| Popis: |
In the light of water shortages, frequently affecting many regions worldwide, domestic rainwater harvesting and greywater reuse systems represent an alternative source to provide non-potable water in buildings, reducing the water demand from mains water supply systems. This study fits this framework providing a methodology, based on a hydraulic/hydrological model developed by means of the EPA’s Storm Water Management Model, which allow optimizing the system design by giving the opportunity to the user to consider different catchments surfaces (impervious, gravel and green roofs), plant's configurations, user’s habits, water end-uses, and climate conditions. The model has used to model a residential building, located in the city of Bologna (Italy), and equipped with a hybrid greywater/rainwater system. Continuous simulations were performed with 13 years daily rainfall data, and the long-term performance of different system combinations were evaluated. The case study showed a non-potable water saving efficiency of 75.86%, which accounts by 26.71% mains water withdrawal. The final goal of this paper is those of presenting the hydrological/hydraulic model that has been used as engine of a calculator tool for sizing and planning hybrid rainwater/greywater systems. |
