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A Desktop Analysis of Potable Water Savings from Internally Plumbed Rainwater Tanks in South-East Queensland, Australia

Author

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  • Cara Beal
  • A. Sharma
  • T. Gardner
  • M. Chong

Abstract

A methodology for the estimation of household potable water saving due to internally plumbed rainwater tanks (IPT) is presented in this paper. The methodology is based on a pairwise comparison of household water billing data between homes with IPT and without rainwater tanks (No Tank). These savings were compared with estimations using measured end use data and rainwater demand predictions using the Rainwater TANK model. The paper describes the application of this methodology to a case study in the south-east Queensland (SEQ) region of Australia. There was a significant reduction in mains water consumption for IPT properties in all regions studied in SEQ. Water reductions from mains supplies varied markedly across regions with mean values ranging from 20 to 95 kL/hh/y with an average mean of 50 kL/hh/y. Median water consumption values, ranged in mains water reductions from 28 to 52 kL/hh/y, with an average median of 40 kL/hh/y. Considering both measures an average water saving between 40 and 50 kL/hh/y can be expected from internally plumbed rainwater tanks. Water restrictions appear to have a strong influence on estimated reductions in mains water use. In regions where water restrictions were severe, water consumption was less varied between No Tank and IPT homes with a consequent reduction in estimated savings observed. Recommendations for further work include a survey to capture confounding factors that could not be fully controlled in the desktop study and a controlled pairwise experiment to monitor water consumption from raintanks. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2012

Suggested Citation

  • Cara Beal & A. Sharma & T. Gardner & M. Chong, 2012. "A Desktop Analysis of Potable Water Savings from Internally Plumbed Rainwater Tanks in South-East Queensland, Australia," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 26(6), pages 1577-1590, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:waterr:v:26:y:2012:i:6:p:1577-1590
    DOI: 10.1007/s11269-011-9973-0
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Sorada Tapsuwan & Michael Burton & Aditi Mankad & David Tucker & Murni Greenhill, 2014. "Adapting to Less Water: Household Willingness to Pay for Decentralised Water Systems in Urban Australia," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 28(4), pages 1111-1125, March.
    2. Vieira, Abel S. & Beal, Cara D. & Ghisi, Enedir & Stewart, Rodney A., 2014. "Energy intensity of rainwater harvesting systems: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 34(C), pages 225-242.
    3. Shyama Ratnasiri & Clevo Wilson & Wasantha Athukorala & Maria A. Garcia-Valiñas & Benno Torgler & Robert Gifford, 2018. "Effectiveness of two pricing structures on urban water use and conservation: a quasi-experimental investigation," Environmental Economics and Policy Studies, Springer;Society for Environmental Economics and Policy Studies - SEEPS, vol. 20(3), pages 547-560, July.
    4. Aditi Mankad & Meng Chong & Ted Gardner & Ashok Sharma, 2012. "Examining Biophysical and Socio-Demographic Factors across Mandated Tank Users in Urban Australia: A Linking Step towards Achieving Best Practices," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 26(7), pages 1983-1998, May.
    5. Makki, Anas A. & Stewart, Rodney A. & Beal, Cara D. & Panuwatwanich, Kriengsak, 2015. "Novel bottom-up urban water demand forecasting model: Revealing the determinants, drivers and predictors of residential indoor end-use consumption," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 95(C), pages 15-37.
    6. Delaney, Candice & Fam, Dena, 2015. "The ‘meaning’ behind household rainwater use: An Australian case study," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 179-186.
    7. Aditi Mankad & Meng Chong & Shivanita Umapathi & Ashok Sharma, 2014. "Basic Psychological Needs Influencing the Regularity of Domestic Rainwater Tank Maintenance," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 28(12), pages 4059-4073, September.
    8. Thulo Ram Gurung & Rodney A. Stewart & Cara D. Beal & Ashok K. Sharma, 2016. "Investigating the Financial Implications and Viability of Diversified Water Supply Systems in an Urban Water Supply Zone," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 30(11), pages 4037-4051, September.
    9. Xingqi Zhang & Maochuan Hu & Gang Chen & Youpeng Xu, 2012. "Urban Rainwater Utilization and its Role in Mitigating Urban Waterlogging Problems—A Case Study in Nanjing, China," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 26(13), pages 3757-3766, October.

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