Abstract
It has become evident that, during this century, climate change will continue, affecting all regions of the planet. The expected impacts over the next few decades may differ from region to region, with some areas becoming humid and others drier. In regions such as the Mediterranean basin, the main expected impacts of climate change will be prolonged droughts and an increase in the intensity and frequency of heavy rains. Measures of mitigation and adaptation are particularly important in urban environments, where more than half of the population lives, and rainwater harvesting systems (RWHS) are considered to be a very suitable solution to these problems. However, the published studies have mainly focussed on buildings, with very limited references to the interest of its application in large urban infrastructure. Based on consumption and precipitation data, this article presents a study on the implementation of an RWHS in a large-scale sports infrastructure located in the city of Cascais (Portugal) intended for the practice of tennis, with 12 brick dust fields, some of them covered. The average annual consumption of potable water for watering the tennis courts is 5500 m3, and the results show that the RWHS can reduce this consumption by >50%, in addition to other expected benefits, such as the known effect of these systems in reducing flood peaks in the area.
Highlights
It has become evident that, during this century, climate change will continue, with an extent that will depend on the emission mitigation policies that are implemented [1]
Cost (€) 15,000 70,000 8000 12,000 105,000. It was not the intention of this article to study the effect of this rainwater harvesting systems (RWHS) in reducing flood peaks in the area, as they do not represent a serious problem in the city of Cascais at the present, but this additional advantage will undoubtedly exist and will be relevant, as highlighted in several scientific publications on the effects of RWHS in urban environments [35–42]
In some parts of the world, such as the Mediterranean basin, where the likely effects of climate change will be prolonged droughts and extreme precipitation events, RWHS in buildings seem to be an adaptation measure of great interest in urban environments because they provide a simultaneous response to these two situations
Summary
It has become evident that, during this century, climate change will continue, with an extent that will depend on the emission mitigation policies that are implemented [1]. Official forecasts indicate that, in the period of 2040–2070, an average annual temperature increase of 2–3 ◦C and an annual precipitation decrease of 20–25% may occur in Portugal, despite the incidence of more frequent and extreme precipitation events, implying greater risks of flooding Under these conditions, the use of RWHS in Portugal is an adaptative measure of great interest because it addresses both problems. The studies carried out have focussed essentially on stadiums, without any known application in large infrastructure dedicated to tennis, such as in the present case study It should be2n.oMteadtetrhiaaltsPaonrdtuMgeatlhiosdasMediterranean country which, according to forecasts, will be one2o.1f .thGeenmeroasl tAasfpfeecctsted by climate change and will suffer prolonged droughts, and exTtrheemEeTCraiisnifnatlelrenvaetinotnsa. Technical Specification ETA 0701 [29] adopted in Portugal for the design, dimensioning, construction, and maintenance of these systems
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