Rainwater tank capacity and potential for potable water savings by using rainwater in the residential sector of southeastern Brazil

2007 ◽  
Vol 42 (4) ◽  
pp. 1654-1666 ◽  
Author(s):  
Enedir Ghisi ◽  
Diego Lapolli Bressan ◽  
Maurício Martini
Keyword(s):  
Potable Water ◽  
Southeastern Brazil ◽  
Water Savings ◽  
Residential Sector ◽  
Rainwater Tank ◽  
Tank Capacity

scholarly journals Potential for Potable Water Savings Due to Rainwater Use in a Precast Concrete Factory

Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 448
Author(s):  
Giovanna Bertuzzi ◽  
Enedir Ghisi
Keyword(s):  
Water Consumption ◽  
Potable Water ◽  
Precast Concrete ◽  
Economic Feasibility ◽  
Water Savings ◽  
Rainwater Tank ◽  
Current Water ◽  
Tank Capacity ◽  
Rainwater Quality ◽  
The Ideal

The objective of this paper was to assess the potential for potable water savings due to rainwater use in a precast concrete factory in southern Brazil. The economic feasibility and the rainwater quality were also assessed. The current water consumption, future water demand, and rainwater demand in the factory were estimated. The future demand considered was two times higher than the current water consumption since there were plans to increase the production. Three scenarios were then simulated using the computer programme Netuno. The ideal rainwater tank capacity, the potential for potable water savings, and the economic feasibility analysis for each scenario were estimated. Samples of rainwater were collected in the factory and tested for quality for manufacturing precast concrete. For a rainwater tank capacity equal to 25,000 L, the potential for potable water savings for the first scenario was 55.4%, but the first scenario was considered economically unfeasible. For the same tank capacity, the second and third scenarios presented viable results regarding potable water savings and payback. As for the rainwater quality, it was proven to be adequate for manufacturing precast concrete. The main conclusion was that rainwater can be used to manufacture precast concrete in the factory studied herein.

scholarly journals Assessing the Potential for Potable Water Savings in the Residential Sector of a City: A Case Study of Joinville City

Water ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 2074 ◽  
Author(s):  
Custódio ◽  
Ghisi
Keyword(s):  
Water Demand ◽  
Potable Water ◽  
Rainwater Harvesting ◽  
Residential Buildings ◽  
City Council ◽  
Water Savings ◽  
Residential Sector ◽  
Rainwater Tank ◽  
Average Potential ◽  
Daily Water

The objective of this study is to evaluate the potential for potable water savings by using rainwater in the residential sector of Joinville, a city located in southern Brazil. Data on roof areas of residential buildings were obtained from the Joinville city council. By considering the roof areas and typologies of residential buildings, representative models were created. The following parameters were used to determine the rainwater tank capacity: the number of dwellers; the total daily water demand per capita; and the rainwater demand. To carry out the simulations for determining the optimal rainwater tank sizes and potential for potable water savings, the computer program Netuno was used to run 33,720 different scenarios. By considering the occurrence percentage for each representative building model (weighted average), the average potential for potable water savings by using rainwater was calculated. The average potential in the central region of Joinville was 18.5% when there is rainwater use only in toilets, and 40.8% when there is rainwater use in toilets and washing machines. The rainwater harvesting system showed a better performance for a rainwater demand equal to 20% of the total daily water demand. The results indicate the necessity to properly size rainwater tank capacities to meet water demands, thereby encouraging more people to adopt rainwater harvesting as an alternative source for non-potable water in buildings. The demand for rainwater should be carefully evaluated, especially in multi-story residential buildings, due to the low availability of roof areas.

scholarly journals Potential for Potable Water Savings Due to Rainwater use in a Precast Concrete Factory

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giovanna Bertuzzi ◽  
Enedir Ghisi
Keyword(s):  
Water Consumption ◽  
Potable Water ◽  
Precast Concrete ◽  
Economic Feasibility ◽  
Water Savings ◽  
Rainwater Tank ◽  
Current Water ◽  
Tank Capacity ◽  
Rainwater Quality ◽  
The Ideal

The objective of this paper is to assess the potential for potable water savings due to rainwater use in a precast concrete factory in southern Brazil. The economic feasibility and the rainwater quality were also assessed. The current water consumption, future water demand and rainwater demand in the factory were estimated. The future demand considered was two times higher than the current water consumption since there are plans to increase the production. Three scenarios were then simulated using the computer programme Netuno. The ideal rainwater tank capacity, the potential for potable water savings and the economic feasibility analysis for each scenario were estimated. Samples of rainwater were collected in the factory and tested for quality for manufacturing precast concrete. For a rainwater tank capacity equal to 25,000 litres, the potential for potable water savings for the first scenario was 55.4%, but the first scenario was considered economically unfeasible. For the same tank capacity, the second and third scenarios presented viable results regarding potable water savings and payback. As for the rainwater quality, it was proven to be adequate for manufacturing precast concrete. The main conclusion is that rainwater can be used to manufacture precast concrete in the factory studied herein.

scholarly journals Comprehensive Assessment Methodology for Urban Residential Rainwater Tank Implementation

Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 315 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashok Sharma ◽  
Ted Gardner
Keyword(s):  
Urban Areas ◽  
Financial Incentives ◽  
Potable Water ◽  
Residential Building ◽  
Building Codes ◽  
Urban Water ◽  
Local Planning ◽  
Water Savings ◽  
Rainwater Tank ◽  
Rainwater Tanks

Rainwater tanks are increasingly being implemented as part of the integrated urban water management paradigm where all sources of water, including potable, stormwater and recycled, are considered eligible to contribute to the urban water supply. Over the last decade or so, there has been a rapid uptake of rainwater tank systems in urban areas, especially in Australian cities, encouraged through financial incentives, but more importantly, from change in residential building codes effectively mandating the installation of rainwater tanks. Homes with rainwater tanks in Australian cities have increased from 15% to 28% over six years to 2013. These building codes specify certain rainwater tank specifications to achieve a stated rainwater use, and hence potable water savings. These specifications include minimum rainwater tank size, minimum connected roof area, plumbing for internal supply for toilets and washing machines, and external supply for garden watering. These expected potable water savings from households are often factored into regional strategic water planning objectives. Hence if rainwater tanks do not deliver the expected saving due to sub-standard installation and/or poor maintenance, it will have an adverse impact on the regional water plan in the longer term. In this paper, a methodology to assess the effectiveness of a government rainwater tank policy in achieving predicted potable water savings is described and illustrated with a case study from South East Queensland, Australia. It is anticipated that water professionals across the globe should be able to use the same methodology to assess the effectiveness of similar rainwater policies, or indeed any other distributed water saving policy, in their local planning communities.

Assessment of the potential for potable water savings by using rainwater in houses in southern Brazil

2015 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 533-541 ◽  
Author(s):  
André Castellani Lopes ◽  
Ricardo Forgiarini Rupp ◽  
Enedir Ghisi
Keyword(s):  
Computer Simulations ◽  
Water Demand ◽  
Potable Water ◽  
Daily Rainfall ◽  
Southern Brazil ◽  
Santa Catarina ◽  
Water Savings ◽  
Rainwater Tank ◽  
Santa Catarina State

The state of Santa Catarina, southern Brazil, has been suffering from water scarcity mainly over summer due to high potable water consumption and outdated water supply system. On the coast, several cities have their population doubled due to tourism during summer. In this context, this paper aims to evaluate the potential for potable water savings by using rainwater in the residential sector of 60 cities located in Santa Catarina state. Computer simulations using the Netuno computer programme were performed considering long-term daily rainfall time series for each city and typical characteristics of houses such as roof area, number of people per house, potable water demand and non-potable water demand (rainwater demand). In total, 2,700 simulations were performed. From the computer simulations, an ideal rainwater tank capacity and the corresponding potential for potable water savings for each case were obtained. Results showed average potable water savings ranging from 75 to 461 litres/day per house and rainwater tank capacities ranging from 1,000 to 16,000 litres. Despite the production of average outcomes using long-term daily rainfall data in cities with a high inter-annual variation of rainfall, results showed that the use of rainwater in houses may bring considerable potable water savings in Santa Catarina state and so could contribute to mitigating the potable water shortages.

scholarly journals Water Quality and Financial Analysis of a System Combining Rainwater and Greywater in a House

Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 930
Author(s):  
Gustavo Rosa ◽  
Enedir Ghisi
Keyword(s):  
Water Consumption ◽  
Potable Water ◽  
Treatment Process ◽  
Financial Analysis ◽  
Good Alternative ◽  
Water Savings ◽  
Financial Benefits ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Local Water ◽  
Water Tariffs

This study aimed to evaluate the installation of a system that combines rainwater to wash clothes and greywater to flush toilets in a house located in Florianópolis, southern Brazil. The evaluation consisted of determining the potable water savings, performing a financial analysis, and verifying the possibility of using rainwater and reusing greywater according to the local legislation. The reduction in potable water consumption was determined by comparing the monthly water and sewage bill, before and after installing the system, combining rainwater and greywater. The financial analysis was performed considering the financial benefits, operational costs, costs for installing the system, and local water tariffs. After installing the system, there was a decrease of 38.0% in the monthly potable water consumption, which represents a decrease of 7.00 m3 in the monthly potable water consumption. The payback periods for the old and new water tariffs were equivalent to, respectively, ten years and seven months, and eight years and five months. Both rainwater and greywater had parameters with concentrations higher than the limits established by the legislation. Therefore, the rainwater had to go through a device for discarding the first flush and needed disinfection; and the greywater needed to go through a treatment process. The results indicated that the system combining rainwater and greywater shows significant potential for potable water savings, which can be a good alternative to the preservation of potable water resources. It is important to note that current studies on rainwater use and greywater reuse are mainly related to non-potable purposes, but it was shown herein that rainwater can be used for washing clothes.

scholarly journals Assessment of A Rainwater Harvesting System in A Multi-Storey Residential Building in Brazil

Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 546 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jéssica Kuntz Maykot ◽  
Enedir Ghisi
Keyword(s):  
User Satisfaction ◽  
Potable Water ◽  
Scientific Literature ◽  
Rainwater Harvesting ◽  
Residential Building ◽  
Economic Feasibility ◽  
Internal Rate Of Return ◽  
Rainwater Tank ◽  
The One ◽  
End Uses

This article aims to present an economic feasibility and user satisfaction analysis of a rainwater harvesting system in a multi-storey residential building (where there is rainwater to supply toilets) located in Florianópolis, southern Brazil. This research used detailed methods and also considered the opinion and habits of users regarding the use of a rainwater harvesting system. The water end-uses were estimated through questionnaire survey in each flat. The potential for potable water savings was estimated using computer simulations. Simulations were performed using the computer programme Netuno, version 4 and economic feasibility analyses were performed considering different rainwater demands. Analyses associated with the habits of the residents, the satisfaction of users and the importance of saving potable water were also carried out. Showers were responsible for the highest share (54.2%) of water consumption in the flats, followed by the other end-uses: washing machine (21.3%), kitchen tap (9.3%), toilet flush (9.2%) and washbasins (2.6%). The most economically feasible system, which presented lower payback and higher internal rate of return, corresponds to the system sized to supply rainwater only to toilet flushing. Such a system would need a rainwater tank with a capacity smaller than the capacity of the one currently in use. In general, residents expressed satisfaction regarding the rainwater harvesting system installed in the building. The study is important because, besides obtaining water end-uses in the flats, it also investigates the perception of residents related to rainwater harvesting, which has been little explored in the scientific literature.

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