Performance Evaluation of Rainwater Harvesting Structures in Arid and Semi-Arid Regions
Publication: World Environmental and Water Resources Congress 2023
ABSTRACT
With low rainfall and high evaporation in arid and semi-arid regions, existing water resources are under high pressure. Rainwater harvesting (RWH) systems are gaining popularity as a low-cost, nature-based solution to water scarcity and securing water. In this paper, 18 research papers were searched using keywords performance evaluation, rainwater harvesting, water scarcity, water demand, and runoff. These papers have been reviewed for state of science about the performance evaluation of rainwater harvesting structures in arid and semi-arid regions. We have found that the effectiveness of RWH systems depends on their capacity, location, type, and operation and maintenance. The reliability indices should determine the performance of the RWH systems based on their capacity to store excess runoff rather than based on their capacity to secure water demand. Evaluation methodologies are also inconsistent with the use of multi-criteria decision analysis methods, such as defining criteria and their weights.
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World Environmental and Water Resources Congress 2023
Pages: 789 - 796
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Published online: May 18, 2023
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