scholarly journals Reduction of Potable Water Consumption and Sewage Generation on a City Scale: A Case Study in Brazil

Water ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 2351 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cureau ◽  
Ghisi

This article aims to estimate the reduction of potable water consumption and sewage generation in the city of Joinville, southern Brazil. Four strategies were considered to promote potable water savings: replacement of conventional toilets with dual-flush ones, greywater reuse, rainwater harvesting, and the combination of these three strategies. Residential, public, and commercial sectors were assessed. The potential for potable water savings ranged from 1.7% to 50.5%, and the potential for sewage generation reduction ranged from 2.1% to 52.1%. The single-family residential sector was the most representative for water savings and sewage generation reduction. The public sector would be the least contributor to such reductions. It was found that in the city of Joinville, for low non-potable water demands, greywater reuse was the most viable strategy to save water. When non-potable demand is high and there is a large catchment area, it is recommended to install rainwater harvesting systems. It was concluded that there is a high potential for potable water savings and reduction of sewage generation if measures were adopted in Joinville, but it is necessary to evaluate which strategy is the most appropriate for each building.

2018 ◽  
Vol 45 ◽  
pp. 00078
Author(s):  
Grażyna Sakson

Rainwater harvesting is an alternative water supply method that has become popular in recent years around the world. This is mainly due to financial reasons (reducing the cost of potable water and fees for rainwater discharge to the sewerage), but also because of environmental awareness. In Poland, rainwater harvesting systems are not often used because of their low financial viability determined by high system construction costs and the low prices of potable water. Earlier analysis conducted by the author showed that the payback period of investment outlays was from a dozen or so years for large buildings, to a few dozen for single-family houses. This situation may change after the introduction of common fees for discharging rainwater from impervious areas into sewerage, and fees for the reduction of natural retention on newly built-up areas, in accordance with new water regulations. This paper presents a cost analysis of rainwater harvesting systems for ten cities in Poland, with varying annual rainfall depth and various pricing for potable water. Analyses were carried out for a single-family house located in an area equipped with a municipal sewer system, and for a large building, located in an area equipped and not equipped with a municipal sewer system.


2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (14) ◽  
pp. 13-21
Author(s):  
Giovana Cristina Buso Weiller ◽  
Latiara Remigio Dos Santos

O artigo faz parte de um projeto de pesquisa subsidiado pela Funadesp[1], o qual busca viabilizar a implantação de sistema de aproveitamento de água pluvial para fins não potáveis em Instituições de Ensino. O trabalho busca conhecer o perfil de consumo final de água em uma Instituição Pública de Ensino na cidade de Londrina, cujo projeto padrão foi implantado em diversas cidades paranaenses. Foram realizados levantamentos de dados junto aos usuários da instituição no ano de 2018, através de entrevistas por amostragem e observações in loco; identificação dos pontos de utilização de água; análise de histórico de faturas de consumos; e medição de vazão dos equipamentos hidráulicos existentes. Após a análise e correção dos dados se constatou um consumo de água de 6,03 litros/pessoa/dia, dos quais 66,25% são utilizados para fins não potáveis, indicando um extenso campo de atuação de projetos de reuso/reaproveitamento de água para essa finalidade. Dessa forma, espera-se contribuir para o projeto piloto em parceria com os órgãos públicos, dando continuidade ao estudo de viabilidade para implantação de sistema de aproveitamento de água pluvial para usos não potáveis, através da substituição da água destinada às descargas das bacias sanitárias dos alunos, as quais representaram 54,14% do consumo total da instituição; além de estimular campanhas de utilização consciente desse recurso hídrico na comunidade.   Palavras-chave: Consumo de Água. Perfil de Uso. Água Potável e Não-Potável.   Abstract The article is part of a research project subsidized by Funadesp, which seeks to make feasible the implementation of a rainwater harvesting system for non-potable purposes in educational institutions. The paper aims to know the final water consumption profile in a public educational institution in the city of Londrina, whose standard project was implemented in several cities of Paraná. Data were collected from institution users in the year 2018, through interviews by sampling and in loco observations; identification of points of water use; historical analysis of consumption invoices; and flow measurement of existing hydraulic equipment. After the data analysis and correction, it was found out that there were 6.03 liters / person / day water consumption, of which 66.25% is used for non-potable purposes, indicating an extensive operation field reuse / recycling projects for this purpose. Thus, it is expected to contribute to a pilot project in partnership with public bodies, continuing the feasibility study for rainwater utilization system deployment for non-potable uses, by replacing the flush water the students’ toilets, which represented 54.14% of the total consumption of the institution; besides stimulating campaigns of conscious use of this water resource in the community.   Keywords: Water Consumption. Use Profile. Potable Water and Non-Potable Water.  


Water ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 1389 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriele Freni ◽  
Lorena Liuzzo

Rainwater harvesting (RWH) systems have many benefits being an effective alternative water supply solution, not only in arid and semi-arid regions. Also, these systems can be useful in the reduction of flood risk in urban areas. Nevertheless, most of the studies in literature focused on the potential of RWH in reducing water consumption, whereas few examples examined their efficiency in the retention of stormwater in flood-susceptible residential areas. The aim of this work was to investigate the reliability of RWH systems in terms of stormwater retention. Specifically, the performance of RWH tanks to supply water for toilet flushing, in more than 400 single-family houses in a residential area of Sicily (Southern Italy) was analyzed. The area of study was chosen due to its high susceptibility to flooding. A flushing water demand pattern was defined using water consumption data collected during a measurement campaign. The yield-after-spillage algorithm was used to simulate the daily water balance of the RWH tanks. The effect of the RWH implementation on flood volumes in the area of study was quantified using FLO-2D. Results point out that the potential of neighborhood RWH installation in the mitigation of flood risk is highly related to rainfall amount.


Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 930
Author(s):  
Gustavo Rosa ◽  
Enedir Ghisi

This study aimed to evaluate the installation of a system that combines rainwater to wash clothes and greywater to flush toilets in a house located in Florianópolis, southern Brazil. The evaluation consisted of determining the potable water savings, performing a financial analysis, and verifying the possibility of using rainwater and reusing greywater according to the local legislation. The reduction in potable water consumption was determined by comparing the monthly water and sewage bill, before and after installing the system, combining rainwater and greywater. The financial analysis was performed considering the financial benefits, operational costs, costs for installing the system, and local water tariffs. After installing the system, there was a decrease of 38.0% in the monthly potable water consumption, which represents a decrease of 7.00 m3 in the monthly potable water consumption. The payback periods for the old and new water tariffs were equivalent to, respectively, ten years and seven months, and eight years and five months. Both rainwater and greywater had parameters with concentrations higher than the limits established by the legislation. Therefore, the rainwater had to go through a device for discarding the first flush and needed disinfection; and the greywater needed to go through a treatment process. The results indicated that the system combining rainwater and greywater shows significant potential for potable water savings, which can be a good alternative to the preservation of potable water resources. It is important to note that current studies on rainwater use and greywater reuse are mainly related to non-potable purposes, but it was shown herein that rainwater can be used for washing clothes.


2021 ◽  
Vol 147 (10) ◽  
pp. 04021061
Author(s):  
Mary Semaan ◽  
Susan D. Day ◽  
Michael Garvin ◽  
Naren Ramakrishnan ◽  
Annie Pearce

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document