scholarly journals Evaluation of the optimal size of a rainwater harvesting system in Sicily

2017 ◽  
Vol 19 (6) ◽  
pp. 853-864 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vincenza Notaro ◽  
Lorena Liuzzo ◽  
Gabriele Freni
Keyword(s):  
Water Scarcity ◽  
Rainwater Harvesting ◽  
Temporal Distribution ◽  
Mediterranean Area ◽  
Critical Issue ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Optimal Size ◽  
Single Family ◽  
Optimal Capacity ◽  
Alternative Water

Abstract In the Mediterranean area, water scarcity represents a critical issue due to the increasing water demand related to the population growth and the expansion of urban and industrialized areas. Rainwater harvesting (RWH) may be an effective alternative water supply solution to deal with water scarcity in order to reduce non-potable water needs. The reliability of RWH systems is greatly affected by the intensity and the temporal distribution of rainfall events. The purpose of the present study was to identify the optimal tank capacity, in terms of water saving efficiency, of a RWH system installed to supply water for toilet flushing, garden irrigation and both uses with reference to a single-family house in a residential area of Sicily (southern Italy). A water balance simulation of the rainwater storage tank was performed to define the tank release rule. The optimal capacity of the RWH tank was evaluated considering three different catchment surfaces, namely 100, 200 and 300 m2. Results showed that, in some areas of the region, the system could be able to provide significant water savings, even with the installation of collecting tanks of less than 10 m3, thus ensuring important environmental and economic benefits to the householders.

scholarly journals Cost analysis of a rainwater harvesting system in Poland

2018 ◽  
Vol 45 ◽  
pp. 00078
Author(s):  
Grażyna Sakson
Keyword(s):  
Cost Analysis ◽  
Potable Water ◽  
Rainwater Harvesting ◽  
Annual Rainfall ◽  
Single Family ◽  
Construction Costs ◽  
Sewer System ◽  
Harvesting Systems ◽  
Alternative Water ◽  
The Cost

Rainwater harvesting is an alternative water supply method that has become popular in recent years around the world. This is mainly due to financial reasons (reducing the cost of potable water and fees for rainwater discharge to the sewerage), but also because of environmental awareness. In Poland, rainwater harvesting systems are not often used because of their low financial viability determined by high system construction costs and the low prices of potable water. Earlier analysis conducted by the author showed that the payback period of investment outlays was from a dozen or so years for large buildings, to a few dozen for single-family houses. This situation may change after the introduction of common fees for discharging rainwater from impervious areas into sewerage, and fees for the reduction of natural retention on newly built-up areas, in accordance with new water regulations. This paper presents a cost analysis of rainwater harvesting systems for ten cities in Poland, with varying annual rainfall depth and various pricing for potable water. Analyses were carried out for a single-family house located in an area equipped with a municipal sewer system, and for a large building, located in an area equipped and not equipped with a municipal sewer system.

scholarly journals Socio-economic Potential of Rainwater Harvesting in Ethiopia

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 73 ◽  
Author(s):  
Khaldoon A. Mourad ◽  
Sadame Mohammed Yimer
Keyword(s):  
Water Scarcity ◽  
Potable Water ◽  
Rainwater Harvesting ◽  
Critical Issue ◽  
Economic Feasibility ◽  
Annual Rainfall ◽  
Clean Water ◽  
Water Harvesting ◽  
Economic Potential ◽  
High Population Growth

Clean water scarcity becomes a critical issue in many parts of Ethiopia due to the high population growth, water pollution and climate change. The high annual rainfall rates make rainwater harvesting one of the best options to mitigate water scarcity. This study was conducted to analyze the economic feasibility of water harvesting for individual houses in Dessie-town. The results show that the harvested water from a 60 m2 roof can cover all non-potable water needs or can cultivate a small garden, 50 m2, with some needed crops. Cultivating tomatoes and onions can increase the annual household’s income by 5 %.  

Plugrisost: a model for design, economic cost and environmental analysis of rainwater harvesting in urban systems

2014 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 243-255 ◽  
Author(s):  
X. Gabarrell ◽  
T. Morales-Pinzón ◽  
J. Rieradevall ◽  
M. R. Rovira ◽  
G. Villalba ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Analysis ◽  
Rainwater Harvesting ◽  
Smart Cities ◽  
Tap Water ◽  
Environmental Indicators ◽  
Urban Systems ◽  
Optimal Size ◽  
Single Family ◽  
Successful Operation ◽  
Rainwater Tank

In the context of transition to sustainability, one of the main challenges facing societies today is the supply of water. By integrating different methodological tools and studies we developed the innovative software program Plugrisost® (rainwater, greys and sustainability), a simulation model, that facilitates the economic evaluation and the potential environmental impact of alternative water supplies (rainwater harvesting [RWH] and greywater systems) at different scales of urban planning. This modelling tool contributes to urban water planning for smart cities development. Plugrisost® analyses the optimal design variables, cost and environmental performance of RWH and greywater systems, using tap water production as a reference system for comparison. The use of economic and environmental indicators can make the optimal size of a rainwater tank more restrictive when it is compared to the results regarding the satisfaction of the demand for rainwater. Economic and environmental analysis can help avoid oversizing tanks for rainwater and thus obtain greater benefits. Plugrisost includes estimated cost and Global Warming Potential, as well as other life cycle impact indicators for this purpose. A case study analyzing the implementation of a RWH system in a single-family house in Aveiro, Portugal is included, showing the importance of rainwater availability and demand for the successful operation of simulated systems.

scholarly journals Effectiveness of Rainwater Harvesting Systems for Flood Reduction in Residential Urban Areas

Water ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 1389 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriele Freni ◽  
Lorena Liuzzo
Keyword(s):  
Water Consumption ◽  
Flood Risk ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Rainwater Harvesting ◽  
Single Family ◽  
Residential Areas ◽  
Harvesting Systems ◽  
Daily Water ◽  
Alternative Water ◽  
Area Of Study

Rainwater harvesting (RWH) systems have many benefits being an effective alternative water supply solution, not only in arid and semi-arid regions. Also, these systems can be useful in the reduction of flood risk in urban areas. Nevertheless, most of the studies in literature focused on the potential of RWH in reducing water consumption, whereas few examples examined their efficiency in the retention of stormwater in flood-susceptible residential areas. The aim of this work was to investigate the reliability of RWH systems in terms of stormwater retention. Specifically, the performance of RWH tanks to supply water for toilet flushing, in more than 400 single-family houses in a residential area of Sicily (Southern Italy) was analyzed. The area of study was chosen due to its high susceptibility to flooding. A flushing water demand pattern was defined using water consumption data collected during a measurement campaign. The yield-after-spillage algorithm was used to simulate the daily water balance of the RWH tanks. The effect of the RWH implementation on flood volumes in the area of study was quantified using FLO-2D. Results point out that the potential of neighborhood RWH installation in the mitigation of flood risk is highly related to rainfall amount.

scholarly journals Investigation of the Current Situation and Prospects for the Development of Rainwater Harvesting as a Tool to Confront Water Scarcity Worldwide

Water ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 2168 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stavros Yannopoulos ◽  
Ioanna Giannopoulou ◽  
Mina Kaiafa-Saropoulou
Keyword(s):  
Water Scarcity ◽  
Rainwater Harvesting ◽  
Groundwater Resources ◽  
Water Source ◽  
Water Shortage ◽  
Global Scale ◽  
Current Situation ◽  
Frequency Peak ◽  
Alternative Water ◽  
Social Causes

Nowadays, available water resources face severe pressures due to demographic, economic, social causes, environmental degradation, climate change, and technological changes on a global scale. It is well known that rainwater harvesting, a simple and old method, has the potential to supplement surface and groundwater resources in areas that have inadequate water supply. In recent decades, many countries have supported the updated implementation of such a practice to confront the water demand increase and to reduce the frequency, peak, and volume of urban runoff. These considerations motivate interest in examining the current situation and the prospect of further development of this method worldwide. The present paper aims at the investigation of the current situation of rainwater harvesting (RWH) as an alternative water source to confront water scarcity in various countries around the world. In particular, the paper presents the following: (a) the causes of water shortage; (b) a concise historical overview of the temporal development of the RWH method; (c) the evolution of the concept of RWH; (d) the efforts to renew interest in RWH; and (e) incentives and perspectives for the spreading of the RWH method in various countries worldwide.

scholarly journals RAINWATER HARVESTING ON GREENHOUSE ROOF AND USE IN IRRIGATION

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 93-100
Author(s):  
Sedat Boyacı ◽  
Sinan Kartal
Keyword(s):  
Water Supply ◽  
Irrigation Water ◽  
Rainwater Harvesting ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Total Water ◽  
Water Shortages ◽  
Alternative Water ◽  
Water Scarce ◽  
And Storage ◽  
Total Water Demand

Rainwater collection systems are alternative water supply methods providing environmental and economic benefits compared to traditional water supply methods used in arid and semi-arid climates with water shortages. Rainwater harvested in greenhouse roof by rain gutters can be used to irrigate and grow the plants cultivated in greenhouses. However, rain gutters and storage tanks in greenhouses should be of sufficient size to collect rainwater. Water consumption of plants in the greenhouse should be calculated correctly to determine the storage size in greenhouses. The amount of annual irrigation water harvested from rainfall in Kirsehir province where total rainfall is 388.3 l/m2 was determined as 349.57 l/m2 based on rainfall factor of 0.9. Total amount of irrigation water needed by the plants in the unheated greenhouse between April and September for single crop cultivation was 568.33 l/m2. The results revealed that 61.49% of irrigation water needed for plants can be met by rainwater harvesting. In addition, 47.74% of the total water demand of plants in the heated greenhouse where crops are grown throughout a year can be met by rainwater harvesting. The storage capacities needed for unheated and heated greenhouses were determined as 0.21 m3/m2 and 0.30 m3/m2 depending on the amount of rainwater harvested. The results showed that rainwater harvesting may contribute to the improvement of agricultural activities in water-scarce regions.

scholarly journals Modelling of a roof runoff harvesting system: the use of rainwater for toilet flushing

2011 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 151-158 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Vialle ◽  
C. Sablayrolles ◽  
M. Lovera ◽  
M.-C. Huau ◽  
M. Montréjaud-Vignoles
Keyword(s):  
Storage Capacity ◽  
Rainwater Harvesting ◽  
Dead Volume ◽  
Optimal Size ◽  
Single Family ◽  
Toilet Flushing ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Predicted Values ◽  
Experimental Values

The water balance of a four-people family rainwater harvesting system was calculated in a case study. The experimental water saving efficiency (WSE) was calculated as 87%. A simple computer model was implemented to simulate the behaviour of the rainwater harvesting system. In general, the rainwater collector volumes predicted by the daily model had shown a good correlation with the experimental values. The difference between the experimental and the predicted values for the stored volume can be explained by the lack of maintenance of the system that can affect its performance. On the basis of a long-term simulation of 20-year rainfall data, the following parameters were calculated: rainfall, water demand, mains water, rainwater used, over-flow and WSE. The collection of rainwater from roofs, its storage and subsequent use for toilet flushing can save 42 m3 of potable water per year for the studied system. The model was also used to find the optimal size of the tank for the single-family household: a storage capacity of approximately 5 m3 was found to be appropriate. The storage capacity and tank size were distinguished. The importance to take into account the dead volume of the tank for the sizing was indeed highlighted.

scholarly journals A mathematical model for designing a reliable cellular hybrid manufacturing-remanufacturing system considering alternative and contingency process routings

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Amirreza Hooshyar Telegraphi ◽  
Akif Asil Bulgak
Keyword(s):  
Mathematical Model ◽  
Supply Chain ◽  
Manufacturing Systems ◽  
Closed Loop ◽  
Sustainable Manufacturing ◽  
Critical Issue ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Mixed Integer ◽  
Hybrid Manufacturing ◽  
Closed Loop Supply Chain

AbstractDue to the stringent awareness toward the preservation and resuscitation of natural resources and the potential economic benefits, designing sustainable manufacturing enterprises has become a critical issue in recent years. This presents different challenges in coordinating the activities inside the manufacturing systems with the entire closed-loop supply chain. In this paper, a mixed-integer mathematical model for designing a hybrid-manufacturing-remanufacturing system in a closed-loop supply chain is presented. Noteworthy, the operational planning of a cellular hybrid manufacturing-remanufacturing system is coordinated with the tactical planning of a closed-loop supply chain. To improve the flexibility and reliability in the cellular hybrid manufacturing-remanufacturing system, alternative process routings and contingency process routings are considered. The mathematical model in this paper, to the best of our knowledge, is the first integrated model in the design of hybrid cellular manufacturing systems which considers main and contingency process routings as well as reliability of the manufacturing system.

scholarly journals Rainwater Harvesting Potentials in Commercial Buildings in Dhaka: Reliability and Economic Analysis

Hydrology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 9
Author(s):  
Md. Rezaul Karim ◽  
B. M. Sadman Sakib ◽  
Sk. Sadman Sakib ◽  
Monzur Alam Imteaz
Keyword(s):  
Water Demand ◽  
Rainwater Harvesting ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Commercial Buildings ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
Capital City ◽  
Balance Model ◽  
Climate Conditions ◽  
Rainwater Tank ◽  
Catchment Areas

Despite numerous studies on residential rainwater tank, studies on commercial rainwater tank are scarce. Corporate authorities pay little heed on this sustainable feature. With the aim of encouraging corporate authorities, this study presents the feasibility and economic benefits of rainwater harvesting (RWH) in commercial buildings in the capital city of Bangladesh, where water authority struggles to maintain town water supply. The analysis was conducted using a daily water balance model under three climate scenarios (wet, dry and normal year) for five commercial buildings having catchment areas varying from 315 to 776 m2 and the storage tank capacity varying from 100 to 600 m3. It was found that for a water demand of 30 L per capita per day (lpcd), about 11% to 19% and 16% to 26.80% of the annual water demand can be supplemented by rainwater harvesting under the normal year and wet year climate conditions, respectively. The payback periods are found to be very short, only 2.25 to 3.75 years and benefit–cost (B/C) ratios are more than 1.0, even for building having the smallest catchment area (i.e., 315 m2) and no significant overflow would occur during monsoon, which leads to both economic and environmental benefits. Though the findings cannot be translated to other cities as those are dependent on factors like water price, interest rate, rainfall amount and pattern, however other cities having significant rainfall amounts should conduct similar studies to expedite implementations of widescale rainwater harvesting.

scholarly journals Optimal Sizing of Rooftop Rainwater Harvesting Tanks for Sustainable Domestic Water Use in the West Bank, Palestine

Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 573
Author(s):  
Sameer Shadeed ◽  
Sandy Alawna
Keyword(s):  
Storage Tank ◽  
Rainwater Harvesting ◽  
West Bank ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Optimal Size ◽  
Storage Tanks ◽  
Domestic Water ◽  
The West ◽  
Average Family ◽  
Rooftop Rainwater Harvesting

In highly water-poor areas, rooftop rainwater harvesting (RRWH) can be used for a self-sustaining and self-reliant domestic water supply. The designing of an optimal RRWH storage tank is a key parameter to implement a reliable RRWH system. In this study, the optimal size of RRWH storage tanks in the different West Bank governorates was estimated based on monthly (all governorates) and daily (i.e., Nablus) inflow (RRWH) and outflow (domestic water demand, DWD) data. In the estimation of RRWH, five rooftop areas varying between 100 m2 and 300 m2 were selected. Moreover, the reliability of the adopting RRWH system in the different West Bank governorates was tested. Two-time series scenarios were assumed: Scenario 1, S1 (12 months, annual) and scenario 2, S2 (8 months, rainy). As a result, reliable curves for preliminary estimation of optimal RRWH storage tanks for the different West Bank governorates were obtained. Results show that the required storage tank for S1 (annual) is more than that of the S2 (rainy) one. The required storage tank to fulfill DWD is based on the average rooftop area of 150 m2, the average family members of 4.8, and the average DWD of 90 L per capita per day (L/c/d) varies between (75 m3 to 136 m3) and (24 m3 to 84 m3) for S2 for the different West Bank governorates. Further, it is found that the optimal RRWH tank size for the 150 m2 rooftop ranges between 20 m3 (in Jericho) to 75 m3 (in Salfit and Nablus) and between 20 m3 (in Jericho) to 51 m3 (in Jerusalem) for S1 and S2 scenarios, respectively. Finally, results show that the implementation of an RRWH system for a rooftop area of 150 m2 and family members of 4.8 is reliable for all of the West Bank governorates except Jericho. Whereas, the reliability doesn’t exceed 19% for the two scenarios. However, the reduction of DWDv is highly affecting the reliability of adopting RRWH systems in Jericho (the least rainfall governorate). For instance, a family DWDv of 3.2 m3/month (25% of the average family DWDv in the West Bank) will increase the reliability at a rooftop area of 150 m2 to 51% and 76% for S1 and S2, respectively.

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