Abstract
The behavior of a rainwater harvesting system depends on some variables that cannot be controlled, such as rainfall, building roof size and water consumption. The selection regarding rainwater tank-size will affect the performance of the system and the cost–benefit ratio. The criterion employed for this selection is based on the need for volume-storage and typically, yield large-sized rainwater tanks, especially when the amount of rainwater is higher during rainy seasons. This article presents a methodology for modelling rainwater harvesting, storage, and water consumption, for different configurations of a set of buildings, called clusters, where all buildings collect, store and consume water. This methodology allows for analyzing with different indicators, what is the best recommended configuration and tank-sizing, based on configuration and storage ratio exhibited, thus avoiding the situation of being underutilized. The proposed methodology is applied to a case of study at a university, in Mexico City. In this study case, the dynamics per day is modeled over a year, considering monthly rainfall averages, over 2 groups made up out of 4 buildings with different collecting capabilities and consumption each, allowing for the analysis of 9 cluster configurations and 4 rainwater tank-sizing dimensions. The results are analyzed by means of annual indicators such as: the decrease in the volume used from the public water network, the days of autonomy of the system, and a coefficient \(R\) (which relates the volume spilled to the empty volume). This coefficient is then used selection regarding rainwater tank-sizing and the most recommended cluster configuration.
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GNJ and MGM proposed and coordinated the general methodology of the article, as well as collected the field data regarding the water consumption censuses. MR oversaw calculating the Rainwater Capture Potential. GBBA programmed the calculation algorithms that allowed to determine the Optimal rainwater tank sizing of the different cluster configurations. BQID developed the methodology to conduct water consumption censuses. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
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Highlights
• A new definition: cluster rainwater harvesting system.
• A new method to determine the optimum tank size.
• Different parameters to measure the performance of different cluster configurations and different tank sizes.
• Algorithm to model the performance of different cluster configurations and different tank sizes.
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Gómez Núñez, J., García Martínez, M., Mompremier, R. et al. Methodology to Optimize Rainwater Tank-sizing and Cluster Configuration for a Group of Buildings. Water Resour Manage 36, 5191–5205 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11269-022-03299-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11269-022-03299-7