Generalized Storage–Yield–Reliability Relationships for Analysing Shopping Centre Rainwater Harvesting Systems

John Ndiritu,Mondli Guliwe,Yashiren Moodley

doi:10.3390/w9100771

John Ndiritu, Mondli Guliwe + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/w9100771

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Abstract

The objective of this study was to develop guidelines for analysing rainwater harvesting (RWH) systems of shopping centres in South Africa. A model consisting of three dimensionless relationships relating rainwater supply and demand to storage capacity, yield and reliability was formulated. Data from daily simulation of potential RWH systems of 19 shopping were used to obtain the relationships. The simulations revealed within-year storage behaviour with considerable variation of annual yield. By applying the Weibull plotting position formula, yield–reliability relationships were derived. The aim to maximize yield and reliability whilst minimizing storage identified Pareto-optimal combinations of the three variables and these combinations were used to develop two dimensionless relationships. An additional relationship based on the dependence of the slope of the yield–reliability plots on yield was formulated to enable analysis of hydrologically non-optimal systems. Verification tests using four RWH systems obtained results that matched those from simulation and the model could therefore be applied for RWH feasibility analysis and preliminary design. This study highlights the need to incorporate inter-annual variability in RWH analysis and shows how reliability can be used to quantify this. This study further demonstrates how reliability can be fully integrated into regression relationships for generalized RWH analysis.

Highlights

The escalating global demand on finite water resources is of great concern [1] and is likely to constrain future economic growth and development [2]
rainwater harvesting (RWH) life cycle cost analyses (LCCA) sometimes obtain long payback periods [6,7,8], water supply is subsided in many regions of the world [9,10,11] and the tariffs used in RWH
Rebates are provided in some cities for installation of rainwater harvesting systems [6] indicating that RWH systems are valuable water sources

Summary

Introduction

The escalating global demand on finite water resources is of great concern [1] and is likely to constrain future economic growth and development [2]. With large population growth and imprudent water use habits, there is an ever-increasing demand for water in urban areas [4] and rainwater harvesting (RWH) could significantly complement centralized urban water supply [5]. RWH life cycle cost analyses (LCCA) sometimes obtain long payback periods [6,7,8], water supply is subsided in many regions of the world [9,10,11] and the tariffs used in RWH. LCCA are likely to be lower than the actual costs of centralized water supply. Rebates are provided in some cities for installation of rainwater harvesting systems [6] indicating that RWH systems are valuable water sources. RWH systems provide other benefits such as stormwater attenuation [12]

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