A laboratory study into a novel, retrofittable rainwater harvesting system

Abstract

Rainwater harvesting (RWH) in the UK is an under-utilised technology that is often cited as a simple, low cost solution to a wide number of pressures associated with our water resources. For example, Kellagher set out a range of benefits that could potentially align to see RWH become a technology that will support increased resilience to a range of potential threats such as drought, increasing energy costs and stormwater flooding. Defining and quantifying these wider benefits will become increasingly important as the magnitude and frequency of these threats increases as a result of climate change in the years ahead. Internationally, RWH has been successfully retrofitted in Australia and Germany, yet it remains difficult to cost-effectively retrofit at residential properties within the UK. At a household scale, the UK RWH market remains relatively immature and is focussed on new-build installations, although some retro-fitting has taken place.