AI Article Synopsis
- Water scarcity is a significant issue globally, with retail water use accounting for up to 19% of public water supplies.
- A study in southern Portugal examined the feasibility of rainwater harvesting systems for a retail store, analyzing water consumption from 2018 to 2021 and rainfall data from 1932 to 2008.
- Results indicated that a properly configured rainwater harvesting system could save 32-36% of water usage, translating to financial savings of €330-372 monthly, highlighting the potential for such systems in retail to reduce water footprints.
Article Abstract
Water is a crucial resource for life, and it is increasingly scarce in many regions of the globe. In addition, retail water use is responsible for up to 19% of public water globally supplied. Hence, this study has set out to explore the technical and economic feasibility of rainwater harvesting systems as an alternative water source for a retail store located in southern Portugal. Water consumption data from 2018 to 2021 was collected from water bills, placing average monthly water consumption at around 400 m. Next, rainfall data was collected from the nearest meteorological station, comprising 54 years of daily rainfall data between 1932 and 2008 with an annual average of 685 mm. The simulation of a rainwater harvesting system was performed, resorting to the mass-balance model. The optimal tank size was found to be 100 m considering simply the relation with the relative water savings variation on the graph relating the water savings with the tank size. Results show that the simulated rainwater harvesting system would allow saving 32-36% of the water consumed, despite the store's location in a dry climate, representing a financial gain of €330-372 per month. Findings suggest a substantial potential for the technical and economic feasibility of rainwater systems in retail stores, which makes them relevant solutions to achieve important water-savings in the retail sector, thus positively influencing retailers' direct water footprint.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10067673 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-25137-y | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
A new approach on design and verification of integrated sustainable urban drainage systems for stormwater management in urban areas.
J Environ Manage
January 2025
Politecnico di Milano, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Italy. Electronic address:
Stormwater runoff control is often a concern due to urbanization and extreme rainfall events. Sustainable urban drainage systems can support traditional hydraulic networks in rainwater management by providing local runoff disposal and reuse of collected stormwater. The objective of the study is based on an innovative analytical-probabilistic approach for evaluating the functioning of rainwater tanks in stormwater management with the potential for using collected water for non-potable purposes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSimple and effective filtration system for drinking water production from harvested rainwater in rural areas.
J Environ Manage
January 2025
School of Engineering, Design and Built Environment, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW, 2751, Australia.
Rainwater harvesting (RWH) for drinking water production has been a potential solution to mitigate water scarcity in rural areas. There was limited research focusing on the quality of treated rainwater. This study developed and tested the quality of a drinking water filtration system (DWFS) for treating harvested rainwater to support rural communities.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnhancing rainwater harvesting efficiency in karst terrains: The role of road intercepted soil-epikarst lateral flow.
J Environ Manage
December 2024
Key Laboratory of Agro-ecological Processes in Subtropical Region, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha 410125, China; Guangxi Key Laboratory of Karst Ecological Processes and Services, Huanjiang Observation and Research Station of Karst Ecosystems, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Huanjiang 547100, Guangxi, China. Electronic address:
In karst landscapes, where sustainable water management is increasingly challenged by drought-induced water scarcity, the adoption of road-based rainwater harvesting (RBWH) systems has emerged as a promising solution for improving water accessibility. Despite the growing implementation of such systems, the effectiveness of many RBWH projects in karst terrains remains suboptimal due to an inadequate understanding of runoff generation mechanisms associated with hilly road networks. This study focuses on quantifying the contributions of intercepted surface runoff (SR) and soil-epikarst lateral flow (SEF) from a newly exposed road-cut slope in a dolomite hillslope, with data collected across 156 rainfall events from May 2019 to May 2022.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurification of harvested rainwater using gravity-driven ceramic membrane: A visualization study combining Micro-CT and COMSOL simulations.
J Environ Manage
December 2024
College of Soil and Water Conservation Science and Engineering (Institute of Soil and Water Conservation), Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China; Institute of Soil and Water Conservation, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Ministry of Water Resources, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China; Institute of Water-saving Agriculture in Arid Areas of China, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China.
Rainwater harvesting is a viable solution for providing clean water in regions where conventional water sources are scarce or contaminated. However, the harvested rainwater often contains microorganisms, suspended particles, and other impurities that must be removed before consumption. Gravity-driven ceramic membranes (GDCMs) are an efficient choice for purifying harvested rainwater due to their energy-saving properties.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAdoption determinants and policy tools for residential green stormwater infrastructure: A review synthesizing differences and commonalities among lot-level practices.
J Environ Manage
November 2024
School of Planning, University of Waterloo, 200 University Ave. West, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada. Electronic address:
Climate change adaptation in intensifying urban environments benefit from green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) investments on private residential yards. Nevertheless, planners are challenged to devise policy tools to mesh such a decentralized GSI approach with current land-use and social systems. Prior research has addressed the multi-scalar socio-economic barriers hindering household uptake, including technical and governance considerations.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWant AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!