A laboratory study into a novel, retrofittable rainwater harvesting system

Melville-Shreeve, P; Horstman, C; Memon, FA; Ward, S; Butler, D

Abstract

Aims: To establish the system characteristics of a novel rainwater harvesting system.

Study Design: A laboratory test rig was used to assess the selected technology.

Place and Duration of Study: University of Exeter, Centre for Water Systems between June 2014 and May 2015.

Methodology: Previous research has identified that systems should have: 1) reduced capital costs, 2) reduced operational costs and 3) increased ease of retrofitting. To investigate the system’s ability to address these requirements, two full-scale laboratory test rigs have been used to assess flow and power consumption characteristics under a range of installation scenarios.

Results: The system was identified to have a mean power consumption of 0.12kWh/m3 during a one hour pump test. Electrical costs were found to increase when the power consumption of the 11W control board was taken into account.

Conclusion: Subject to reduction of the standby power consumption of the controller, the novel RWH system assessed in this study has potential to provide non-potable water supplies to households in the UK at a lower power consumption rate than existing water supply systems identified in the literature.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jan 22, 2016
• Publication Date: Jul 13, 2016
• Deposit Date: Nov 2, 2018
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 2, 2018
• Journal: British Journal of Environment and Climate Change
• Publisher: SCIENCEDOMAIN International
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 6
• Pages: 128-137
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.9734/BJECC/2016/23724
• Keywords: alternative water supply systems, rainwater harvesting, retrofit SuDS, water demand management
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/909786
• Publisher URL: http://doi.org/10.9734/BJECC/2016/23724
• Contract Date: Nov 2, 2018