Water conservation through rainwater harvesting using different building forms in different climatic regions

Abstract

Rainwater harvesting on buildings is directly related with water collection surfaces and thus with the building form. In this study, the amount of rainwater obtained using different building forms in different climatic regions were analysed comparatively. Two scenarios were used in this study.In the first scenario, 2 different public housing developments with different building forms and roof styles but with same occupant numbers and same site area in Bursa in the temperate-humid climate region and Diyarbakir in the hot-dry climate region were evaluated in relation to rainwater collection and water conservation. In the second scenario, a typical project developed by TOKİ for the temperate climate region was also applied to the hot-dry climatic region and the amount of collected rainwater was evaluated taking into account also the characteristics of climatic region.The study found that in the first scenario 18% and 7%, and in the second scenario 13% and 5% of annual water consumption only in toilet flushing and bathrooms respectively (toilet flushing, sinks and bathtubs) was met by collected rainwater in Development 1. These values were 34% and 13% respectively for Development 2.