Ridge-furrow rainwater harvesting (RFRH) planting pattern can lessen the effect of water deficits throughout all crop growth stages, but water shortage would remain unavoidable during some stages of crop growth in a...Ridge-furrow rainwater harvesting (RFRH) planting pattern can lessen the effect of water deficits throughout all crop growth stages, but water shortage would remain unavoidable during some stages of crop growth in arid and semiarid areas. Supplemental irrigation would still be needed to achieve a higher production. Field experiments were conducted for two growing seasons (2012-2013 and 2013-2014)to determine an appropriate amount of supplemental irrigation to be applied to winter oilseed rape at the stem-elongation stage with RFRH planting pattern. Four treatments, including supplemental irrigation amount of 0 (I1), 60 mm (I2) and 120 mm (I3) with RFRH planting pattern and a control (CK) irrigated with 120 mm with flat planting pattern, were set up to evaluate the effects of supplemental irrigation on aboveground dry matter (ADM), nitrogen nutrition index (NNI), radiation use efficiency (RUE), water use efficiency (WUE), and seed yield and oil content of the oilseed rape. Results showed that supplemental irrigation improved NNI, RUE, seed yield and oil content, and WUE. However, the NNI, RUE, seed yield and oil content, and WUE did not increase significantly or even showed a downward trend with excessive irrigation. Seed yield was the highest in 13 for both growing seasons. Seed yield and WUE in 13 averaged 3235 kg ha^-1 and 8.85 kg ha^-1 mm-1, respectively. The highest WUE was occurred in 12 for both growing seasons. Seed yield and WUE in 12 averaged 3089 kg ha^-1 and 9.63 kg ha^-1 mm^-1, respectively. Compared to 13, 12 used 60 mm less irrigation amount, had an 8.9% higher WUE, but only 4.5 and 0.4% lower seed yield and oil content, respectively. 12 saved water without substantially sacrificing yield or oil content, so it is recommended as an appropriate cultivation and irrigation schedule for winter oilseed rape at the stem-elongation stage.展开更多
Rainwater harvesting (RWH) systems have been developed to compensate for shortage in the water supply worldwide. Such systems are not very common in arid areas, particularly in the Gulf Region, due to the scarcity of ...Rainwater harvesting (RWH) systems have been developed to compensate for shortage in the water supply worldwide. Such systems are not very common in arid areas, particularly in the Gulf Region, due to the scarcity of rainfall and their reduced efficiency in covering water demand and reducing water consumption rates. In spite of this, RWH systems have the potential to reduce urban flood risks, particularly in densely populated areas. This study aimed to assess the potential use of RWH systems as urban flood mitigation measures in arid areas. Their utility in the retention of stormwater runoff and the reduction of water depth and extent were evaluated. The study was conducted in a residential area in Bahrain that experienced waterlogging after heavy rainfall events. The water demand patterns of housing units were analyzed, and the daily water balance for RWH tanks was evaluated. The effect of the implementation of RWH systems on the flood volume was evaluated with a two-dimensional hydrodynamic model. Flood simulations were conducted in several rainfall scenarios with different probabilities of occurrence. The results showed significant reductions in the flood depth and flood extent, but these effects were highly dependent on the rainfall intensity of the event. RWH systems are effective flood mitigation measures, particularly in urban arid regions short of proper stormwater control infrastructure, and they enhance the resilience of the built environment to urban floods.展开更多
On the basis of natural conditions of lack of rainfall on the Loess Plateau, this paper presents a method of design and construction in rainwater harvesting system for afforestation, which is suitable to the regions o...On the basis of natural conditions of lack of rainfall on the Loess Plateau, this paper presents a method of design and construction in rainwater harvesting system for afforestation, which is suitable to the regions of 300 600?mm rainfall. The system consists of micro catchments of various forms and sizes that include planting areas, where trees are planted and trapped runoff, and contributing areas, where overland flow are produced by rainfall. The design is based on rainfall, runoff coefficients of contributing areas, evapotranspiration of trees and soil surface, water deficiency of soil, and environmental capacity of precipitation in the region, and so on. Runoff coefficient of contributing areas with YJG (organic silicon chemical treatment), compacted surface soil slope and natural slope micro catchments, are 0 8 0 89, 0 23 0 36, and 0 08 0 10 respectively. According to the Penman method, the soil water deficiency varies from 50?mm to 300?mm. In the region of 400?mm precipitation, the contributing area treated with YJG is 3 4?m 2 for timber forests, 8 10?m 2 for cash trees respectively; the contributing area treated with compacted soil surface is 6 8?m\+2 for timber forests, 10 12?m 2 for cash trees respectively; the contributing area of natural slope is 8 10?m 2 for timber forests, 12 15?m 2 for cash trees respectively. Transpiration from trees of micro catchment in YJG, compacted surface soil and natural slope treatment is by 47 65% 53 31%, 24 10% 36 93%, and 18 65% 29 55% of total rainfall (rainfall and harvested rainwater) respectively after the system was applied in the region. This system, which has been widely practising on the Loess Plateau, is now known as runoff forestry.展开更多
In order to accurately estimate the runoff coefficient for the quantity assessment of the roof rainwater harvesting system RRHS great differences in the value of event runoff coefficient ψERC were observed by field m...In order to accurately estimate the runoff coefficient for the quantity assessment of the roof rainwater harvesting system RRHS great differences in the value of event runoff coefficient ψERC were observed by field monitoring under different roof types roof slope and material and diverse rainfall distributions rainfall depth and intensity in three years 2010 to 2012 in Handan Hebei China.The results indicate that the distribution of ψERC is more highly correlated with the event rainfall depth than other factors. The relationship between ψERC and the rainfall depth can be well represented by the piecewise linear function.Further based on the daily rainfall data over the period from 1960 to 2008 the value of the annual runoff coefficient ψARC is calculated. Although the total rainfall depth in each year is different ψARC in Handan can be considered as a constant 0.62 approximately. The results can be used for the quantity assessment and performance analysis of the RRHS.展开更多
In order to collect rainwater and resist drought to enhance the utilization rate of rainfall and water resources, through project rainwater harvesting measures, the total annual rainwater harvesting amount of the six ...In order to collect rainwater and resist drought to enhance the utilization rate of rainfall and water resources, through project rainwater harvesting measures, the total annual rainwater harvesting amount of the six greenhouses was calculated according to annual average precipitation 542.2 mm, up to 1 095.7 m^3. The upper natural slopes of cultivated land were as rainwater harvesting areas, and total annual rainwater harvesting amount was 49 242 m^3 on the mountain slopes with an area of 73.37 hm^2, while total water storage amount was 39 394 m^3 in theory, so it could meet water use for the irrigation of 26.28 hm^2 of T. sinensis land. To be convenient for rainwater harvesting, irrigation and supplying water to the water-saving cellars, one pert-cut and part-fill reservoir (which was 470 m^3 in volume) was built on the mountain slopes at the right rear of the greenhouses, and their altitude difference was 50 m. The reservoir was sealed and was built with reinforced concrete. Water-saving cellars were distributed in front and the middle and at the back of two rows of greenhouses, and they were connected with each other. The reservoir could supply water to the water-saving cellars and also collect water by mountain slopes, from the lower water-saving cellars or deep wells. Two rainwater hervesting ditches that were 1 650 m in length were at the lower edge of arable land in the upper reaches of slopes to intercept rainfall runoff and make it flow into channels and then the sedimentation tanks. The total annual rainwater harvesting amount of the reservoir and water-saving cellars was 1 222.5 m^3.展开更多
Water is the source of all the creatures on the earth and energy is the main factor driving the world. With the increasing population and global change, water and energy conservation have become worldwide focal issues...Water is the source of all the creatures on the earth and energy is the main factor driving the world. With the increasing population and global change, water and energy conservation have become worldwide focal issues, particularly in the water-stressed and energy-limited regions. Rainwater harvesting, based on the collection and storage of rainfall runoff, has been widely used for domestic use and agricultural production in arid and semiarid regions. It has advantages of simple operation, high adaption, low cost and less energy consumption. This study reviewed rainwater harvesting systems adopted in the Loess Plateau of China and analyzed water use efficiency (WUE) for various rainwater harvesting techniques. Supplemental irrigation using harvested rainwater could increase crop yield by more than 30%, and WUE ranged from 0.7 to 5.7 kg m4 for spring wheat, corn and flax, and 30-40 kg m-3 for vegetables. Moreover, energy consumption for rainwater harvesting based on single family was compared with traditional water supply in the city of the Loess Plateau using the life cycle assessment (LCA) method. Results showed that energy consumption yielded per unit harvested rainwater was 25.96 MJ m-3 yr which was much less than 62.25 MJ m3 yr^-1 for main water supply in Baoji City, Shanxi Province, meaning that rainwater harvesting saved energy by 139.8% as compared to the main water supply system. This study highlights the importance and potential of rainwater harvesting for water and energy conservation in the near future.展开更多
In arid and semi-arid regions, the availability of adequate water of appropriate quality has become a limiting factor for development. This paper aims to evaluate the potential for rainwater harvesting in the arid to ...In arid and semi-arid regions, the availability of adequate water of appropriate quality has become a limiting factor for development. This paper aims to evaluate the potential for rainwater harvesting in the arid to semi-arid Faria Catchment, in the West Bank, Palestine. Under current conditions, the supply-demand gap is increasing due to the increasing water demands of a growing population with hydrologically limited and uncertain supplies. By 2015, the gap is estimated to reach 4.5 x 106 m3. This study used the process-oriented and physically-based TRAIN-ZIN model to evaluate two different rainwater harvesting techniques during two rainfall events. The analysis shows that there is a theoretical potential for harvesting an additional 4 x 106 m3 of surface water over the entire catchment. Thus, it is essential to manage the potential available surface water supplies in the catchment to save water for dry periods when the supply-demand gap is comparatively high. Then a valuable contribution to bridging the supply-demand gap can be made.展开更多
Rainwater harvesting RWH has yet to see significant uptake in UK households primarily due to a lack of innovation in residential RWH system types.This ppa er presents the results of per liminary investigations into a ...Rainwater harvesting RWH has yet to see significant uptake in UK households primarily due to a lack of innovation in residential RWH system types.This ppa er presents the results of per liminary investigations into a range of traditional and innovative residential-scale RWH systems. These systems are examined using a patent application search informal interviews with industry professionals cost-benefit analysis and a simple multi criteria analysis MCA .The latter examines the sustainability of the systems based on a priori social economic and ne vironmenat l criteria.Two of the innovative systems are subject to a more detailed analysis and benchmarked agains ta rt aditional system.Results of the MCA indicate that the innovative RWH systems achieve better sustainability scores than the traditional RWH with a lower capital cost.Further research is focused on monitoring the identified systems to generate empir cal datasets in order to undertake the WLC/LCAs and to identify challenges associated with installation.展开更多
Countries in Middle East and North Africa (MENA region) are considered as arid and semi-arid areas that are suffering from water scarcity. They are expected to have more water shortages problem due to climatic change....Countries in Middle East and North Africa (MENA region) are considered as arid and semi-arid areas that are suffering from water scarcity. They are expected to have more water shortages problem due to climatic change. Iraq is located in the Middle East covering an area of 433,970 square kilometers populated by 31 million inhabitants. One of the solutions suggested to overcome water scarcity is Rainwater Harvesting (RWH). In this study Macro rainwater harvesting technique had been tested for future rainfall data that were predicted by two emission scenarios of climatic change (A2 and B2) for the period 2020-2099 at Sulaimaniyah Governorate north east of Iraq. Future volumes of total runoff that might be harvested for different conditions of maximum, average, and minimum future rainfall seasons under both scenarios (A2 and B2) were calculated. The results indicate that the volumes of average harvested runoff will be reduced when average rainfall seasons are considered due to the effect of climatic change on future rainfall. The reduction reached 10.82 % and 43.0% when scenarios A2 and B2 are considered respectively.展开更多
Iraq is part of West Asia and North Africa (WANA) region. The area is known as dry land, famous with gap of crop yield as a result of the water shortage problem. Six basins with total catchment area of 614.19 km2 at r...Iraq is part of West Asia and North Africa (WANA) region. The area is known as dry land, famous with gap of crop yield as a result of the water shortage problem. Six basins with total catchment area of 614.19 km2 at rain-fed of Northern Sinjar District (Iraq) had been chosen to investigate both of the potential of rainwater harvesting (RWH) and three supplemental irrigation (SI) scenarios S1, S2, and S3 (100%, 75%, and 50% of full irrigation requirement) to support the wheat yield (bread and durum) under various rainfall conditions for the study period 1990-2009. The results indicated that, the total volume of harvested runoff can be considered for irrigation practices, that reached up to 42.4, 25.1, 0.6, 10.9 (× 106 m3) during 1995-1996, 1996-1997, 1998-1999, and 2001-2002, respectively. The total irrigated area ranged between 10.9 - 5163.7 and 8.8 - 3595.7 (ha) for bread and durum wheat crop for the four selected seasons respectively. The yield scenarios for supplemental irrigation condition Y1, Y2, and Y3 give 68 - 9712, 94 - 12,999, and 105 - 22,806 Ton for bread wheat, and for durum wheat give 56 - 8035, 87 - 10,906, and 103 - 17,396 Ton.展开更多
Some successful experiences of rainwater harvesting in Brazil’s semi-arid region are shown how rural communities are living during the severe drought from 2011 to 2013 using technologies of rainwater harvesting for t...Some successful experiences of rainwater harvesting in Brazil’s semi-arid region are shown how rural communities are living during the severe drought from 2011 to 2013 using technologies of rainwater harvesting for the household in agriculture livestock raising and the environment.Starting from the positive experiences principles of living in the challenge of droughts and climate change are elaborated and summarized into different guidelines for sustainable livelihood and production access to water and sufficient land area rainwater harvesting to provide water security to households and communities preservation recovering and management of drought-resistant vegetation emphases on raising of small and medium sized livestock and water and forage storage appropriate crop selection and sustainable extraction processing and marketing of crop products capacity building of the people. These principles contribute to preparing a national policy on living in harmony with the semi-arid climate. Rainwater harvesting is an important part of a package of measures which enables a sustainable livelihood in such a difficult environment.展开更多
This paper describes a household model of the rainwater harvesting system in residential development of Tlaquepaque Jalisco Mexico. Harvested rainwater is estimated for designing a rainwater catchment system which ref...This paper describes a household model of the rainwater harvesting system in residential development of Tlaquepaque Jalisco Mexico. Harvested rainwater is estimated for designing a rainwater catchment system which reflects the maximum water supply to a household.Based on the estimation of the harvested rainwater the total water demand is calculated in order to explore the possible uses of rainwater. Major components in the rainwater catchment system are as follows catchment area downspout roof drain pipe and first flush tank cistern infiltration well pumping station and filtering system and ultraviolet UV water treatment.The rainwater harvesting system is designed to operate as the part of the central water supply system.This paper exposes the process of design and construction and its cost.In this way it aims to establish a technical and conceptual reference which enables the citizens to design their rainwater systems and their construction. This model will produce an important experience that can help to improve the systems in a Mexican context.It can be also useful for the international community.展开更多
Nowadays, rainwater harvesting (RWH) technology is increasingly adopted as a strategic pathway for reducing poverty in rural drought prone areas for enhancing agricultural productivity and boosting farm income. The ai...Nowadays, rainwater harvesting (RWH) technology is increasingly adopted as a strategic pathway for reducing poverty in rural drought prone areas for enhancing agricultural productivity and boosting farm income. The aim of this study is to assess the level of adoption and the impacts of RWH ponds on farm income in Ntarama sector of Bugesera District in Eastern Province of Rwanda. Fifteen farm ponds were visited and the level at which households adopted RWH ponds, their impact on farm income and performance in storing water were assessed. Interviews and questionnaires methods were used to farm ponds beneficiaries and the storage capacity of farm ponds was calculated to ensure that they meet irrigation water demand. Then, Microsoft excel was used as a data analysis tool. The results show that 42.5% of households have adopted RWH ponds and the adoption level of RWH ponds fails due to the lack of training about the role and use of RWH ponds before their implementation. Beside this the low level of public involvement during the site selection for ponds associated with social conflicts among water users was observed. However, it is further revealed that the use of RWH ponds positively impacts on agricultural income on 1/4 hectare per year by about 2,325,000 RWF (3100USD). The studied portion of area can bear 222 ponds of 120 m<sup>3</sup> each if all the rain is harvested throughout the year instead of being three ponds. Furthermore, we found that the quantity of rainwater harvested of 328.5 m<sup>3</sup> as a total of the 3 ponds was still too less to meet irrigation water demand. As negative impacts, the RWH technology can cause dangerous effects such as social conflicts, breeding site for mosquitoes, water related diseases, accidents and others with a level of severity of 32%, 24%, 20%, 16% and 8%, respectively. This happens when the RWH ponds are not properly managed.展开更多
Water is a basic normal asset for supporting the condition of life. Accessible water assets are feeling the squeeze because of expanding demand. Soon water, which we have depended upon to be accessible and an uncondit...Water is a basic normal asset for supporting the condition of life. Accessible water assets are feeling the squeeze because of expanding demand. Soon water, which we have depended upon to be accessible and an unconditional present of nature will turn into a rare product. Protection and conservation of water assets are desperately required. In many parts of Victoria, water supply to communities is limited. Rainwater harvesting systems can provide water at or near the point of demand. The systems can be owner and utility operated and managed. Rainwater collected using existing structures, i.e. rooftops, parking lots, playgrounds, parks, ponds, floodplains etc., has few negative environmental impacts compared to other technologies for water resources development. Rainwater is relatively clean and the quality is usually acceptable for many purposes with little or even no treatment. The physical and chemical properties of rainwater are usually superior to sources of groundwater that may have been subjected to contamination. The present study was intended to measure the rooftop rainwater harvesting potential using GIS techniques. The GIS examination utilized in this investigation was basically an efficient assessment of rooftop water collecting in the chose Wollert which is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria. With the use of GIS it was conceivable to appraise the aggregate sum of water harvestable at the household level. It is very tedious work to assess the catchments available for rooftop rainwater harvesting. Here the roof surfaces are the catchments and GIS is employed to calculate the area of various types of roofs and their potential for planning for the area under study. As a result Eucalypt Estate Wollert has huge potential and can make above 179.11 litres water available per person per day throughout the year.展开更多
Within the last decade, substantial progress has been achieved in the management of centralized water reticulation in Zambia. Characterized by diversified fiscal resourcing, concurrent institutional restructuring and ...Within the last decade, substantial progress has been achieved in the management of centralized water reticulation in Zambia. Characterized by diversified fiscal resourcing, concurrent institutional restructuring and introduction of new players in water governance, the water sector is set to achieve improved reliability on sustainable grounds. However, the threat of underground water pollution resulting from increased urbanization besides the unreliable energy sector presents new challenges for the current urban water. In effect, urban areas are affected by chronic water rationing creating public stress and insecurity which impacts domestic development. While the course of development has meant investment in the extension and expansion of water infrastructure in Zambia, alternative urban water resources are being sought to address challenges of traditional water systems globally. This paper therefore attempts to make a case for the modernization of Rooftop Rainwater Harvesting (RRWH) as an augmenting water resource in the Zambian urban housing sector. Here—in, it is identified as a Low Impact Development technology within the Integrated Urban Water Management framework currently being forged by local water. Based on a desktop literature survey and online questionnaire survey, an argument to support the development of RRWH in Zambia was developed. While literature survey results revealed evidence of economic loss and a growing compromise to public health resulting from inconsistent water supply in the study area of Lusaka city, the online questionnaire survey depicted significant domestic stress due to erratic water supply. Results confirmed that at one time residents observed an average of eight hours of power blackouts which effectively induced water disruption forcing homeowners to engage in various water storage methods which in turn are costly on domestic time, health and finances. A retrospective discussion based on both survey results attempts to present benefits and opportunities of urban RRWH to water sector stakeholders providing recommendations towards the mainstreaming of the practice in Zambia.展开更多
Transforming sloping land into terraced land is an effective approach to cope with the problems including farmland shortage and severe soil erosion.This paper introduces a new system based on rainwater harvesting and ...Transforming sloping land into terraced land is an effective approach to cope with the problems including farmland shortage and severe soil erosion.This paper introduces a new system based on rainwater harvesting and recycling technology,which may effectively improve farmland productivity rainwater use efficiency and reduce water and fertilizer inputs.The new system consists of three subsystems:1) A plough layer with the dual function of crop cultivation and rainwater harvesting; 2) A tank below the plough layer for storing water; 3) An irrigation-drainage subsystem.The plough layer and the storage tank,both treated for reducing seepage,are connected through the irrigation and drainage system.Results showed that,compared with the traditional paddy fields,rice evapotranspiration( and crop coefficient) in the test field remained at a similar level,while the irrigation amount was reduced by 44.3% under the condition of basin irrigation,and the drainage amount decreased by 86.6%,and the non-point source pollution was reduced to 67.7%~87.9%,and the rainwater utilization efficiency increased by 30% and reached 95.4%,and crop yield of middle-season rice reached 9,975 kg/hm2,which was only 0.4% lower than that in the traditional paddy field in the terms of dry matter.The new technology sheds light on new possibilities for transformation of hilly sloping land.展开更多
Shortage of water is the key limiting factor for agricultural development of Beijing.Rainwater harvesting(RWH) could provide an alternative water source for greenhouse agriculture,but local natural and socioeconomic c...Shortage of water is the key limiting factor for agricultural development of Beijing.Rainwater harvesting(RWH) could provide an alternative water source for greenhouse agriculture,but local natural and socioeconomic conditions challenge the application of the technology.This article analyses the advantages and disadvantages of different types of greenhouse RWH in Beijing,and describes a new greenhouse RWH system demonstrated in 2008 in Huairou,a suburb district of Beijing.It analyses the efficiency,cost-benefit ratios and limiting factors of the new system.The results show that with the new system,RWH efficiency can be as high as 66%(of total rainfall) and the rainwater usage rate can reach 69% of total water usage.The ratio of benefit to cost of government investment can be 1.84,and the ratio of benefit to cost of a farmer's investment could be 1.68 provided the project is designed to save water and also increase income.However,the price of groundwater for agriculture directly influences the potential for applying and scaling up the project.If the RWH system does not increase the farmers' incomes at the current water price,they will not use it until the water price rises to a critical point,which is determined by external factors.This article also suggests a number of measures to increase the efficiency of the system in order to apply it on a large scale.展开更多
One of the greatest environmental challenges that confront rural communities in Nigeria especially in Borno state is scarcity of water supply. Rainwater harvesting can reduce over dependence on centralized piped water...One of the greatest environmental challenges that confront rural communities in Nigeria especially in Borno state is scarcity of water supply. Rainwater harvesting can reduce over dependence on centralized piped water supply and checkmate climate change. This study in two rural communities determined the water per capita use, examined water sources and then estimated the amount of rainwater that can be harvested by households in these villages. The villages are Kukurpu and Yelwa Bam in Hawul local government area of Borno state Nigeria. The choice of the villages is justified on the basis of their location in the semi-arid region of the Sahel ecological zone with lesser rainfall compared to other parts in the region. Lack of adequate access to water supply is precursor to water related diseases and challenge to sustainable development. This study used scheduled interview with households and 100 household were surveyed using simple random sampling. In each of the village, 50 observations were made Results revealed that 87% of the households rely water from hand dug wells, ephemeral streams and boreholes equipped with manual hand pumps that are susceptible to drought and frequent breakdown. Borno state where the villages are located had a mean annual rainfall of 860 mm from 1980 to 2009;however, the annual rainwater harvesting potential was put at 51.21 m3. Although over 80% are aware of rainwater harvesting practices only 2% of households harvest rainwater due to the seasonality of rain-fall coupled with inadequate water storage facilities. There is therefore the need to embark on massive rainwater harvesting with corresponding water reservoir as a way to reduce the effects of the five months dry spell experienced in the region.展开更多
This document presents the technical description and cost comparison of four rainwater harvesting systems for homes, the method for its hydraulic design and an equation to estimate the minimum catchment area, with the...This document presents the technical description and cost comparison of four rainwater harvesting systems for homes, the method for its hydraulic design and an equation to estimate the minimum catchment area, with the goal to supply drinking water to segregated small communities in Mexico considering climate change effects, both natural and anthropogenic. The four Rainwater Harvesting Systems (RHS) introduced in this work are the following: two rigid, one system built with ferrocement and the other built with clay bricks, and two flexible: one is a commercial collector while the other is a system built with a 3/8-inch reinforcing bar mesh and covered with a linear low-density polyethylene geomembrane. The RHS consist in cylindrical containers built with diverse materials, and in the case of rigid RHSs, they can store up to 50,000 liters of water. Also, rigid RHSs have a longer useful life and are more resistant than flexible RHSs, but their cost is notably higher. Rigid RHSs compete in price with commercial rainwater harvesting system brands like Rotoplas, but commercial RHSs disadvantages are their lower durability, storage capacity, and resistance. On the other hand, flexible RHSs are less durable than rigid ones, although, in the case of the rainwater harvesting system made with a 3/8-inch reinforcing bar mesh, the system can be rebuilt and reused and the cost is much lower. The design of the collectors takes into consideration the climate variability of the study area, natural or anthropogenic.展开更多
The feasibility of rooftop rainwater harvesting (RRWH) as an alternative source of water to meet the outdoor water demand in nine states of the U.S. was evaluated using a system dynamics model developed in Systems T...The feasibility of rooftop rainwater harvesting (RRWH) as an alternative source of water to meet the outdoor water demand in nine states of the U.S. was evaluated using a system dynamics model developed in Systems Thinking, Experimental Learning Laboratory with Animation. The state of Arizona was selected to evaluate the effects of the selected model parameters on the efficacy of RRWH since among the nine states the arid region of Arizona showed the least potential of meeting the outdoor water demand with rain harvested water. The analyses were conducted on a monthly basis across a 10-year projected period from 2015 to 2024. The results showed that RRWH as a potential source of water was highly sensitive to certain model parameters such as the outdoor water demand, the use of desert landscaping, and the percentage of existing houses with RRWH. A significant difference (as high as 37.5%) in rainwater potential was observed between the projected wet and dry climate conditions in Arizona. The analysis of the dynamics of the storage tanks suggested that a 1.0-2.0 m3 rainwater barrel, on an average, can store approximately 80% of the monthly rainwater generated from the rooftops in Arizona, even across the high seasonal variation. This interactive model can be used as a quick estimator of the amount of water that could be generated, stored, and utilized through RRWH systems in the U.S. under different climate conditions. The findings of such comprehensive analyses may help regional policymakers, especially in arid regions, to develop a sustainable water management infrastructure.展开更多
基金supported by the Special Fund for Agro-scientific Research in the Public Interest,China(201503105 and 201503125)the National High-Tech R&D Program of China(863 Program,2011AA100504)
文摘Ridge-furrow rainwater harvesting (RFRH) planting pattern can lessen the effect of water deficits throughout all crop growth stages, but water shortage would remain unavoidable during some stages of crop growth in arid and semiarid areas. Supplemental irrigation would still be needed to achieve a higher production. Field experiments were conducted for two growing seasons (2012-2013 and 2013-2014)to determine an appropriate amount of supplemental irrigation to be applied to winter oilseed rape at the stem-elongation stage with RFRH planting pattern. Four treatments, including supplemental irrigation amount of 0 (I1), 60 mm (I2) and 120 mm (I3) with RFRH planting pattern and a control (CK) irrigated with 120 mm with flat planting pattern, were set up to evaluate the effects of supplemental irrigation on aboveground dry matter (ADM), nitrogen nutrition index (NNI), radiation use efficiency (RUE), water use efficiency (WUE), and seed yield and oil content of the oilseed rape. Results showed that supplemental irrigation improved NNI, RUE, seed yield and oil content, and WUE. However, the NNI, RUE, seed yield and oil content, and WUE did not increase significantly or even showed a downward trend with excessive irrigation. Seed yield was the highest in 13 for both growing seasons. Seed yield and WUE in 13 averaged 3235 kg ha^-1 and 8.85 kg ha^-1 mm-1, respectively. The highest WUE was occurred in 12 for both growing seasons. Seed yield and WUE in 12 averaged 3089 kg ha^-1 and 9.63 kg ha^-1 mm^-1, respectively. Compared to 13, 12 used 60 mm less irrigation amount, had an 8.9% higher WUE, but only 4.5 and 0.4% lower seed yield and oil content, respectively. 12 saved water without substantially sacrificing yield or oil content, so it is recommended as an appropriate cultivation and irrigation schedule for winter oilseed rape at the stem-elongation stage.
文摘Rainwater harvesting (RWH) systems have been developed to compensate for shortage in the water supply worldwide. Such systems are not very common in arid areas, particularly in the Gulf Region, due to the scarcity of rainfall and their reduced efficiency in covering water demand and reducing water consumption rates. In spite of this, RWH systems have the potential to reduce urban flood risks, particularly in densely populated areas. This study aimed to assess the potential use of RWH systems as urban flood mitigation measures in arid areas. Their utility in the retention of stormwater runoff and the reduction of water depth and extent were evaluated. The study was conducted in a residential area in Bahrain that experienced waterlogging after heavy rainfall events. The water demand patterns of housing units were analyzed, and the daily water balance for RWH tanks was evaluated. The effect of the implementation of RWH systems on the flood volume was evaluated with a two-dimensional hydrodynamic model. Flood simulations were conducted in several rainfall scenarios with different probabilities of occurrence. The results showed significant reductions in the flood depth and flood extent, but these effects were highly dependent on the rainfall intensity of the event. RWH systems are effective flood mitigation measures, particularly in urban arid regions short of proper stormwater control infrastructure, and they enhance the resilience of the built environment to urban floods.
文摘On the basis of natural conditions of lack of rainfall on the Loess Plateau, this paper presents a method of design and construction in rainwater harvesting system for afforestation, which is suitable to the regions of 300 600?mm rainfall. The system consists of micro catchments of various forms and sizes that include planting areas, where trees are planted and trapped runoff, and contributing areas, where overland flow are produced by rainfall. The design is based on rainfall, runoff coefficients of contributing areas, evapotranspiration of trees and soil surface, water deficiency of soil, and environmental capacity of precipitation in the region, and so on. Runoff coefficient of contributing areas with YJG (organic silicon chemical treatment), compacted surface soil slope and natural slope micro catchments, are 0 8 0 89, 0 23 0 36, and 0 08 0 10 respectively. According to the Penman method, the soil water deficiency varies from 50?mm to 300?mm. In the region of 400?mm precipitation, the contributing area treated with YJG is 3 4?m 2 for timber forests, 8 10?m 2 for cash trees respectively; the contributing area treated with compacted soil surface is 6 8?m\+2 for timber forests, 10 12?m 2 for cash trees respectively; the contributing area of natural slope is 8 10?m 2 for timber forests, 12 15?m 2 for cash trees respectively. Transpiration from trees of micro catchment in YJG, compacted surface soil and natural slope treatment is by 47 65% 53 31%, 24 10% 36 93%, and 18 65% 29 55% of total rainfall (rainfall and harvested rainwater) respectively after the system was applied in the region. This system, which has been widely practising on the Loess Plateau, is now known as runoff forestry.
基金The National Science and Technology Major Project of China(No.2012ZX07203-003)the Major Basic Research Program of Hebei Province(No.12966738D)the Natural Science Foundation of Hebei Province(No.E2014402101)
文摘In order to accurately estimate the runoff coefficient for the quantity assessment of the roof rainwater harvesting system RRHS great differences in the value of event runoff coefficient ψERC were observed by field monitoring under different roof types roof slope and material and diverse rainfall distributions rainfall depth and intensity in three years 2010 to 2012 in Handan Hebei China.The results indicate that the distribution of ψERC is more highly correlated with the event rainfall depth than other factors. The relationship between ψERC and the rainfall depth can be well represented by the piecewise linear function.Further based on the daily rainfall data over the period from 1960 to 2008 the value of the annual runoff coefficient ψARC is calculated. Although the total rainfall depth in each year is different ψARC in Handan can be considered as a constant 0.62 approximately. The results can be used for the quantity assessment and performance analysis of the RRHS.
基金Supported by Key Technology R&D Program Project of Shijiazhuang City(141520208A)~~
文摘In order to collect rainwater and resist drought to enhance the utilization rate of rainfall and water resources, through project rainwater harvesting measures, the total annual rainwater harvesting amount of the six greenhouses was calculated according to annual average precipitation 542.2 mm, up to 1 095.7 m^3. The upper natural slopes of cultivated land were as rainwater harvesting areas, and total annual rainwater harvesting amount was 49 242 m^3 on the mountain slopes with an area of 73.37 hm^2, while total water storage amount was 39 394 m^3 in theory, so it could meet water use for the irrigation of 26.28 hm^2 of T. sinensis land. To be convenient for rainwater harvesting, irrigation and supplying water to the water-saving cellars, one pert-cut and part-fill reservoir (which was 470 m^3 in volume) was built on the mountain slopes at the right rear of the greenhouses, and their altitude difference was 50 m. The reservoir was sealed and was built with reinforced concrete. Water-saving cellars were distributed in front and the middle and at the back of two rows of greenhouses, and they were connected with each other. The reservoir could supply water to the water-saving cellars and also collect water by mountain slopes, from the lower water-saving cellars or deep wells. Two rainwater hervesting ditches that were 1 650 m in length were at the lower edge of arable land in the upper reaches of slopes to intercept rainfall runoff and make it flow into channels and then the sedimentation tanks. The total annual rainwater harvesting amount of the reservoir and water-saving cellars was 1 222.5 m^3.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(41025001and41130640)the Fundamental Research Funds for Central Universities of China,and Program for Changjiang Scholars and Innovative Research Team in University,China(IRT1108)
文摘Water is the source of all the creatures on the earth and energy is the main factor driving the world. With the increasing population and global change, water and energy conservation have become worldwide focal issues, particularly in the water-stressed and energy-limited regions. Rainwater harvesting, based on the collection and storage of rainfall runoff, has been widely used for domestic use and agricultural production in arid and semiarid regions. It has advantages of simple operation, high adaption, low cost and less energy consumption. This study reviewed rainwater harvesting systems adopted in the Loess Plateau of China and analyzed water use efficiency (WUE) for various rainwater harvesting techniques. Supplemental irrigation using harvested rainwater could increase crop yield by more than 30%, and WUE ranged from 0.7 to 5.7 kg m4 for spring wheat, corn and flax, and 30-40 kg m-3 for vegetables. Moreover, energy consumption for rainwater harvesting based on single family was compared with traditional water supply in the city of the Loess Plateau using the life cycle assessment (LCA) method. Results showed that energy consumption yielded per unit harvested rainwater was 25.96 MJ m-3 yr which was much less than 62.25 MJ m3 yr^-1 for main water supply in Baoji City, Shanxi Province, meaning that rainwater harvesting saved energy by 139.8% as compared to the main water supply system. This study highlights the importance and potential of rainwater harvesting for water and energy conservation in the near future.
基金supported by the GLOWA-JR Project of the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)
文摘In arid and semi-arid regions, the availability of adequate water of appropriate quality has become a limiting factor for development. This paper aims to evaluate the potential for rainwater harvesting in the arid to semi-arid Faria Catchment, in the West Bank, Palestine. Under current conditions, the supply-demand gap is increasing due to the increasing water demands of a growing population with hydrologically limited and uncertain supplies. By 2015, the gap is estimated to reach 4.5 x 106 m3. This study used the process-oriented and physically-based TRAIN-ZIN model to evaluate two different rainwater harvesting techniques during two rainfall events. The analysis shows that there is a theoretical potential for harvesting an additional 4 x 106 m3 of surface water over the entire catchment. Thus, it is essential to manage the potential available surface water supplies in the catchment to save water for dry periods when the supply-demand gap is comparatively high. Then a valuable contribution to bridging the supply-demand gap can be made.
基金Severn Trent Water and the EPSRC as part of the STREAM Engineering Doctorate Program
文摘Rainwater harvesting RWH has yet to see significant uptake in UK households primarily due to a lack of innovation in residential RWH system types.This ppa er presents the results of per liminary investigations into a range of traditional and innovative residential-scale RWH systems. These systems are examined using a patent application search informal interviews with industry professionals cost-benefit analysis and a simple multi criteria analysis MCA .The latter examines the sustainability of the systems based on a priori social economic and ne vironmenat l criteria.Two of the innovative systems are subject to a more detailed analysis and benchmarked agains ta rt aditional system.Results of the MCA indicate that the innovative RWH systems achieve better sustainability scores than the traditional RWH with a lower capital cost.Further research is focused on monitoring the identified systems to generate empir cal datasets in order to undertake the WLC/LCAs and to identify challenges associated with installation.
文摘Countries in Middle East and North Africa (MENA region) are considered as arid and semi-arid areas that are suffering from water scarcity. They are expected to have more water shortages problem due to climatic change. Iraq is located in the Middle East covering an area of 433,970 square kilometers populated by 31 million inhabitants. One of the solutions suggested to overcome water scarcity is Rainwater Harvesting (RWH). In this study Macro rainwater harvesting technique had been tested for future rainfall data that were predicted by two emission scenarios of climatic change (A2 and B2) for the period 2020-2099 at Sulaimaniyah Governorate north east of Iraq. Future volumes of total runoff that might be harvested for different conditions of maximum, average, and minimum future rainfall seasons under both scenarios (A2 and B2) were calculated. The results indicate that the volumes of average harvested runoff will be reduced when average rainfall seasons are considered due to the effect of climatic change on future rainfall. The reduction reached 10.82 % and 43.0% when scenarios A2 and B2 are considered respectively.
文摘Iraq is part of West Asia and North Africa (WANA) region. The area is known as dry land, famous with gap of crop yield as a result of the water shortage problem. Six basins with total catchment area of 614.19 km2 at rain-fed of Northern Sinjar District (Iraq) had been chosen to investigate both of the potential of rainwater harvesting (RWH) and three supplemental irrigation (SI) scenarios S1, S2, and S3 (100%, 75%, and 50% of full irrigation requirement) to support the wheat yield (bread and durum) under various rainfall conditions for the study period 1990-2009. The results indicated that, the total volume of harvested runoff can be considered for irrigation practices, that reached up to 42.4, 25.1, 0.6, 10.9 (× 106 m3) during 1995-1996, 1996-1997, 1998-1999, and 2001-2002, respectively. The total irrigated area ranged between 10.9 - 5163.7 and 8.8 - 3595.7 (ha) for bread and durum wheat crop for the four selected seasons respectively. The yield scenarios for supplemental irrigation condition Y1, Y2, and Y3 give 68 - 9712, 94 - 12,999, and 105 - 22,806 Ton for bread wheat, and for durum wheat give 56 - 8035, 87 - 10,906, and 103 - 17,396 Ton.
文摘Some successful experiences of rainwater harvesting in Brazil’s semi-arid region are shown how rural communities are living during the severe drought from 2011 to 2013 using technologies of rainwater harvesting for the household in agriculture livestock raising and the environment.Starting from the positive experiences principles of living in the challenge of droughts and climate change are elaborated and summarized into different guidelines for sustainable livelihood and production access to water and sufficient land area rainwater harvesting to provide water security to households and communities preservation recovering and management of drought-resistant vegetation emphases on raising of small and medium sized livestock and water and forage storage appropriate crop selection and sustainable extraction processing and marketing of crop products capacity building of the people. These principles contribute to preparing a national policy on living in harmony with the semi-arid climate. Rainwater harvesting is an important part of a package of measures which enables a sustainable livelihood in such a difficult environment.
文摘This paper describes a household model of the rainwater harvesting system in residential development of Tlaquepaque Jalisco Mexico. Harvested rainwater is estimated for designing a rainwater catchment system which reflects the maximum water supply to a household.Based on the estimation of the harvested rainwater the total water demand is calculated in order to explore the possible uses of rainwater. Major components in the rainwater catchment system are as follows catchment area downspout roof drain pipe and first flush tank cistern infiltration well pumping station and filtering system and ultraviolet UV water treatment.The rainwater harvesting system is designed to operate as the part of the central water supply system.This paper exposes the process of design and construction and its cost.In this way it aims to establish a technical and conceptual reference which enables the citizens to design their rainwater systems and their construction. This model will produce an important experience that can help to improve the systems in a Mexican context.It can be also useful for the international community.
文摘Nowadays, rainwater harvesting (RWH) technology is increasingly adopted as a strategic pathway for reducing poverty in rural drought prone areas for enhancing agricultural productivity and boosting farm income. The aim of this study is to assess the level of adoption and the impacts of RWH ponds on farm income in Ntarama sector of Bugesera District in Eastern Province of Rwanda. Fifteen farm ponds were visited and the level at which households adopted RWH ponds, their impact on farm income and performance in storing water were assessed. Interviews and questionnaires methods were used to farm ponds beneficiaries and the storage capacity of farm ponds was calculated to ensure that they meet irrigation water demand. Then, Microsoft excel was used as a data analysis tool. The results show that 42.5% of households have adopted RWH ponds and the adoption level of RWH ponds fails due to the lack of training about the role and use of RWH ponds before their implementation. Beside this the low level of public involvement during the site selection for ponds associated with social conflicts among water users was observed. However, it is further revealed that the use of RWH ponds positively impacts on agricultural income on 1/4 hectare per year by about 2,325,000 RWF (3100USD). The studied portion of area can bear 222 ponds of 120 m<sup>3</sup> each if all the rain is harvested throughout the year instead of being three ponds. Furthermore, we found that the quantity of rainwater harvested of 328.5 m<sup>3</sup> as a total of the 3 ponds was still too less to meet irrigation water demand. As negative impacts, the RWH technology can cause dangerous effects such as social conflicts, breeding site for mosquitoes, water related diseases, accidents and others with a level of severity of 32%, 24%, 20%, 16% and 8%, respectively. This happens when the RWH ponds are not properly managed.
文摘Water is a basic normal asset for supporting the condition of life. Accessible water assets are feeling the squeeze because of expanding demand. Soon water, which we have depended upon to be accessible and an unconditional present of nature will turn into a rare product. Protection and conservation of water assets are desperately required. In many parts of Victoria, water supply to communities is limited. Rainwater harvesting systems can provide water at or near the point of demand. The systems can be owner and utility operated and managed. Rainwater collected using existing structures, i.e. rooftops, parking lots, playgrounds, parks, ponds, floodplains etc., has few negative environmental impacts compared to other technologies for water resources development. Rainwater is relatively clean and the quality is usually acceptable for many purposes with little or even no treatment. The physical and chemical properties of rainwater are usually superior to sources of groundwater that may have been subjected to contamination. The present study was intended to measure the rooftop rainwater harvesting potential using GIS techniques. The GIS examination utilized in this investigation was basically an efficient assessment of rooftop water collecting in the chose Wollert which is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria. With the use of GIS it was conceivable to appraise the aggregate sum of water harvestable at the household level. It is very tedious work to assess the catchments available for rooftop rainwater harvesting. Here the roof surfaces are the catchments and GIS is employed to calculate the area of various types of roofs and their potential for planning for the area under study. As a result Eucalypt Estate Wollert has huge potential and can make above 179.11 litres water available per person per day throughout the year.
文摘Within the last decade, substantial progress has been achieved in the management of centralized water reticulation in Zambia. Characterized by diversified fiscal resourcing, concurrent institutional restructuring and introduction of new players in water governance, the water sector is set to achieve improved reliability on sustainable grounds. However, the threat of underground water pollution resulting from increased urbanization besides the unreliable energy sector presents new challenges for the current urban water. In effect, urban areas are affected by chronic water rationing creating public stress and insecurity which impacts domestic development. While the course of development has meant investment in the extension and expansion of water infrastructure in Zambia, alternative urban water resources are being sought to address challenges of traditional water systems globally. This paper therefore attempts to make a case for the modernization of Rooftop Rainwater Harvesting (RRWH) as an augmenting water resource in the Zambian urban housing sector. Here—in, it is identified as a Low Impact Development technology within the Integrated Urban Water Management framework currently being forged by local water. Based on a desktop literature survey and online questionnaire survey, an argument to support the development of RRWH in Zambia was developed. While literature survey results revealed evidence of economic loss and a growing compromise to public health resulting from inconsistent water supply in the study area of Lusaka city, the online questionnaire survey depicted significant domestic stress due to erratic water supply. Results confirmed that at one time residents observed an average of eight hours of power blackouts which effectively induced water disruption forcing homeowners to engage in various water storage methods which in turn are costly on domestic time, health and finances. A retrospective discussion based on both survey results attempts to present benefits and opportunities of urban RRWH to water sector stakeholders providing recommendations towards the mainstreaming of the practice in Zambia.
基金partly supported by Non-profit Industry Financial Program of MWR(Grant No.201301012)
文摘Transforming sloping land into terraced land is an effective approach to cope with the problems including farmland shortage and severe soil erosion.This paper introduces a new system based on rainwater harvesting and recycling technology,which may effectively improve farmland productivity rainwater use efficiency and reduce water and fertilizer inputs.The new system consists of three subsystems:1) A plough layer with the dual function of crop cultivation and rainwater harvesting; 2) A tank below the plough layer for storing water; 3) An irrigation-drainage subsystem.The plough layer and the storage tank,both treated for reducing seepage,are connected through the irrigation and drainage system.Results showed that,compared with the traditional paddy fields,rice evapotranspiration( and crop coefficient) in the test field remained at a similar level,while the irrigation amount was reduced by 44.3% under the condition of basin irrigation,and the drainage amount decreased by 86.6%,and the non-point source pollution was reduced to 67.7%~87.9%,and the rainwater utilization efficiency increased by 30% and reached 95.4%,and crop yield of middle-season rice reached 9,975 kg/hm2,which was only 0.4% lower than that in the traditional paddy field in the terms of dry matter.The new technology sheds light on new possibilities for transformation of hilly sloping land.
基金supported by SWITCH Project(project no.018530),which was launched by UNESCO-IHE(Institute for Water Education)in2006Municipal Extension Center of Agricultural Technologies
文摘Shortage of water is the key limiting factor for agricultural development of Beijing.Rainwater harvesting(RWH) could provide an alternative water source for greenhouse agriculture,but local natural and socioeconomic conditions challenge the application of the technology.This article analyses the advantages and disadvantages of different types of greenhouse RWH in Beijing,and describes a new greenhouse RWH system demonstrated in 2008 in Huairou,a suburb district of Beijing.It analyses the efficiency,cost-benefit ratios and limiting factors of the new system.The results show that with the new system,RWH efficiency can be as high as 66%(of total rainfall) and the rainwater usage rate can reach 69% of total water usage.The ratio of benefit to cost of government investment can be 1.84,and the ratio of benefit to cost of a farmer's investment could be 1.68 provided the project is designed to save water and also increase income.However,the price of groundwater for agriculture directly influences the potential for applying and scaling up the project.If the RWH system does not increase the farmers' incomes at the current water price,they will not use it until the water price rises to a critical point,which is determined by external factors.This article also suggests a number of measures to increase the efficiency of the system in order to apply it on a large scale.
文摘One of the greatest environmental challenges that confront rural communities in Nigeria especially in Borno state is scarcity of water supply. Rainwater harvesting can reduce over dependence on centralized piped water supply and checkmate climate change. This study in two rural communities determined the water per capita use, examined water sources and then estimated the amount of rainwater that can be harvested by households in these villages. The villages are Kukurpu and Yelwa Bam in Hawul local government area of Borno state Nigeria. The choice of the villages is justified on the basis of their location in the semi-arid region of the Sahel ecological zone with lesser rainfall compared to other parts in the region. Lack of adequate access to water supply is precursor to water related diseases and challenge to sustainable development. This study used scheduled interview with households and 100 household were surveyed using simple random sampling. In each of the village, 50 observations were made Results revealed that 87% of the households rely water from hand dug wells, ephemeral streams and boreholes equipped with manual hand pumps that are susceptible to drought and frequent breakdown. Borno state where the villages are located had a mean annual rainfall of 860 mm from 1980 to 2009;however, the annual rainwater harvesting potential was put at 51.21 m3. Although over 80% are aware of rainwater harvesting practices only 2% of households harvest rainwater due to the seasonality of rain-fall coupled with inadequate water storage facilities. There is therefore the need to embark on massive rainwater harvesting with corresponding water reservoir as a way to reduce the effects of the five months dry spell experienced in the region.
文摘This document presents the technical description and cost comparison of four rainwater harvesting systems for homes, the method for its hydraulic design and an equation to estimate the minimum catchment area, with the goal to supply drinking water to segregated small communities in Mexico considering climate change effects, both natural and anthropogenic. The four Rainwater Harvesting Systems (RHS) introduced in this work are the following: two rigid, one system built with ferrocement and the other built with clay bricks, and two flexible: one is a commercial collector while the other is a system built with a 3/8-inch reinforcing bar mesh and covered with a linear low-density polyethylene geomembrane. The RHS consist in cylindrical containers built with diverse materials, and in the case of rigid RHSs, they can store up to 50,000 liters of water. Also, rigid RHSs have a longer useful life and are more resistant than flexible RHSs, but their cost is notably higher. Rigid RHSs compete in price with commercial rainwater harvesting system brands like Rotoplas, but commercial RHSs disadvantages are their lower durability, storage capacity, and resistance. On the other hand, flexible RHSs are less durable than rigid ones, although, in the case of the rainwater harvesting system made with a 3/8-inch reinforcing bar mesh, the system can be rebuilt and reused and the cost is much lower. The design of the collectors takes into consideration the climate variability of the study area, natural or anthropogenic.
文摘The feasibility of rooftop rainwater harvesting (RRWH) as an alternative source of water to meet the outdoor water demand in nine states of the U.S. was evaluated using a system dynamics model developed in Systems Thinking, Experimental Learning Laboratory with Animation. The state of Arizona was selected to evaluate the effects of the selected model parameters on the efficacy of RRWH since among the nine states the arid region of Arizona showed the least potential of meeting the outdoor water demand with rain harvested water. The analyses were conducted on a monthly basis across a 10-year projected period from 2015 to 2024. The results showed that RRWH as a potential source of water was highly sensitive to certain model parameters such as the outdoor water demand, the use of desert landscaping, and the percentage of existing houses with RRWH. A significant difference (as high as 37.5%) in rainwater potential was observed between the projected wet and dry climate conditions in Arizona. The analysis of the dynamics of the storage tanks suggested that a 1.0-2.0 m3 rainwater barrel, on an average, can store approximately 80% of the monthly rainwater generated from the rooftops in Arizona, even across the high seasonal variation. This interactive model can be used as a quick estimator of the amount of water that could be generated, stored, and utilized through RRWH systems in the U.S. under different climate conditions. The findings of such comprehensive analyses may help regional policymakers, especially in arid regions, to develop a sustainable water management infrastructure.