Aproveitamento de águas pluviais – estudo de caso no residencial Lagoa Nova

Abstract

Due to the limited access to water in an adequate quantity and quality, and the concern with the environment and its finite resources, the use of rainwater is increasing. This increased use has contributed to the development of rainwater harvesting systems usage, which is an alternative capable of minimize the consumption of drinking water that comes from the conventional system. This study aims to determine the feasibility of implementing the use of rainwater system for garden watering at Lagoa Nova residential, located in Natal. This system uses roofing surfaces to catch rain water, which is driven by gutters to storage tanks. Based on Australian Practical Method, the system efficiencies were analyzed for storage reservoirs with different capacities. In addition, implementation costs were analyzed with 20, 60 and 120 m³ reservoirs. Based on this, the payback period of the investment was calculated. Studies have shown that even the smallest evaluated reserve (20 m³) is not economically viable, since the payback period is long. But considering the environmental economy, the system becomes a good alternative for reducing the use of potable water for non-noble purposes.