Rainwater Harvesting: Integrating Water Conservation and Stormwater Management through Innovative Technologies

Recent droughts, population increases, and predicted climate change have emphasized the fragility of water resources and the need for water conservation within the state of North Carolina, USA. The necessity of stormwater management is another ever-present reality for the state due to increases in urban development and resulting declines in water quality. Rainwater harvesting (RWH) systems are unique in their ability to provide an alternate source of water and serve as detention/retention for roof runoff that would otherwise be discharged to the stormwater network. This study focuses on two RWH systems, each of which employ an innovative method of increasing the stormwater management potential of the system: an active release mechanism and a passive release mechanism. The purpose of this study is to document how well RWH systems serve as both water conservation practices and stormwater management practices when equipped with these innovative technologies.