter 41c of the detection unit 41. However, the method for determining the timing of the measurement step (step S11) is not limited to this. For example, the measurement step (step S11) may determine whether or not excess water can be sprayed on plants at predetermined time intervals. That is, the measurement step (step S11) may be performed periodically. The predetermined time may be, for example, one month.

[0069] The memory management unit 513 executes processing to read and store programs, judgment values, etc. from the memory unit 507 for various control of the processor 500 .

[0070] The determination unit 514 executes a process of determining whether or not surplus water can be sprayed on plants based on the concentration of a predetermined substance in the measurement results obtained by the detection unit 41. For example, when the determination value for chloride ion concentration is a first concentration, the determination unit 514 according to the present embodiment determines that surplus water can be sprayed on plants when the chloride ion concentration in the measurement results obtained by the detection unit 41 is less than the first concentration. Furthermore, the determination unit 514 according to the present embodiment determines that surplus water cannot be sprayed on plants when the chloride ion concentration measured by the detection unit 41 is equal to or greater than the first concentration.

[0071] The first concentration may be, for example, 1,500 mg / L. In this case, the determination unit 514 may determine that the excess water can be sprayed on plants when the chloride ion concentration measured by the detection unit 41 is less than 1,500 mg / L. Furthermore, the determination unit 514 may determine that the excess water cannot be sprayed on plants when the chloride ion concentration measured by the detection unit 41 is 1,500 mg / L or more.

[0072] The first concentration is more preferably less than 600 mg / L. In this case, the determination unit 514 may determine that the excess water can be sprayed on plants when the chloride ion concentration measured by the detection unit 41 is less than 600 mg / L. Alternatively, the determination unit 514 may determine that the excess water cannot be sprayed on plants when the chloride ion concentration measured by the detection unit 41 is 600 mg / L or more.

[0073] For example, if the determination value for the sulfate ion concentration is a second concentration, the determination unit 514 according to this embodiment determines that the excess water can be sprayed on the plant if the sulfate ion concentration measured by the detection unit 41 is less than the second concentration. Furthermore, the determination unit 514 according to this embodiment determines that the excess water cannot be sprayed on the plant if the sulfate ion concentration measured by the detection unit 41 is equal to or greater than the second concentration. The second concentration may be, for example, less than 1,000 mg / L. In this case, the determination unit 514 may determine that the excess water can be sprayed on the plant if the sulfate ion concentration measured by the detection unit 41 is less than 1,000 mg / L. Furthermore, the determination unit 514 may determine that the excess water cannot be sprayed on the plant if the sulfate ion concentration measured by the detection unit 41 is equal to or greater than 1,000 mg / L.

[0074] The water supply control unit 515 executes a process to control the water supply operation of the water supply pump 42. For example, when the determination unit 514 determines that the excess water can be sprayed on plants, the water supply control unit 515 executes a process to control the excess water to be sent to the outside as water to be sprayed on plants.

[0075] The sprinkler device 2 is provided outside the water-circulating toilet 1 and is capable of spraying excess water delivered from the water pump 42 onto plants. The sprinkler device 2 is an example of an external device to which the water pump 42 delivers excess water for spraying onto plants.

[0076] <Method for utilizing circulating toilet water> Next, a method for utilizing circulating toilet water according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figure 4. The method for utilizing circulating toilet water according to this embodiment is a method executed in the water-circulating toilet 1 described above. The method for utilizing circulating toilet water includes a water storage step (step S10), a measurement step (step S11), a determination step (step S13), and a water delivery step (step S14). The method for utilizing circulating toilet water may also include a measurement result acquisition step (step S12) and a disposal step (step S15).

[0077] The water storage step (step S10) is a step of storing a portion of the water stored in the middle water tank 30 in the surplus water storage tank 40. In this embodiment, a portion of the water overflowing from the water stored in the middle water tank 30 is configured to flow into the surplus water storage tank 40. As described above, if there is sufficient water remaining in the middle water tank 30 and it is desired to water plants, for example, a portion of the water stored in the middle water tank 30 may be circulated to the surplus water storage tank 40. In this case, a water pump may be provided in the middle water tank 30 to circulate the water to the surplus water storage tank 40, or a portion of the stored water may be manually moved to the surplus water storage tank 40.

[0078] The measurement process (step S11) is a process in which the detection unit 41 measures the surplus water in the surplus water storage tank 40. The measurement process (step S11) is performed at a predetermined timing. As described above, the predetermined timing is when the water level of the stored water in the middle water tank 30 exceeds a predetermined amount. As described above, the predetermined timing is not limited to this, and may be, for example, a timing at a predetermined time interval.

[0079] For example, the measurement step (step S11) is a step of measuring the concentration of a predetermined substance using the detection unit 41. For example, the measurement step (step S11) measures the concentration of at least one of chloride ions and sulfate ions using the detection unit 41. In the measurement step (step S11) of this embodiment, the detection unit 41 measures both the concentrations of chloride ions and sulfate ions. More specifically, in the measurement step (step S11), the chloride ion concentration is measured using the chloride ion concentration meter 41a of the detection unit 41. Furthermore, in the measurement step (step S11) of this embodiment, the sulfate ion concentration is measured using the sulfate ion concentration meter 41b of the detection unit 41.

[0080] The measurement result acquisition step (step S12) is a step of acquiring the measurement results from the detection unit 41 by the measurement result acquisition unit 512 of the control device 50. In the measurement result acquisition step (step S12) according to this embodiment, the measurement result acquisition unit 512 of the control device 50 acquires the measurement results from both the chloride ion concentration meter 41a and the sulfate ion concentration meter 41b. In the measurement result acquisition step (step S12), the measurement result acquisition unit 512 may acquire the measurement results from the chloride ion concentration meter 41a and the measurement results from the sulfate ion concentration meter 41b that have been manually input to the input unit 505 of the control device 50.

[0081] The determination step (step S13) is a step in which the determination unit 514 of the control device 50 determines whether or not the surplus water in the surplus water storage tank 40 can be sprayed on plants, based on the measurement results of the detection unit 41. Specifically, the determination step (step S13) is a step in which the determination unit 514 of the control device 50 compares both the measurement results from the chloride ion concentration meter 41a and the measurement results from the sulfate ion concentration meter 41b, which are acquired by the measurement result acquisition unit 512, with the above-mentioned determination values, respectively, to determine whether or not the surplus water can be sprayed on plants.

[0082] The water supply process (step S14) is a process in which, when the judgment unit 514 determines that excess water can be sprayed on plants (step S13: YES), the water supply control unit 515 of the control device 50 causes the water supply pump 42 to supply excess water in the excess water storage tank 40 to the sprinkler device 2 via the external water supply flow path L4.

[0083] The disposal step (step S15) is a step of disposing of excess water that is determined by the determination unit 514 to be incapable of being sprayed on plants. Examples of disposal methods include pumping the excess water, sending the water to an external device other than the sprinkler device 2 as landscaping water or recreational water, etc.

[0084] For example, in the disposal process (step S15), if the judgment unit 514 determines that the excess water cannot be sprayed on the plants (step S13: NO), a warning may be output on the display or speaker of the output unit 506 to the effect that the excess water needs to be disposed of, and the user may be prompted to pump it out.

[0085] Furthermore, a flow path connected to an external landscape water sprinkler system and a water supply pump may be separately provided in the surplus water storage tank 40. In this case, in the disposal step (step S15), if the determination unit 514 determines that the surplus water cannot be sprayed on plants, the water supply pump may supply water to the external landscape water sprinkler system via the flow path.

[0086] <Experimental Example> Here, an experiment was conducted in which surplus water when it was determined in the determination step that it was possible to spray on plants was given to plants, and the effect on plant growth was confirmed. The results of this confirmation are explained below using Figures 5 to 10. The surplus water used had the following water quality: Potassium: 240 mg / L Sodium: 590 mg / L Chloride ions: 730 mg / L Sulfate ions: 200 mg / L Bicarbonate ions: 91 mg / L Phosphate ions: 2.0 mg / L pH: 7.8

[0087] As described above, the surplus water used in the experiment satisfied the first concentration of chloride ions, less than 1500 mg / L, and the second concentration of sulfate ions, less than 1000 mg / L. For the plant seeds, "Day Grass Equator Mix" manufactured by Sakata Seed Corporation was used. For the plant soil, "Nursing soil (with base fertilizer)" manufactured by Takii Seed Co., Ltd. was used. Automatic irrigation with tap water was performed once a day using a timer. The growth period was 65 days.

[0088] In addition to the above conditions, plants were grown under different amounts of excess water. Specifically, five plants were grown under four conditions: one with excess water given once a week, one with excess water given twice a week, one with excess water given three times a week, and one without excess water as a control. The amount of excess water given to the plants each time was 100 ml per 300 ml of soil.

[0089] Under all conditions, seeds germinated one week after planting and flowered two months later. Furthermore, as shown in Figures 5 to 9, the number of flower buds, plant height, plant weight (wet weight), plant width, and leaf color (SPAD value) of plants under each condition after the growth period were confirmed. Leaf color was measured using a chlorophyll meter, and the SPAD value is an index representing chlorophyll content. The confirmation results are shown in Figures 5 to 9.

[0090] In each graph shown in Figures 5 to 9, the bar graphs, from left to right, show the control, the plant with excess water once a week, the plant with excess water twice a week, and the plant with excess water three times a week. Figure 5 is a diagram comparing the average number of flower buds for five plants at the end of the growing period under four conditions. Figure 6 is a diagram comparing the average plant height for five plants at the end of the growing period under four conditions. Figure 7 is a diagram comparing the average plant weight (wet weight) (g) for five plants at the end of the growing period under four conditions. Figure 8 is a diagram comparing the average plant width (cm) for five plants at the end of the growing period under four conditions. Figure 9 is a diagram comparing the average leaf color (SPAD value) for five plants at the end of the growing period under four conditions.

[0091] The number of flower buds in the cases where excess water was sprayed exceeded the number of flower buds (8.8) in the cases where excess water was not sprayed.

[0092] The plant height in all cases where excess water was sprayed was shorter than the plant height in cases where excess water was not sprayed, but the maximum difference between the three conditions where excess water was sprayed and the condition where excess water was not sprayed was about 0.7 cm.

[0093] The results showed that plant weight was not affected by the frequency of surplus water application. Furthermore, the maximum difference in plant weight between the three conditions with surplus water application and the condition without surplus water application was about 1.2 cm.

[0094] The results showed that plant width was not affected by the frequency of surplus water application. Furthermore, the maximum difference in plant width between the three conditions with surplus water application and the condition without surplus water application was approximately 1.2 cm.

[0095] Leaf color (SPAD value) was not affected by the frequency of excess water application. The maximum difference in leaf color between the three conditions with excess water application and the condition without excess water application was about 1.3.

[0096] The condition of the soil after the growth period was confirmed by measuring the EC (electrical conductivity) and pH, as shown in Figure 10. The soil with excess water had a higher EC and was presumed to contain more salts such as Na than the control soil without excess water, and the pH was also higher, but no growth impairment occurred.

[0097] As described above, the excess water used in the experiment satisfied the first concentration of chloride ions of less than 1500 mg / L and the second concentration of sulfate ions of less than 1000 mg / L, and therefore it was considered that salt damage, a decrease in pH, the generation of hydrogen sulfide, etc. were suppressed, and it was confirmed that there were no problems with using the water for sprinkling.

[0098] The water-circulating toilet according to the present embodiment described above provides the following advantages. In a water-circulating toilet, excess water is generated in the circulating water of the water-circulating toilet due to handwashing water from the water supply, human waste, and the like. Under the Sustainable Development Goals, effective utilization of the generated excess water is required. While the excess water contains phosphorus, nitrogen, and the like and can be used as liquid fertilizer, it also contains chloride ions, sulfate ions, and other ions that are undesirable for plants, making it difficult to directly utilize the generated excess water as liquid fertilizer.

[0099] In the water-circulating toilet 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention, the water supply control unit 515 controls the water supply pump 42 to supply water to the outside for spraying on plants when the determination unit 514 determines that the pre-stored water can be sprayed on plants. This makes it possible to provide a water-circulating toilet, a toilet circulating water utilization system, and a toilet circulating water utilization method that can more effectively utilize toilet circulating water.

[0100] <Other Modifications> The detection unit 41 may include a concentration meter, a pH meter, and a turbidity meter capable of measuring the concentration of a growth-promoting substance. For example, the detection unit 41 may include a concentration meter capable of measuring the concentration of at least one of phosphorus, total nitrogen, and potassium as a growth-promoting substance. In this case, the determination unit 514 may determine whether or not the excess water can be sprayed on plants based on the concentration of a predetermined substance and the concentration of at least one of phosphorus, nitrogen, and potassium as a growth-promoting substance in addition to the concentration of at least one of chloride ions and sulfate ions.

[0101] For example, the detection unit 41 may include a pH meter. In this case, whether or not the surplus water can be sprayed on plants may be determined based on the pH of the surplus water in the surplus water storage tank 40 in addition to at least one of the chloride ion concentration and the sulfate ion concentration.

[0102] For example, the allowable pH range may be set to 5.8 to 8.6. In this case, the determination unit 514 may determine that the excess water cannot be sprayed on plants when the measurement result of the pH of the excess water by the detection unit 41 is outside the range of 5.8 to 8.6, and may determine that the excess water can be sprayed on plants when the measurement result of the pH of the excess water by the detection unit 41 is within the range of 5.8 to 8.6.

[0103] For example, the detection unit 41 may include a turbidity meter. In this case, the determination unit 514 may determine whether or not the surplus water can be sprayed on plants based on the turbidity of the surplus water in the surplus water storage tank 40 in addition to at least one of the chloride ion concentration and the sulfate ion concentration.

[0104] For example, the determination value for the turbidity of the excess water may be set to 2. In this case, the determination unit 514 may determine that the excess water cannot be sprayed on plants when the measurement result of the turbidity of the excess water by the detection unit 41 is 2 degrees or higher, and may determine that the excess water can be sprayed on plants when the measurement result of the turbidity of the excess water by the detection unit 41 is less than 2 degrees.

[0105] The detection unit 41 may be configured to detect E. coli, appearance, residual chlorine, etc., and in that case, the determination unit 514 may determine whether or not the excess water can be sprayed on plants based on these. For example, the detection unit 41 may have a known sensor capable of detecting free residual chlorine concentration. In this case, the determination unit 514 may determine whether or not the excess water can be sprayed on plants based on, for example, the free residual chlorine concentration or the combined residual chlorine concentration. The combined residual chlorine concentration is calculated based on the free residual chlorine concentration detected by the detection unit 41. Specifically, the combined residual chlorine concentration is calculated by the control unit 51 by subtracting the free residual chlorine concentration detected by the detection unit 41 from the total residual chlorine concentration.

[0106] The determination unit 514 may determine whether the free residual chlorine concentration is 0.1 mg / L or the combined residual chlorine concentration is 0.4 mg / L or greater. In this case, it may determine that the excess water cannot be sprayed on plants when the free residual chlorine concentration is less than 0.1 mg / L or the combined residual chlorine concentration is less than 0.4 mg / L, and it may determine that the excess water can be sprayed on plants when the free residual chlorine concentration is 0.1 mg / L or the combined residual chlorine concentration is 0.4 mg / L or greater. This ensures that the necessary residual chlorine is maintained in the excess water in the septic tank, preventing an increase in the coliform bacteria count and preventing it from exceeding the specified number.

[0107] Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described above, these embodiments are merely illustrative and do not limit the technical scope of the present invention. The present invention can take on various other embodiments, and various modifications such as omissions and substitutions can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included within the scope and spirit of the invention described in this specification, etc., and are also included in the invention described in the claims and their equivalents.

[0108] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Circulating water toilet 10 Toilet 20 Purification treatment unit 30 Middle water tank (water storage unit) 40 Surplus water storage tank (backup water storage unit) 41 Detection unit (concentration measurement unit) 42 Water supply pump (water supply unit) 514 Determination unit 515 Water supply control unit

Claims

1. A toilet, a purification treatment unit for purifying wastewater from the toilet, a water storage unit for storing water purified by the purification treatment unit, a supply unit for supplying the stored water in the water storage unit to the toilet, a reserve water storage unit capable of storing a part of the stored water, a concentration measurement unit capable of measuring the concentration of one or more predetermined substances contained in the reserve stored water in the reserve water storage unit, a water supply unit for supplying the reserve stored water to the outside, a water supply control unit for controlling the water supply unit to supply water to the outside, and a determination unit for determining whether the reserve stored water can be sprayed on plants based on the concentration of the predetermined substance which is the measurement result by the concentration measurement unit. The water supply control unit controls to supply the reserve stored water to the outside as water for spraying on plants when the determination unit determines that the reserve stored water can be sprayed on plants. A circulating water type toilet.

2. The predetermined substance includes chloride ions. The concentration measurement unit has a chloride ion concentration meter capable of measuring the concentration of chloride ions. The determination unit determines that the reserve stored water can be sprayed on plants when the concentration of chloride ions which is the measurement result is less than a first concentration, and determines that the reserve stored water cannot be sprayed on plants when the concentration of chloride ions which is the measurement result is greater than or equal to the first concentration. The circulating water type toilet according to claim 1.

3. The predetermined substance includes sulfate ions. The concentration measurement unit has a sulfate ion concentration meter capable of measuring the concentration of sulfate ions. The determination unit determines that the reserve stored water can be sprayed on plants when the concentration of sulfate ions which is the measurement result is less than a second concentration, and determines that the reserve stored water cannot be sprayed on plants when the concentration of sulfate ions which is the measurement result is greater than or equal to the second concentration. The circulating water type toilet according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The first concentration is less than 1,500 mg / L. The determination unit determines that the reserve stored water can be sprayed on plants when the concentration of chloride ions which is the measurement result is less than 1,500 mg / L, and determines that the reserve stored water cannot be sprayed on plants when the concentration of chloride ions which is the measurement result is greater than or equal to 1,500 mg / L. The circulating water type toilet according to claim 2.

5. The second concentration is less than 1,000 mg / L. When the concentration of sulfate ions, which is the measurement result, is less than 1,000 mg / L, the determination unit determines that the reserve stored water can be sprayed on plants. When the concentration of sulfate ions, which is the measurement result, is 1,000 mg / L or more, the determination unit determines that the reserve stored water cannot be sprayed on plants. The circulating water type toilet according to claim 3.

6. It includes a water level detection unit for detecting the water level of the reserve stored water. The determination unit determines whether the reserve stored water can be sprayed on plants based on the concentration of the predetermined substance, which is the measurement result, at the timing when the water level of the reserve stored water detected by the water level detection unit exceeds a predetermined amount. The circulating water type toilet according to claim 1 or 2.

7. The determination unit determines whether the reserve stored water can be sprayed on plants based on the concentration of the predetermined substance, which is the measurement result, at intervals of a predetermined time. The circulating water type toilet according to claim 1 or 2.

8. The purification treatment unit includes an anaerobic tank, a contact oxidation tank, a sedimentation tank, a first chamber of a contact filtration tank, a second chamber of the contact filtration tank, and a sedimentation filtration tank. The circulating water type toilet according to claim 1 or 2.

9. The reserve stored water contains a growth promoting substance that promotes the growth of at least one of phosphorus, nitrogen, and potassium in plants. The concentration measurement unit has a concentration meter capable of measuring the concentration of the growth promoting substance. The determination unit determines whether the reserve stored water can be sprayed on plants based on the concentration of the predetermined substance and the concentration of the growth promoting substance. The circulating water type toilet according to claim 1 or 2.

10. The concentration measurement unit has a pH meter capable of measuring pH and a turbidimeter capable of measuring turbidity. The determination unit determines whether the reserve stored water can be sprayed on plants based on the concentration of the predetermined substance, the concentration of the growth promoting substance, pH, and turbidity of the reserve stored water. The circulating water type toilet according to claim 9.

11. A toilet circulating water utilization system comprising the circulating water type toilet according to claim 1 and, outside the circulating water type toilet, a water spraying device capable of spraying the reserve stored water sent from the water supply unit on plants.

12. A method for utilizing recycled water in a circulating water type toilet according to claim 1, comprising: a water storage step of storing a part of the stored water in the water storage section in the preliminary water storage section; a measurement step of measuring the concentration of the predetermined substance by the concentration measurement section; a determination step of determining whether the preliminary stored water can be sprayed on plants based on the concentration of the predetermined substance which is the measurement result in the measurement step; and a water supply step of controlling to supply the preliminary stored water to the outside as water for spraying on plants when it is determined in the determination step that the preliminary stored water can be sprayed on plants.

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