Feasibility Studies of Rainwater Harvesting System for Ablution Purposes

For countries with an abundance of rain, there is definite potential to implement a rainwater harvesting system for different applications. This paper describes feasibility studies of an open-pond rainwater harvesting system for ablution purposes, analysing the quality of harvested rainwater and formulating a rainwater harvesting model with suitable performance measures. The formulated model can be used to analyse the feasibility of the system in any locality by inputting local meteorological data. Quality analysis has shown that the harvested rainwater can be used safely for ablution purposes, albeit with a slightly acidic pH below 6.5. At a depth of 1.0 m and using the current pond configuration of a local mosque, the reliability of the system is 62.5% (228 days per year), and the amount of water saved is 345 m(3), which is 60.7% of the water demand. It has been shown that a pond surface area of 60-70 m(2) provides optimum reliability and water saving, and more water savings can be expected with a more economical usage of water during ablution. These results indicate the feasibility of implementing a rainwater harvesting system for ablution purposes in religious institutions to help curb the water shortage crisis.

Automated summary

This paper examines the feasibility of an open-pond rainwater harvesting system for ablution purposes, assessing the quality of harvested rainwater and developing a model to evaluate system performance. The model can be applied to any locale by inputting local meteorological data. Findings indicate that the harvested rainwater can be safely used for ablution, despite its slightly acidic pH below 6.5. The system's reliability is 62.5% (228 days per year) at a 1.0 m depth with the existing pond configuration, saving 345 m(3) of water, which is 60.7% of the total demand.