The objectives of this project are multi-faceted: Grupo Fenix wants to make use of natural resources available in their community, increase water availability by improving the harvesting system of rainwater (especially water availability for their recently opened eco-restaurant), and create a plan/design that can be integrated into the already existing Centro Solar buildings.
Because Sylvia and I do not (yet) have information as to the existing system of rainwater harvest for the Grupo Fenix's buildings, we were unable to come up with legitimate "improvements" during class. Instead, we spent the majority of class familiarizing ourselves with the written material and designs generally used. I read a number of articles (links below) to familiarize with existing literature and theories about varying harvest methods, and we came up with a number of questions for our contact person.
Before I continue with the notes taken, I should include that Sylvia and I are trying to be conscious of 1) improving on existing infrastructure (we imagine this will be the most cost and resource-efficient); 2) cost (our hypothesis is that a low-cost solution will probably be more favorably looked upon than a high-cost solution); 3) coming up with a system that provides at least decent quality water (for example, my research led me to learn that metal roofs produce higher quality water than do asbestos, tile, or thatch roofs).
Now, onto the research:
The image below is what the most common (and low-cost, we think?) rainwater harvesting system looks like. The roof is used as the catchment area and water runs off into the gutter, which connects to a pipe, which leads the water into a storage reservoir. The storage reservoir can work in two ways: the way shown below has the storage reservoir with an outlet tap, where people can gather the water from; another way we came across is for the reservoir to lead to an underground tank--which seems to allow for a greater volume of water to be stored.
Our initial impression is that this (most common) system is what would work best, and we have brainstormed the possibility of adding on another 2-3 storage reservoirs. This would prevent any flooding and would allow Grupo Fenix to capture more water. Because we have little (or, really no) idea as to what the current system looks like this is sort of where our brainstorming concluded.
With all this said, we are planning to email the Project Development Advisor at Grupo Fenix with our questions. Our initial questions are:
- What is the current design? Can we get a diagram or photo of the system?
- What specific parts of the current design seem to be the most problematic?
- Is the storage tank above ground or below ground?
- What materials/resource do you use for each part of the system? Which materials/resources are available to you?
- Are there specific improvements you/Grupo Fenix have in mind? If so, what are they?
- Should we consider adding/improving on any existing filtration/reuse components of the current system?
- Are there any other factors that are most important to you?
Once we hear back from the Project Advisor we will have much more information and be able to come up with a better idea of how the future of this project might look!
Random notes/links from in-class research:
Thoughts/Questions -->
Need improved design (more efficient/effective system) for harvesting
What is the current design? Can we get a diagram or photo of the system?
Is the storage tank above ground or below ground?
What materials/resource do you use for each part of the system? Which materials/resources are available to you?
But also, won't we need to brainstorm a filtration and reuse system? Especially if for an eco restaurant?
Possible designs:
Gutter off of rooftop connected to piping connected to buckets
Watertronics? Based out of WI – http://www.waterworld.com/articles/2009/12/report-focuses-on.html
Similarly - "SkyHarvester" http://www.skyharvester.com/ (never mind, no designs actually published)
http://www.atlantiscorp.com.au/rainwater-harvesting/our-values/rainwater-harvesting-underground-water-tanks-re-use-tank
IETC: Connected to UNEP
http://www.unep.org/ietc/
Good reports:
General rainwater harvesting - http://www.climatetechwiki.org/content/rainwater-harvesting
Rooftop harvesting - http://www.climatetechwiki.org/content/rainwater-harvesting-rooftops
Ground harvesting - http://www.climatetechwiki.org/content/rainwater-harvesting-ground-surfaces
http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/eng/research/civil/crg/dtu-old/pubs/reviewed/rwh/tht_ircsa_2003/thomas.pdf
Metal roofs produce better (higher quality) water than asbestos or tile ones, thatch roofs too
"Lowering the nutrient levels of tank water –– by pre-entry screening, filtering, or first-flush diversion –– accelerates the rate of bacterial die-off and of course larger tanks generate cleaner water than do small ones."
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