Optimizing rain harvesting for Mediterranean climate

Abstract

Most of the urban landscaped areas are watered with drinking water from the city utility. This represents a waste of energy used to pump the water all the way into urban areas, as well as a waste of chemicals and energy used to purify the water for human consumption. This paper analysis the feasibility of harvesting rainwater over buildings in Mediterranean climate, and storing them, for use in irrigation. The results indicate that a typical house can annually save between 3000 and 11000 l of water through rain harvesting. A simulation model is elaborated that can calculate optimize the relation between catchment area, irrigated area and tank size, based on daily rainfall and evapotranspiration of a five year period.