Abstract: There is described a water heater system having: first and second water tanks in fluid communication with a cold water line and a hot water line; a cold water valve in fluid communication between the cold water line and the first water tank; a water heating circuit having a water heater, a first inlet conduit fluidly connecting the first water tank to the water heater, and a first outlet conduit fluidly connecting the water heater to the first water tank; and a controller communicatively coupled to the water heater and the cold water valve, the controller configured for: when the first water tank is fully filled with water from the cold water line, operating the first water tank in a heat charging mode including: while the cold water valve remains closed, circulating said water across the water heating circuit, said circulating including heating the water up to a temperature threshold.

Abstract: There is described a wastewater separator for separating a flow of wastewater. The wastewater separator generally has: an axis: an inlet chamber defined around the axis and having a wastewater inlet defining a vortex: an outlet chamber defined around the axis below the inlet chamber and having a solid outlet and a liquid outlet: an annular neck between the inlet chamber and the outlet chamber and defining an opening at a bottom of the inlet chamber. the inlet chamber tapering to the annular neck and the outlet chamber inverse-tapering from the annular neck: and an assembly of angularly inclined fins circumferentially distributed around the axis and axially located between the annular neck and the solid outlet. the angularly inclined fins having an upper edge in fluid communication with a lower portion of the annular neck and a lower edge circumferentially spaced apart from the upper edge along the vortex.