Catalogue Search | MBRL
Are you sure you want to remove the book from the shelf?
{{itemTitle}}
6,100
result(s) for
"Rainwater."
Sort by:
The Potential of RainWater Harvesting Systems in Europe – Current State of Art and Future Perspectives
Water scarcity and climate change led to changes in water management, especially in urban areas. RainWater Harvesting (RWH) is a promising technique that allows the collection and reuse of rainwater, as well as protecting sewage systems from overload. This article reviews the current state of RWH in Europe, including advantages, implementation, potential efficiency, usage requirements, quality, and treatment processes. The main findings include the importance of RWH as a sustainable water management technique, the historical background and renewed interest in RWH systems in recent years, the positive impact of RWH on reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, the versatility of rainwater usage, and the potential cost savings and benefits in various regions. RWH systems are gaining popularity in Europe, particularly in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Climate change and precipitation patterns affect rainwater availability and quality. RWH can be used for various purposes, including drinking, but requires proper purification for health safety. It is also being implemented in new locations like airports and large buildings. RWH systems have a high potential to overcome undesired results of climate change. Among that, numerous aspects still need to be considered in the future that allow the application of RWH systems on a larger scale.
Journal Article
Rainwater Harvesting and Treatment: State of the Art and Perspectives
Rainwater harvesting is an ancient practice currently used for flood and drought risk mitigation. It is a well-known solution with different levels of advanced technology associated with it. This study is aimed at reviewing the state of the art with regards to rainwater harvesting, treatment, and management. It focuses on the environmental and social benefits of rainwater harvesting and links them to the Sustainable Development Goals. The review identifies characteristics of laws and regulations that encourage this practice and their current limitations. It presents methodologies to design a rainwater harvesting system, describes the influence of design variables, and the impact of temporal and spatial scales on the system’s performance. The manuscript also analyzes the most advanced technologies for rainwater treatment, providing insights into various processes by discussing diverse physiochemical and biological technology options that are in the early stages of development. Finally, it introduces trends and perspectives which serve to increase rainwater harvesting, water reuse, and effective management.
Journal Article
The Importance of Rainwater Harvesting and Its Usage Possibilities: Antalya Example (Turkey)
The significance and effective use of water, one of the most basic requirements for sustaining vital activities, is gaining importance every day. Population growth and unprogrammed industrialization accelerate the consumption of available water resources. However, drought, as a result of climate change, poses a threat to water resources. Factors such as the exhaustibility of water resources, rapid population growth, unscheduled industrialization and drought increase the tendency towards alternative water resources. Rainwater harvesting is based on the principle of using the rainwater falling into the regions after it is stored. Water collected through rain harvesting can be utilized in many different areas, such as agricultural irrigation, landscape irrigation and domestic use. Among agricultural activities, the idea of water harvesting in greenhouse areas comes to the fore. Due to the gutters on the greenhouse roofs, water can be stored. In Antalya, which has about half of the greenhouses in Turkey, the amount of water in the rain harvest that can be obtained in greenhouses is 224,992,795.8 m3 per year. Monthly calculations throughout the year showed that the minimum water can be harvested in August (938,447.53 m3) and the maximum (54,771,210 m3) in December. Therefore, it is thought that some plant water consumption can be met by building sufficient storage in areas close to the greenhouse.
Journal Article
Harnessing Subsurface Flow at the Soil‐Bedrock Interface as a Hidden Water Resource for Rainwater Harvesting: Insights From Long‐Term Hydrological Monitoring on a Humid Karst Hillslope
Rainwater harvesting (RWH) systems are crucial for mitigating water scarcity in karst landscapes; however, their efficiency remains low even in high‐rainfall areas due to rapid infiltration and limited surface water retention. This study explores the potential of subsurface flow (SSF) at the soil‐bedrock interface as an underutilized water resource to enhance the efficiency of traditional surface flow (SF)‐based RWH systems. Over three hydrological years (2019–2022), we monitored 12 experimental plots on a humid karst hillslope across 159 rainfall events, comparing SSF and SF contributions to total runoff and their implications for RWH efficiency. Our results show that SSF significantly outperforms SF, especially during the rainy seasons. Incorporating SSF into RWH systems increased water collection efficiency from 2.2% in traditional SF‐based systems to 13.1%. Key structural factors influencing SSF generation include soil thickness and bedrock weathering degree, with shallow soils (<50 cm) and weakly weathered bedrock serving as hotspots for SSF. Rainfall intensity and antecedent rainfall events were the key meteorological drivers of SSF. This study highlights the need for SSF‐focused RWH designs in karst landscapes, offering a practical solution to enhance water availability where conventional cisterns fail. The findings have broader implications for water resource management in similar geological settings.
Journal Article
Sustainable Smart Irrigation System (SIS) using solar PV with rainwater harvesting technique for indoor plants
The project aims to develop a sustainable smart irrigation system (SIS) for the indoor plant irrigation by integrating photovoltaic (PV), internet of things (IoT), and rainwater harvesting techniques. The addressed problem involves the inconsistency and tediousness of manual watering, emphasizing the need for a sustainable design for a SIS. The IoT system consists of soil moisture sensor with GSM module powered by PV and an algorithm was developed to adjust irrigation schedules based on soil moisture data. The objectives of this project are to design and optimize the PV-powered irrigation system and implement an Arduino-enabled automatic system with SMS-triggered functionality. The methodology involves system modelling for water requirements and sizing of PV, battery, pump, and MPPT based on the load demand. The rainwater harvesting structure designed ensures water sustainability for plants’ irrigation. The system is then implemented using moisture and ultrasonic sensors managed by Arduino Uno embedded system. The electrical performance of the PV was analyzed on both cloudy and moderately luminous days, with irradiance ranging from 250.4 to 667.8 and 285.5 to 928 W/m 2 , respectively. The average output voltage and current of the battery were observed to be 13.04 V and 0.37 A (cloudy), and 13.45 V and 0.47 A (moderate) days, respectively. The rainwater collection test revealed more than 36 L in the tank after one week, indicating it could sustain watering the three plants for 72 days. Based on the analysis, the project can save 14.97 kgCO 2 emissions per year compared to the current emissions released into the environment. The overall cost of the system is approximately RM670 (US$139.50). The SIS aligns with SDG 7, promoting affordable and integrates with 12 th Malaysia Plan for more efficient and environmentally friendly agricultural and water management practices.
Journal Article
Water savings and urban storm water management: Evaluation of the potentiality of rainwater harvesting systems from the building to the city scale
The main potential benefits of rainwater harvesting, namely water saving and storm water management, are easily evaluable at a building scale when well-known behavioral models are used. However, the evaluation is often more complex at an urban scale, due to a lack of building characteristics and demographic data. In the present paper, we propose a method, which is based on the representative building concept that can be used to quantify the potential benefits of rainwater harvesting at different scales, that is, from the building scale to the district and city scales. Particular attention has been paid to the sizing of the system so that it can be used for different rainwater collection purposes. The method has been applied to the city of Turin (Italy) considering different scenarios: 1) domestic use (e.g., toilet flushing and the washing machine), where buildings are independent of each other, and 2) two public uses (the irrigation of public green areas and street washing), for which we have hypothesized that the rainwater collection takes place at a district scale. The non-potable water saving for domestic use varies across the city from 29% to 62%, according to the characteristics of the buildings, while the reduction of the flow peak conveyed to the sewerage system, during extreme storms, is quite constant (in the 57–67% range). Irrigation and street washing require a lower amount of water, thus about 80% of water can be saved, but the retention efficiency is low, and a slight reduction in the flow peaks can be expected. The aim of the methodology presented in this work is to provide a suitable decision-making tool for policy makers and urban planners to evaluate the capability and efficiency of rainwater harvesting systems for buildings, districts, and cities.
Journal Article
Method of Calculation the Efficiency and Economic Viability of Rainwater Harvesting Systems
Purpose: study the methodology for designing a rainwater harvesting system and evaluate its technical and economic viability for supplying water for washing vehicles in the garage of the State University of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Maracanã campus. Theoretical framework: water supply in urban areas faces complex challenges, due to changes in minimum flows, pollution of water sources, demand growth, variability and uncertainties in the rainfall regime. Rainwater harvesting systems have become an alternative to supply non-potable demand, reducing the need for consumption by the public supply system. Method: evaluation of rainfall in the region of Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro, to meet the demand for water for washing vehicles through a rainwater harvesting system. The calculations of the catchment area and volume of the reservoirs used data, with a historical series between 2009 and 2018, statistical adjustment of the Gumbel frequency distribution and a ten-year recurrence period. Results and conclusion: An average percentage of 61 to 75% of demand was met, depending on rainfall variations and the capacity of the reservoir adopted. Average monthly savings of between US $ 200 and US$300 were found, corresponding to a period of 4 to 24 months for cushioning investments in the implementation of the system. Research implications: The research contributes with data that reinforce the importance and efficiency of correctly sized systems, as an alternative source to meet non-potable demands. Originality/value: the article presents a specific methodology for sizing the main elements in a system (catchment area and reservoir volume) and configures excellent technical and economic viability in the proposed use.
Journal Article
Optimizing Investments in Alternative Water Infrastructure for Urban Food Production in Water Stressed Cities
Urban agriculture has significant potential to address food security and nutritional challenges in cities. However, water access for urban food production poses a major challenge in the face of climate change and growing global freshwater scarcity, particularly in arid and semi‐arid areas. To support sustainable urban food production, this study focuses on a hybrid urban water system that integrates two important alternative water resources: a decentralized system of rainwater harvesting (RWH) and a centralized reclaimed water system. A new spatial optimization model is developed to identify the best investment strategy for deploying these two alternative water infrastructures to expand urban food production. The model is applied to the case study in Tucson, Arizona, a semi‐arid city in U.S. Southwest, to address food deserts in the region. Results show that 72%–96% of the investment is allocated to rainwater tanks deployment across all investment scenarios, with the proportion of investment in rainwater harvesting increasing as total investment rises. However, rainwater contributes only about 18%–27% of the total food production. The results of our case study indicate that expanding the reclaimed water network is more effective for urban food production and is also more cost‐efficient compared to implementing rainwater tanks. The new model can be applied to other regions, taking into account factors such as crop types, climate, soil conditions, infrastructure configurations, costs, and other site‐specific variables. The study provides valuable insights for planning urban water systems that incorporate alternative water sources under different investment scenarios. Key Points A hybrid urban water system involving decentralized system of rainwater harvesting and centralized system of reclaimed water is optimized A new spatial optimization model is developed for optimally deploying two alternative water infrastructures to expand urban food production Expanding reclaimed water network is more cost efficient than applying rainwater harvesting for food production in a semi‐arid city, Tucson
Journal Article