Urban rainwater harvesting systems: Research, implementation and future perspectives

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Water Resource Management
• Sustainable Engineering

Background:

• Rainwater harvesting (RWH) is an ancient practice with variable modern implementation.
• Current RWH systems often fail to maximize potential benefits due to limited scope.
• Economic constraints and local regulations significantly influence RWH system adoption and technology choice.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the state of the art in practical, theoretical, and social aspects of RWH globally.
• To identify avenues for future research in rainwater harvesting.
• To highlight the need for multi-objective considerations in RWH system design and recommendations.

Main Methods:

• Global review of pertinent practical, theoretical, and social aspects of RWH.
• Analysis of factors influencing RWH system implementation and technology selection.
• Identification of current limitations and future research priorities.

Main Results:

• RWH system implementation and technology selection are heavily influenced by economic factors and local regulations.
• Existing RWH design protocols often prioritize water conservation over multiple benefits.
• There is a need for improved modeling that accounts for multiple RWH objectives.

Conclusions:

• Future RWH research should prioritize empirical data for multi-objective system modeling.
• Investigating maintenance impacts on water quality is crucial for user confidence.
• Understanding socio-political support mechanisms is key to enhancing RWH efficacy and community acceptance.