Assessing the Impacts of Climate Change on Rainwater Harvesting: A Case Study for Eight Australian Capital Cities

Due to climate change, freshwater supply will be limited at many locations around the globe. Rainwater harvesting (RWH) has emerged as an alternative and sustainable freshwater source. In this study, the impacts of climate change on water saving as well as the reliability of a RWH system are investi...

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Main Authors: Preeti Preeti, Khaled Haddad, Ataur Rahman
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-10-01
Series:Water
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/14/19/3123
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author Preeti Preeti
Khaled Haddad
Ataur Rahman
author_facet Preeti Preeti
Khaled Haddad
Ataur Rahman
author_sort Preeti Preeti
collection DOAJ
description Due to climate change, freshwater supply will be limited at many locations around the globe. Rainwater harvesting (RWH) has emerged as an alternative and sustainable freshwater source. In this study, the impacts of climate change on water saving as well as the reliability of a RWH system are investigated using data from eight Australian capital cities. Both historical and projected rainfall data were incorporated into a daily water balance model to evaluate the performance of a RWH system in relation to its reliability, water savings and scarcity. Indoor (toilet and laundry), outdoor (irrigation) and combined (indoor plus outdoor) water demands were considered for a 5 m<sup>3</sup> tank size. It has been found that in the future period, the water savings and reliability of a RWH system will reduce slightly across the selected cities. Different capital cities of Australia will experience different level of performance for a RWH system depending on their locations, water uses and seasons. The findings of this study will be useful to water authorities and policy makers to plan for a sustainable RWH system under changing climate conditions.
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spelling doaj.art-5d05564e0ffb4857b8cfbd9994176c172023-11-23T22:16:07ZengMDPI AGWater2073-44412022-10-011419312310.3390/w14193123Assessing the Impacts of Climate Change on Rainwater Harvesting: A Case Study for Eight Australian Capital CitiesPreeti Preeti0Khaled Haddad1Ataur Rahman2School of Engineering, Design and Built Environment, Western Sydney University, Building XB, Kingswood (Penrith Campus), Locked Bag 1797, Penrith South DC, NSW 1797, AustraliaSchool of Engineering, Design and Built Environment, Western Sydney University, Building XB, Kingswood (Penrith Campus), Locked Bag 1797, Penrith South DC, NSW 1797, AustraliaSchool of Engineering, Design and Built Environment, Western Sydney University, Building XB, Kingswood (Penrith Campus), Locked Bag 1797, Penrith South DC, NSW 1797, AustraliaDue to climate change, freshwater supply will be limited at many locations around the globe. Rainwater harvesting (RWH) has emerged as an alternative and sustainable freshwater source. In this study, the impacts of climate change on water saving as well as the reliability of a RWH system are investigated using data from eight Australian capital cities. Both historical and projected rainfall data were incorporated into a daily water balance model to evaluate the performance of a RWH system in relation to its reliability, water savings and scarcity. Indoor (toilet and laundry), outdoor (irrigation) and combined (indoor plus outdoor) water demands were considered for a 5 m<sup>3</sup> tank size. It has been found that in the future period, the water savings and reliability of a RWH system will reduce slightly across the selected cities. Different capital cities of Australia will experience different level of performance for a RWH system depending on their locations, water uses and seasons. The findings of this study will be useful to water authorities and policy makers to plan for a sustainable RWH system under changing climate conditions.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/14/19/3123climate changerainwaterreliabilitywater harvesting modelwater scarcity
spellingShingle Preeti Preeti
Khaled Haddad
Ataur Rahman
Assessing the Impacts of Climate Change on Rainwater Harvesting: A Case Study for Eight Australian Capital Cities
Water
climate change
rainwater
reliability
water harvesting model
water scarcity
title Assessing the Impacts of Climate Change on Rainwater Harvesting: A Case Study for Eight Australian Capital Cities
title_full Assessing the Impacts of Climate Change on Rainwater Harvesting: A Case Study for Eight Australian Capital Cities
title_fullStr Assessing the Impacts of Climate Change on Rainwater Harvesting: A Case Study for Eight Australian Capital Cities
title_full_unstemmed Assessing the Impacts of Climate Change on Rainwater Harvesting: A Case Study for Eight Australian Capital Cities
title_short Assessing the Impacts of Climate Change on Rainwater Harvesting: A Case Study for Eight Australian Capital Cities
title_sort assessing the impacts of climate change on rainwater harvesting a case study for eight australian capital cities
topic climate change
rainwater
reliability
water harvesting model
water scarcity
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/14/19/3123
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AT khaledhaddad assessingtheimpactsofclimatechangeonrainwaterharvestingacasestudyforeightaustraliancapitalcities
AT ataurrahman assessingtheimpactsofclimatechangeonrainwaterharvestingacasestudyforeightaustraliancapitalcities