A preliminary sustainability assessment of innovative rainwater harvesting for residential properties in the UK

Melville-Shreeve, Peter; Ward, Sarah; Butler, David

Abstract

Rainwater harvesting (RWH) has yet to see significant uptake in UK households, primarily due to a lack of innovation in residential RWH system types. This paper presents the results of preliminary investigations into a range of traditional and innovative residential-scale RWH systems. These systems are examined using a patent application search, informal interviews with industry professionals, cost-benefit analysis and a simple multi criteria analysis (MCA). The latter examines the sustainability of the systems, based on a priori social, economic and environmental criteria. Two of the innovative systems are subject to a more detailed analysis and benchmarked against a traditional system. Results of the MCA indicate that the innovative RWH systems achieve better sustainability scores than the traditional RWH with a lower capital cost. Further research is focused on monitoring the identified systems to generate empirical datasets, in order to undertake the WLC/LCAs and to identify challenges associated with installation. © Copyright.

Citation

Melville-Shreeve, P., Ward, S., & Butler, D. (2014). A preliminary sustainability assessment of innovative rainwater harvesting for residential properties in the UK. https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1003-7985.2014.02.001

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jun 6, 2019
• Online Publication Date: Aug 9, 2014
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2014
• Deposit Date: Nov 2, 2018
• Journal: Journal of Southeast University (English Edition)
• Print ISSN: 1003-7985
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 30
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 135-142
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1003-7985.2014.02.001
• Keywords: innovation, multi criteria analysis, rainwater harvesting, residential, sustainability, water efficiency
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/815829
• Publisher URL: http://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1003-7985.2014.02.001