Design Example For Rainwater Harvesting System

CHAPTER 7
Design Example for Rainwater Harvesting System
Case Study
The example of the rainwater tank sizing is based

on the proposed construction of 18 storey office
including 3 storey podium and one storey car
park for MITI (Ministry of International
Industrial for Malaysia).
The rainwater will be collected from the roof of

the (office and podium block) and from the
proposed building and directed to the downpipe
and rainwater tank located at ground level of the
building (Figure 7.1).
Part of the collection consists of the green roof

garden landscapes with the ornamental plant and Figure 7.1 Proposed Rainwater Harvesting
trees to meet the functional objective of the System
building (see Appendix for the detail drawing).
There are several mathematical models available
The rainwater harvesting system is assumed to be for determining the size of tank needed to
used as a bathroom cistern flushing for supply provide defined security of supply. In some
up to 1,000 installation of cisterns. cases, the computer-based models are used to
prepare tables of calculated tank size.
Rainwater Tank The simplest way of checking a tank size

estimated to provide water throughout an
The sizing of rainwater tank is based on the average year, is to use monthly rainfall data and
maximum volume of the water capture from the to assume that at the start of the wetter months
roof area to the rainwater harvesting system. The the tank is empty. The following formula should
next step is to calculate the security of supply then be used for each month:
that is the size of the tank needed to ensure the
volume of water collected and stored in the tank Vt = Vt-1 + (Runoff – Demand)
will be sufficient to meet demand throughout the
year, including during the drier months or Vt = theoretical volume of water
through periods of low or no rainfall. This is remaining in the tank at the end
particularly important in the case where the tank of the month.
is to represent the sole source of water supply.
Vt-1 = volume of water left in the tank
from the previous month
35
Starting with the tank empty then Vt-1 = 0. If, Calculations should be repeated using various
after any month, Vt exceeds the volume of the tank sizes until Vt is ≥ 0 at the end of every
tank, the water will lost to overflow. If Vt is ever month. The greater the values of Vt over the
a negative figure then demand exceeds the whole year, the greater the security of meeting
available water. Providing the calculated annual water demand when rainfalls are below average
runoff exceeds the annual water demand, Vt will or when dry periods are longer than normal. The
only be negative if periodic overflows reduce the greater the security, the larger the size and cost
amount of water collected so it is less than the of the tank shall be.
demand.
The maximum tank size and related data are
Tank size is not necessarily based on collecting shown in Table 7.1, while the monthly
total runoff (maximum volume of water catchment calculation is shown in Table 7.2
available) from the roof area. If the water
demand is less than the maximum volume of
water available then some overflow might occur
while demand is still met. If water demand is to
be met throughout the year, the tank should be
large enough so that Vt is never negative.
Table 7.1: Maximum Tank Size

456,000 liters (Assumes 1000 peoples, 3.8 liter from 6/3 cistern
Average monthly flushing
4 flushes per day/person)
Total annual rainfall 2520 mm
Monthly average (mm) Jan 107, Feb 200, Mar 266, Apr 293, May 217, Jun 153, July
- data from 1983-1997 150, Aug 195, Sept 237, Oct 248, Nov 235 & Dec 219.
Catchment area 6000 m2
Catchment efficiency 75%
Runoff (liters) = 0.75 (efficiency) × Rainfall × Roof Area
Runoff Formula
eg. Jan runoff = 0.75 ×107 × 6000 = 481 500 liters
Tank size 750,000 liters
Table 7.2: Monthly Catchment Calculation

Month Monthly Rainfall (mm) Runoff (liter) Vt (liter)
Jan 107 481 500 25 500
Feb 200 900 000 469 500
March 266 1 197 000 1 210 500
April 293 1 318 500 2 073 000
May 217 976 500 2 593 500
June 153 688 500 2 826 000
July 150 675 000 3 045 000
Aug 195 877 500 3 466 500
Sept 237 1 066 500 4 077 000
Oct 248 1 116 000 4 737 000
Nov 235 1 057 500 5 338 500
Dec 219 985 500 5 868 000
36
Pipe Sizing for Rainwater Installation
The conveyance system of the rainwater In building where high peak demands occur, a
harvesting should be designed to ensure the loading unit rating for such appliances is not
plumbing installation is economic, systematic, applicable and 100% of the flow rate for these
can be maintained efficiently and safe by appliances is required as shown in Table 7.4. The
following the standard guidelines and the same applies to automatic flushing cisterns for
requirement of local authority urinals.
In designing for water supply installation, an The pipe sizing can be determined using a well
assessment must first be made of the probable known practical formula known as Thomas-Box
maximum water flow. In most buildings it equation given as follows:
seldom happens that the total numbers of
appliances installed are ever in use at the same d5 ´H
time, and therefore, for economic reasons, it is q=
usual for a system to be designed for a peak 25 ´ L ´ 10 5
usage which is less than the possible maximum
usage. where
The probable maximum demand can be assessed q = discharge through the pipe (liter/s)
based on the theory of probability. This method d = diameter of pipe (mm)
use a loading unit rating which is devised for each H = head of water (m)
type of appliance, based on its rate of water L = total length of pipe (m)
delivery, the time the taps are open during usage,
and the simultaneous demand for the particular
type of appliance.
Table 7.3 gives the loading unit rating for various

appliances.
37
Table 7.3: Loading Unit Rating for Various Applications
Loading Unit Rating
Dwelling and flats

W.C. flushing cistern 2
Wash basin 1 1/2
Bath 10
Sink 3-5
Offices
Wash basin (distributed use) 1 1/2
Wash basin (concentrated use) 3
School and industrial Buildings
Wash basin 3
Shower (with nozzle) 3
Public bath 22
Table 7.4: Recommended Minimum Flow Rate at Various Appliances
Type of appliance Rate of flow (liter/s)
W.C. flushing cistern 0.12

Wash basin 0.15
Wash basin with spray 0.04
taps
Bath (private) 0.30
Bath (public) 0.60
Shower (with nozzle) 0.12
Sink with 13 mm taps 0.20
38
Effective Length of Pipe
The diameter of the pipe necessary to give a

required flow rate will depend upon the head of Table 7.5: Frictional Resistance of Fittings
water available, the smoothness of the internal Expressed in Equivalent Pipe Length
bore of the pipe and the effective length of the
pipe. Nominal Meter run of pipe
outside Elbow Bend Tee
An allowance for the frictional resistance set up diameter
by fittings such as elbows, tees, taps and valves (mm)
must be added to the actual length of the pipe. 15 0.5 0.4 1.2
Table 7.5 gives the allowance for fittings 20 0.6 0.5 1.4
expressed in equivalent pipe lengths. 25 0.7 0.6 1.8
32 1.0 0.7 2.3
In calculating the diameter of a pipe to supply 40 1.2 1.0 2.7
individual fittings, the loss of head through the 50 1.4 1.2 3.4
draw-off tap should also be taken into account. 65 1.7 1.3 4.2
Table 7.6 gives the allowances for draw-off taps 80 2.0 1.6 5.3
expressed in equivalent pipe lengths. 100 2.7 2.0 6.8
Table 7.6: Frictional Resistance of Draw-off Taps Expressed as Equivalent Pipe Lengths
Fitting (BS 1010) Discharge Equivalent length of pipe of same

rate tap fully diameter as tap (m)
open Copper Galvanised steel
(liter/s)
15 mm diameter bib- 0.20 2.70 4.00
tap or pillar tap
20 mm diameter bib- 0.30 8.50 5.75
tap or pillar tap
25 mm diameter bib- 0.60 20.00 13.00
tap or pillar tap
39
Figure 7.2: Loading Units
Figure 7.3: Head Loss through Stop Valve
40
Figure 7.4: Pipe Sizing Chart
Pipe Sizing Example
The calculation of main pipe size for rainwater The calculation of loading rating per unit
tank serving a typical bathroom of a commercial appliance from Table 7.3.
building, the appliances in the bathroom consist
of 5 W.C. flushing cisterns, 10 wash basins and 5 W.C. flushing system (WC) = 5 units
showers with nozzle. The layout of the system is
Wash basin (WB) = 10 units
shown in Figure 7.5.
Shower (SR) = 5 units
The calculation of total loading.
5 WC × 2 = 10 units
10 WB × 1.5 = 15 units
5 SR × 3 = 15 units
Total = 40 units
41
The head loss in 25 mm copper pipe due to
frictional resistance obtained from Figure 7.4 is
0.10. The head loss due to fitting of stop valve is
equivalent to 0.6 (Figure 7.3). Hence, the total
head loss can be calculated as follows:
Total head loss = (19.6 × 0.1) + 0.6

Total head loss = 2.56 meter
Figure 7.5: Example layout of the Plumbing The available head is 5 meter, therefore the
System Serving a Bathroom residual head at appliances distribution point is:
Residual head = 5 – 2.56

The flow rate for 40 units loading is 0.70 liter/s
= 2.44 meter – the system
using relationship between design flow rate and
is adequate.
loading unit shown in Figure 7.2.
The calculation of the pipe size using Thomas-
The calculation of head loss due to frictional
Box equation:
resistance for elbow and tee in equivalent pipe
length from Table 7.5.
Effective length = 19.6
Elbow = 0.7 meter run of pipe Design pipe flow = 0.70 liter/s
Tee = 1.8 meter run of pipe Head = 2.44 m
The calculation of the effective length of the

Therefore
main pipe serving the appliances in the
bathroom. Assuming the system used 25 mm
(O.D) galvanized steel pipe. 0.70 2 ´ 25 ´ 19.6 ´ 10 5
d =5 = 25.04mm
2.44
actual length of
the main pipe = 15 meters The pipe size used 25 mm is acceptable.
effective length = actual length +
equivalent length
equivalent length = 4 elbows + 1 tee
equivalent length = (0.7 × 4) + (1.8 ×1)
= 4.6 meters
effective length = 15 + 4.6
= 19.6 meter
42

Design Example For Rainwater Harvesting System

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CHAPTER 7

Design Example for Rainwater Harvesting System

The example of the rainwater tank sizing is based

The rainwater will be collected from the roof of

Part of the collection consists of the green roof

Rainwater Tank The simplest way of checking a tank size

Table 7.1: Maximum Tank Size

Table 7.2: Monthly Catchment Calculation

Table 7.3 gives the loading unit rating for various

Loading Unit Rating

Dwelling and flats

Table 7.4: Recommended Minimum Flow Rate at Various Appliances

Type of appliance Rate of flow (liter/s)

W.C. flushing cistern 0.12

Sink with 25 mm taps 0.60

The diameter of the pipe necessary to give a

Fitting (BS 1010) Discharge Equivalent length of pipe of same

Figure 7.3: Head Loss through Stop Valve

Pipe Sizing Example

The calculation of total loading.

Total head loss = (19.6 × 0.1) + 0.6

Residual head = 5 – 2.56

The calculation of the effective length of the

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