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Environmental analysis of rainwater harvesting infrastructures in diffuse and compact urban models of Mediterranean climate

  • WATER USE IN LCA
  • Published:
The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

At present, many urban areas in Mediterranean climates are coping with water scarcity, facing a growing water demand and a limited conventional water supply. Urban design and planning has so far largely neglected the benefits of rainwater harvesting (RWH) in the context of a sustainable management of this resource. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to identify the most environmentally friendly strategy for rainwater utilization in Mediterranean urban environments of different densities.

Materials and methods

The RWH systems modeled integrate the necessary infrastructures for harvesting and using rainwater in newly constructed residential areas. Eight scenarios were defined in terms of diffuse (D) and compact (C) urban models and the tank locations ((1) underground tank, (2) below-roof tank, (3) distributed-over-roof tank, and (4) block tank). The structural and hydraulic sizing of the catchment, storage, and distribution subsystems was taken into account using an average Mediterranean rainfall, the area of the harvesting surfaces, and a constant water demand for laundry. The quantification of environmental impacts was performed through a life cycle assessment, using CML 2001 Baseline method. The necessary materials and processes were considered in each scenario according to the lifecycle stages (i.e., materials, construction, transportation, use, and deconstruction) and subsystems.

Results and discussion

The environmental characterization indicated that the best scenario in both urban models is the distributed-over-roof tank (D3, C3), which provided a reduction in impacts compared to the worst scenario of up to 73% in diffuse models and even higher in compact ones, 92% in the most dramatic case. The lower impacts are related to the better distribution of tank weight on the building, reducing the reinforcement requirements, and enabling energy savings. The storage subsystem and the materials stage contributed most significantly to the impacts in both urban models. In the compact density model, the underground-tank scenario (C1) presented the largest impacts in most categories due to its higher energy consumption. Additionally, more favorable environmental results were observed in compact densities than in diffuse ones for the Global Warming Potential category along with higher water efficiencies.

Conclusions

The implementation of one particular RWH scenario over another is not irrelevant in drought-stress environments. Selecting the most favorable scenario in the development of newly constructed residential areas provides significant savings in CO2 emissions in comparison with retrofit strategies. Therefore, urban planning should consider the design of RWH infrastructures using environmental criteria in addition to economic, social, and technological factors, adjusting the design to the potential uses for which the rainwater is intended.

Recommendations and perspectives

Additional research is needed to quantify the energy savings associated with the insulation caused by using the tank distributed over the roof. The integration of the economic and social aspects of these infrastructures in the analysis, from a life cycle approach, is necessary for targeting the planning and design of more sustainable cities in an integrated way.

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Acknowledgments

Part of this research has been performed within the framework of the project PluviSost “Análisis ambiental del aprovechamiento de las aguas pluviales urbanas” (ref. CTM2010-17365), with the financial support of the Ministry of Science and Innovation (Government of Spain). The authors are also grateful for the support of the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science (National Plan): BIA2010-20789-C04-01.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Sostenipra (ICTA-IRTA-Inèdit), Institute of Environmental Science and Technology (ICTA), School of Engineering (EE), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Campus of the UAB, 08193 Bellaterra (Cerdanyola del Vallès), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain

    Sara Angrill, Ramon Farreny, Carles M. Gasol, Xavier Gabarrell & Joan Rieradevall

  2. Research Park of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Inèdit Innovació SL, Road to Cabrils km 2, 08348 Cabrils, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain

    Ramon Farreny & Carles M. Gasol

  3. Department of Chemical Engineering, Biotechnology Network Reference (XRB), School of Engineering (EE), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), Campus of the UAB, 08193 Bellaterra (Cerdanyola del Vallès), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain

    Xavier Gabarrell & Joan Rieradevall

  4. Department of Geotechnical Engineering and Geosciences, School of Civil Engineering (ETSECCPB), Technical University of Catalonia—Barcelona Tech (UPC), Campus Nord, C/ Jordi Girona 1-3, Building D2, 08034, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain

    Bernat Viñolas & Alejandro Josa

  5. Institute of Sustainability (IS.UPC), Technical University of Catalonia—Barcelona Tech, UPC, Campus Nord, Building VX. Pl. Eusebi Güell, 6, 08034, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain

    Alejandro Josa

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  1. Sara Angrill
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  2. Ramon Farreny
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  3. Carles M. Gasol
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  4. Xavier Gabarrell
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Correspondence to Sara Angrill.

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Angrill, S., Farreny, R., Gasol, C.M. et al. Environmental analysis of rainwater harvesting infrastructures in diffuse and compact urban models of Mediterranean climate. Int J Life Cycle Assess 17, 25–42 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11367-011-0330-6

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