Reduction of Potable Water Consumption and Sewage Generation on a City Scale: A Case Study in Brazil

Cureau Cureau,Ghisi Ghisi

doi:10.3390/w11112351

Abstract

This article aims to estimate the reduction of potable water consumption and sewage generation in the city of Joinville, southern Brazil. Four strategies were considered to promote potable water savings: replacement of conventional toilets with dual-flush ones, greywater reuse, rainwater harvesting, and the combination of these three strategies. Residential, public, and commercial sectors were assessed. The potential for potable water savings ranged from 1.7% to 50.5%, and the potential for sewage generation reduction ranged from 2.1% to 52.1%. The single-family residential sector was the most representative for water savings and sewage generation reduction. The public sector would be the least contributor to such reductions. It was found that in the city of Joinville, for low non-potable water demands, greywater reuse was the most viable strategy to save water. When non-potable demand is high and there is a large catchment area, it is recommended to install rainwater harvesting systems. It was concluded that there is a high potential for potable water savings and reduction of sewage generation if measures were adopted in Joinville, but it is necessary to evaluate which strategy is the most appropriate for each building.

Highlights

Access to drinking water is a basic need for human development [1]
In In the residential greywater ranged from 15% to 65%, non-potable water demand ranged from 10% to 50%, and toilets water endranged from
15% to 65%, non-potable water demand ranged from 10% to 50%, and toilets water use ranged from 5% to 45%, in intervals of 10%

Summary

Introduction

Access to drinking water is a basic need for human development [1]. population increase and people concentration in certain regions, as well as changes in water consumption patterns, affect the quantity of available water, and this may hinder potable water supply in many parts of the world [2]. Failure to meet the required standards for potable water quality endangers the safety of users and reduces the reliability of public water supply systems [3]. In order to promote potable water savings in buildings, several studies about water-saving plumbing fixtures, greywater reuse, and rainwater harvesting have been carried out [2,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12]. The combination of greywater reuse and rainwater harvesting systems could reduce water consumption by up to 46.3% in a public school [6], 48% in a university campus [8], and 29%

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