Rainwater Innovation Project/Revisión bibliográfica/en
Resumed projects
- Basnett, K. & Bourgeois, C. (2013). Rainwater Catchment J Gnarly . Retrieved from Appropedia: https://www.appropedia.org/Rainwater Catchment J Gnarly
Literature review
Given the geographic location of El Salvador, constant rains in some months of the year are not usually a surprise for its inhabitants. Various families throughout the country can be affected by heavy rains, causing damage to their homes or communities through flooding. The literature allows us to know that rainwater collection or harvesting systems can reduce the damage caused by weather conditions. A project developed in Melbourne, Australia, allowed us to discover the importance of reviewing other factors, such as the depth of the soil in which the containers or tanks that will receive the rain are located (Jamali, 2020) and thus avoid further damage from rain, and instead obtain benefits. Other projects in Havana, Cuba, also show the development of the technology of rainwater collection systems, reaching residential buildings, being a methodology used for a long time, but which seeks to adapt to the new conditions required by the current situation (Hugues & Fresquet, 2020). It is possible to find evidence of the use of rainwater harvesting methods dating back thousands of years, found on different continents, with frequent use for domestic or agricultural activities, both in urban and rural areas (Hugues, 2019).
Based on the information provided by the Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environmental Studies of Colombia, regarding the exposure of various urban areas to water supply problems or damage from rain, the methodology for implementing rainwater harvesting systems depends on certain specific factors, including the needs of the community, available resources, environmental conditions, cultural practices and legislation. The use of rainwater harvesting technologies allows for rational use of water and resources, also allowing profitability for their use by various communities (Suárez, Galarza & Ortiz, 2006).
The literature discusses the existence of various objectives to be achieved with projects related to rainwater harvesting. These include: achieving acceptance and active participation of the population, as well as disseminating the benefits of the project in search of greater equity with respect to access to water services, as well as the optimal use of natural resources. In particular, the objective of overcoming the prejudice that the system is a waste of time or money, and that it is rather a long-term investment, is highlighted (Adler, Carmona & Bojalil, 2008).
Some authors point out the benefits that rainwater harvesting projects can have in the summer period, being able to use the wastewater found in the tanks. Winter periods and high amounts of rain allow water to be collected for domestic use (Downey, 2010). Both in the study by Downey and in that of Loera-Alvarado et al. (2019), it is mentioned that through these rainwater harvesting processes it is possible to obtain quality results in the water, but factors ranging from climatic conditions to the dirt that may exist in the water harvesting area influence this; this being of vital importance when using rainwater to irrigate gardens or crops.
Given the multiple benefits that can be observed throughout the theory, it is possible to observe development in the face of projects that involve more than one home, such as a community (López, Cavazos & Herrera, 2016) or residential buildings. Looking to the future, it is worth highlighting the constant evaluation of climate change and its impact on the amount of rain that can be collected for domestic use (Mahmudul, Rahman, Samali, 2016), as well as urbanization processes and the acceptance of the idea of using rainwater for domestic tasks. Without a doubt, the historical importance of rainwater harvesting processes, the evolution they have had, and the multiple benefits they offer to families in need of this resource, water, as well as those population groups that may be affected by rain or seek to reduce their consumption of drinking water, demonstrate the relevance of the generation of these projects, which have been successfully developed in various parts of the world.
- Jamali, B. (2020). Water research. ScienceDirect . (171). Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0043135419311467
- Hugues, R. & Fresquet, A. (2020). Characterization of rainwater harvesting for housing typologies. Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering, 41 (1), 100-114. Retrieved from http://scielo.sld.cu/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1680-03382020000100100
- Suárez, J., Galarza, M., Ortiz, R. (2006). History of rainwater harvesting systems. Ibero-American Seminar on Urban Water Supply Systems João Pessoa . Retrieved from http://www.lenhs.ct.ufpb.br/html/downloads/serea/6serea/TRABALHOS/trabalhoH.pdf
- Hugues, R. (2019). Rainwater harvesting as a solution in the past and present. Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering, 40 (2): 125-139. Retrieved from http://scielo.sld.cu/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1680-03382019000200125
- Adler, I., Carmona, G. & Bojalil, J. (2008). Rainwater harvesting manual for urban centres. Retrieved from http://sistemamid.com/panel/uploads/biblioteca/2014-07-09_06-51-41106740.pdf
- Downey, N. (2010) Harvest the rain: how to enrich your life by seeing every storm as a resource . Santa Fe, NM: Sunstone Press. Retrieved from https://books.google.com.sv/books?id=TWb2DwAAQBAJ&lpg=PA9&dq=Downey%2C%20Nate.%20Harvest%20the%20rain%3A%20how%20to%20enrich%20your%20life%20by%20seeing %20every%20storm%20as%20a%20resource.%20Santa%20Fe%2C%20N.M.%3A%20Sunst one%20Press%2C%202010.&pg=PA9#v=onepage&q=Downey,%20Nate.%20Harvest%20the%20rain:%20how%20to%20enrich%20your%20life%20by%20seeing%20every%20storm%20as%20a %20resource.%20Santa%20Fe,%20N.M.:%20Sunstone%20Press,%202010.&f=false
- Loera-Alvarado, L., Torres-Aquino, M., Martínez-Montoya, J., Cisneros-Almazán, R., & Martínez-Hernández, J. (2019). Quality of runoff water for agricultural use captured in storage reservoirs. Agricultural Ecosystems and Resources 6 (17): 283-295. Available at: http://www.scielo.org.mx/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S2007-90282019000200283&lng=es
- López, S., Cavazos, R. & Herrera, J. (2016). Evaluation of a rainwater harvesting system in the metropolitan area of Monterrey, for its use as an alternative means. Engineering. 20 (1): 1-13. Retrieved from https://www.redalyc.org/pdf/467/46750927001.pdf
- Mahmudul Haque, M., Rahman, A. & Samali, B. (2016) Evaluation of climate change impacts on rainwater harvesting, Journal of Cleaner Production 137 , 60-69. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S095965261630926X
The following Appropedia project was also read:
- Joe (2009) CCAT rainwater catchment system . Retrieved from Appropedia: https://www.appropedia.org/CCAT rainwater catchment system
