Abstract
The advantages that the rooftop rainwater harvesting system has as a source of water supply have been examined. The observed daily rainfall records of 10 years and the current total roof area of the facilities at Mbeya University of Science and Technology as the catchment area were used. Using a water balance model to determine the suitable water use that will cover 100% of the time, the model indicated that for the current roof area a water supply of 120 lts per day can be met when a storage tank whose capacity is 13.5 m3 is installed. When values higher that 120 l/day are simulated a tank of higher capacity is required to meet the water demand. The study recommends on the necessity of installing rooftop rainwater harvesting system so as to increase the water supply reliability and reduction of cost. The selection of a suitable storage tank capacity should take into consideration the future development plans so as to reduce the construction cost of new storage tank.
Highlights
In areas where the water supply systems are functioning, majority of the existing buildings and other facilities as well as the development plans have been observed to place less emphasis on the incorporation of rooftop rainwater harvesting systems (RRWHS)
A study done at the University of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania indicated that the communities raised objections on the taste of the harvest rainwater [8]
Chiu et al [9] found that the harvested water has the potential to ease water shortage problems. In addition to it being a source of water, rainwater harvesting practices when implemented on the upstream a catchment; it substantially reduces the frequency and the size of the peak flows that have the potential to cause flooding downstream. It is against this background that this study attempts to determine the potential yield of the total rooftop area of the buildings at Mbeya University of Science and Technology (MUST) in Tanzania
Summary
In areas where the water supply systems are functioning, majority of the existing buildings and other facilities as well as the development plans have been observed to place less emphasis on the incorporation of rooftop rainwater harvesting systems (RRWHS). Chiu et al [9] found that the harvested water has the potential to ease water shortage problems In addition to it being a source of water, rainwater harvesting practices when implemented on the upstream a catchment; it substantially reduces the frequency and the size of the peak flows that have the potential to cause flooding downstream. It is against this background that this study attempts to determine the potential yield of the total rooftop area of the buildings at Mbeya University of Science and Technology (MUST) in Tanzania
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