Chapter 2
Rainwater Harvesting in New South Wales, Australia
Publication: Green Technologies for Sustainable Water Management
Abstract
In Australia, recent droughts and concerns about climate change have highlighted the need to manage water resources more sustainably. Rainwater harvesting has emerged as a new field of sustainable water management, which offers an alternative water supply for at least nonpotable uses. This chapter illustrates a detailed sampling on the concentration of pollutants in metropolitan rainwater tanks located at different parts of Sydney. Some rainwater tanks incorporate simple sand filtration devices to improve water quality for potable uses. Concentrated pollutants remaining after treatment and sludge can be discharged to the sewer, alleviating sludge disposal problems, and is attractive in creating a low maintenance system. It is possible to create a sustainable development with a low demand for town water and low storm water pollution export, as well as reduce storm water discharges. Some of the rainwater treatment technologies discussed include adsorption, pilot scale application, and membrane filtration.
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© 2016 American Society of Civil Engineers.
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Published online: Jul 1, 2016
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