Readily cleanable dual purpose water storage system and method

Abstract

A water storage system comprising a tank having a first inclined or conical floor at the bottom of the tank, a second inclined or conical floor above the first inclined or conical floor, dividing the tank into upper and lower compartments, one or more inlet(s), an overflow outlet, a first draining outlet located at the sloping end of the first inclined floor or at the convergence of the first conical floor, a second draining outlet located at the sloping end of the second inclined floor or at the convergence of the second conical floor, and a consumer supply outlet located above the second inclined floor or above the second conical floor, wherein the upper compartment holds potable-grade water and the water from the lower compartment is reserved for fire fighting needs and used for non-potable purposes with periodic replenishment from upper compartment

1 . A readily cleanable dual purpose water storage system comprising:
 an overhead water tank for storing water; and   a pump for pumping water from a water supply source to the overhead water tank for storage of water before supply to the consumers, wherein said water tank comprises:
 a first inclined floor at the bottom of the tank, wherein the first inclined floor is inclined at a pre-determined continuous and effective slope towards another point on the periphery to form an inclined floor; 
 a second inclined floor located above the first inclined floor at a predetermined height, thereby dividing the water tank into upper and lower compartments; 
 one or more inlet(s) located near the top of the upper compartment for letting water to be filled into said tank; 
 an overflow outlet; 
 a first draining outlet located at the lowest point of the slope of the first inclined floor, with a stop cock fitted thereto; 
 a second draining outlet located at the sloping end of the second inclined floor such that water and impurities from the upper compartment moves down to the lower compartment; and 
 a consumer supply outlet located at the side wall above the starting end of the second inclined floor through which water is supplied to consumers; 
   wherein the upper compartment holds potable grade water for supply to consumers and the water in the lower compartment, which comes out of the first draining outlet, is (a) reserved for fire fighting needs and (b) used for other non-potable purposes with simultaneous replenishment from the upper compartment.   
     
     
         2 . The water storage system of  claim 1 , wherein said inlet(s) is/are provided with multiple openings or pores to discharge jets of inlet water at different points of the second inclined floor of the tank during periodic evacuation of the upper compartment of the tank by opening the first draining outlet, thereby helping to dislodge the impurities adhering to the bottom of the second inclined floor of the tank more reliably, which are eventually transferred to the lower compartment through the second draining outlet. 
     
     
         3 . The water storage system of  claim 1 , wherein the water storage system comprises sensor mechanism(s) located at the upper compartment which is adapted to activate the pump to inject fresh water into the water tank whenever the level of water inside the water tank falls below a predetermined level and to switch off the pump when the rising water level inside the water tank reaches the pre-determined level. 
     
     
         4 . The water storage system of  claim 3 , wherein the sensor mechanism is switched off during complete evacuation of the tank for periodic cleaning. 
     
     
         5 . The water storage system of  claim 1 , wherein the second draining outlet is wide enough to simultaneously fill the lower compartment to constantly maintain a reserve level therein, wherein the second draining outlet is a U or other shaped tube to ensure unidirectional flow of water from the upper compartment to the lower compartment. 
     
     
         6 . The water storage system of  claim 1 , wherein a check valve may be provided at the second draining outlet to ensure unidirectional flow of water from the upper compartment to the lower compartment. 
     
     
         7 . The water storage system of  claim 1 , wherein the lower compartment reserves water for fire fighting eventualities which may be used for other non-potable use such as toilet cisterns, washing machines, floors and driveway cleanings, gardening etc with simultaneous replenishment from upper compartment. 
     
     
         8 . The water storage system of  claim 1 , wherein a floating ball stopper is attached to the second draining outlet to stop water from passing through the second draining outlet when the lower compartment is filled to its capacity. 
     
     
         9 . A readily cleanable dual purpose water storage system comprising:
 an overhead water tank for storing water; and   a pump for pumping water from a water supply source to the overhead water tank for storage of water before supply to the consumers, wherein said water tank comprises:
 a first conical floor at the bottom of the tank, wherein the first conical floor is inclined at a pre-determined continuous and effective slope from all sides to form a conical bottom; 
 a second conical floor located above the first conical floor at a predetermined level, thereby dividing the water tank into upper and lower compartments; 
 one or more inlet(s) located near the top of the upper compartment for letting water to be filled into said tank; 
 an overflow outlet; 
 a first draining outlet located at the convergence of the first conical floor, with a stop cock fitted thereto; 
 a second draining outlet located at the convergence of the second conical floor such that water and impurities from the upper compartment moves down to the lower compartment; and 
 a consumer supply outlet located at the side wall above the second conical floor through which water is supplied to consumers; 
   wherein the upper compartment holds potable grade water for supply to consumers and the water from the lower compartment, which comes out of the first draining outlet, is (a) reserved for fire fighting needs and (b) used for other non-potable purposes with simultaneous replenishment from upper compartment.   
     
     
         10 . The water storage system of  claim 9 , wherein said inlet(s) is/are provided with multiple openings or pores to discharge jets of inlet water at different points on the second conical floor of the tank during periodic evacuation of the upper compartment of the tank by opening the first draining outlet, thereby helping to dislodge the impurities adhering to the second conical floor of the tank more reliably, which are eventually transferred to the lower compartment through the second draining outlet. 
     
     
         11 . The water storage system of  claim 9 , wherein the water storage system comprises sensor mechanism(s) located at a predetermined height in the upper compartment which is adapted to activate the pump to inject fresh water into the water tank whenever the level of water inside the water tank falls below a predetermined level and to switch off the pump when the water level inside the water tank reaches the pre-determined level. 
     
     
         12 . The water storage system of  claim 11 , wherein the sensor mechanism is switched off during complete evacuation of upper compartment of the tank for periodic cleaning. 
     
     
         13 . The water storage system of  claim 11 , wherein the second draining outlet is wide enough to simultaneously fill the lower compartment to constantly maintain a reserve level therein, wherein the second draining outlet is a U or other shaped tube to ensure unidirectional flow of water from the upper compartment to the lower compartment. 
     
     
         14 . The water storage system of  claim 11 , wherein a check valve may be provided at the second draining outlet to ensure unidirectional flow of water from the upper compartment to the lower compartment. 
     
     
         15 . The water storage system of  claim 11 , wherein the lower compartment reserves water for fire fighting eventualities which is used for other non-potable use such as toilet cisterns, washing machines, floors and driveway cleanings, gardening etc with simultaneous replenishment from upper compartment. 
     
     
         16 . The water storage system of  claim 11 , wherein a floating ball stopper is attached to the second draining outlet to stop water from passing through the second draining outlet when the lower compartment is filled to its capacity. 
     
     
         17 . A readily cleanable dual purpose water storage system comprising:
 an overhead water tank for storing water; and   a pump for pumping water from a water supply source to the overhead water tank for storage of water before supply to the consumers, wherein said water tank comprises:
 a first inclined floor at the bottom of the tank; 
 a second inclined floor located above the first inclined floor at a predetermined height, thereby dividing the water tank into upper and lower compartments; 
 one or more inlet(s) located near the top of the upper compartment for letting water to be filled into said tank; 
 an overflow outlet; 
 a first draining outlet located at the lowest point of the first inclined floor, with a stop cock fitted thereto; 
 a second draining outlet located at the lowest point of the second inclined floor such that water and impurities from the upper compartment moves down to the lower compartment; and 
 a consumer supply outlet located at the side wall above the second inclined floor through which water is supplied to consumers; 
   wherein the upper compartment holds potable grade water for supply to consumers and the water from the lower compartment, which comes out of the first draining outlet, is (a) reserved for fire fighting needs and (b) used for other non-potable purposes with simultaneous replenishment from the upper compartment.   
     
     
         18 . The water storage system of  claim 17 , wherein the first inclined floor is a conical floor at the bottom of the tank with the first draining outlet being located at the convergence of the conical bottom and the second inclined floor is inclined at a pre-determined continuous and effective slope towards another point on the periphery to form a sloping floor with the second draining outlet being located at the lowest point of the sloping floor. 
     
     
         19 . The water storage system of  claim 17 , wherein the first inclined floor is inclined at a pre-determined continuous and effective slope towards another point on the periphery to form a sloping floor at the bottom of the tank with the first draining outlet being located at the lowest point of the sloping floor and the second inclined floor is a conical floor with the second draining outlet being located at the convergence of the conical bottom.