Rainwater Harvesting and Stormwater Reuse for Arid Environments - Design with the Desert: Conservation and Sustainable Development - page 363

21
Rainwater Harvesting and Stormwater
Reuse for Arid Environments
Heather Kinkade
CONTENTS
21.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 365
21.2 Determining Reuse Level of Commitment .................................................................... 367
21.3 Typical System Components ............................................................................................ 368
21.3.1 Catchment Area ..................................................................................................... 368
21.3.2 Conveyance ............................................................................................................. 369
21.3.3 Roof Washing ......................................................................................................... 369
21.3.4 Storage ..................................................................................................................... 370
21.3.5 Distribution ............................................................................................................. 371
21.4 Water Balance Analysis ..................................................................................................... 372
21.5 Integrated Site Design ....................................................................................................... 373
21.5.1 Site Grading ............................................................................................................ 375
21.5.2 Structures, Materials, and Strategies for Passive Systems ............................... 375
21.5.2.1 Microbasins .............................................................................................. 375
21.5.2.2 Swales ....................................................................................................... 375
21.5.2.3 French Drains .......................................................................................... 376
21.5.2.4 Rain Gardens ........................................................................................... 376
21.5.2.5 Porous/Pervious Pavements .................................................................. 377
21.5.2.6 Mulches .................................................................................................... 378
21.5.2.7 Using Xeriscape Principles and Native Plants .................................... 379
21.5.3 Active Systems ........................................................................................................ 379
21.5.3.1 Vehicle Washing and Automated Carwashes ..................................... 379
21.5.3.2 Water Losses and Reuse by Mechanical Equipment ......................... 381
21.6 Conclusion .......................................................................................................................... 382
References ..................................................................................................................................... 383
21.1 Introduction
Collecting and storing rainwater is not a new idea. While the origin of rainwater catch-
ment systems are not known precisely, historical evidence suggests structures for holding
runoff water date back to the third millennium BC. Structures have been found in numer-
ous locations including the Negev Desert in Israel, the Mediterranean, India, Greece, Italy,
Egypt, Turkey, and Mexico. Historical structures range from saucerlike ground catch-
ments and belowground cisterns to aboveground rooftop runoff storage tanks. Many of
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