Solar-Powered Automatic Rainwater Harvesting System as
an Alternative Non-Potable Water Source: A Literature
Review
Geraldine I. del Rosario1[1], Rodelyn S. Nortez1[2], Reynald P. Rubio1[3],
Coleen Joyce L. Soriano1[4]
1School
of Engineering, Aurora State College of Technology, Zabali
[1]
grldndr12@gmail.com
[2]elainenortez2000@gmail.com
[3]rubioreynald@gmail.com
[4]coleenjoyces@gmail.com
Abstract. Water is thought of as a resource that is always free and readily available. But as the
population grows the greater demand of water exist resulting in water scarcity. A sustainable
rainwater harvesting system can be helpful to eradicate this problem. A rainwater harvesting system
is simply a method of harvesting rainwater from rooftop or roof runoff that is connected to reservoir
which main objective is to supply domestic water in a particular building. This literature review will
be focusing on the advantages and disadvantages of solar-powered automatic rainwater harvesting
system as alternative source of non-potable water. Also, this review will tackle the challenges of
using solar power as an energy source of rainwater harvesting system as well as the sustainability
and efficiency of it.
Keywords: Rainwater harvesting, Renewable Energy, Solar Energy, Non-Potable Water, Water
Conservation.
1. Introduction
Water is regarded as a perpetually free resource that can be obtained naturally. Due to
rising population, there is a greater demand for treated supply water. A balance between the supply
and demand for water could be maintained by sustainable use[1] . The importance of water
conservation is rising around the globe as crucial plan for future water planning and management
decades[2]. Rainwater harvesting is the technique of collecting rainwater and storing it in containers
before it seeps into the ground and replenishes the subsurface water table[3]. The best possible use
of natural water resources must be made in nations with dry climates. A practical source of water for
non-potable uses is rainwater harvesting (RWH)[4].
In the past, a variety of rainwater harvesting technologies were widely used in many
regions of the world, in both developed and developing nations, including the United States of
America, the United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, Ethiopia, South Africa, Sudan, Nigeria, Brazil,
Saudi Arabia, and Iran, RWH is frequently employed as a substitute water supply source, according
to a number of studies[5][6]. However, in order to achieve sustainability, a rainwater harvesting
technique that uses less energy[5]. The typical rainwater harvesting system consists of an electric
pumping device that circulates water through a scaled reservoir[7]. Systems are typically operated
manually, which results in unnecessary energy use[5]. Thus, an environmentally friendly system for
the catchment and distribution of this water requires the use of a renewable and non-polluting
energy source[7].
Solar power is a sustainable and alternative energy source that may be used for rainwater
harvesting systems in both commercial and residential buildings, which is one way to solve this
issue. You can utilize the system's water for non-potable uses including washing automobiles, doing
laundry, flushing toilets, and irrigating gardens. As a truly sustainable technique that will assist to
preserve water, minimize water scarcity, and conserve energy, the use of renewable energy sources
to rainwater harvesting systems is crucial on a worldwide scale.
2. Methodology
This section describes the procedures used to gather data from online databases like Google
Scholar and IEEE Digital Library, including papers, studies, journals, and articles pertinent to the topic.
Only information that related to this study from studies, journals, and articles that had been published
within the previous ten years were obtained.
This aims to answer the following research questions:
1.
2.
How solar-powered automatic rainwater harvesting system can be sustainable alternative
source for the use of non-potable water?
How renewable energy source can help rainwater harvesting system work efficiently.
3.0 Discussion
3.1 Solar-Powered Automatic Rainwater Harvesting System as Sustainable Alternative Water
Source
Due to population growth, there is a growing need for treated supply water. By using water
sustainably, the supply and demand for it could remain balanced[8]. People should be aware of the
need to practice water conservation since conserving water directly reduces energy use in the
treatment of sewage and other water-related processes, as well as in the processing and delivery of
water[9]. The most conventional and environmentally friendly technique is rainwater harvesting
(RWH), which may be simply applied to residential as well as commercial buildings for both
potable and non-potable uses[10]. Rainwater harvesting systems can supply residential and
commercial properties with water for use during times of drought and reduce the demand on
municipal systems. The non-potable water can be used to irrigate landscaping, flush toilets, wash
cars, or launder clothes. It can even be purified for human consumption[3]. In addition, in urban
settings, RWH can also be utilized to conserve mains water by harvesting rainwater for non-drinking
uses like laundry and toilet flushing[10]. Rainwater harvesting systems could be designed using
hydraulic simulation and spatial technology integrated into a GIS framework. However, to achieve
sustainability, a rainwater collection technique that uses less energy is required, as water usage is
increasing annually[11].
3.2 Application of Solar Power to Rainwater Harvesting System
Water scarcity, flawed consumption patterns, worldwide population expansion that is occurring at
a rapid pace, the ratio of consumption to production, and several other variables highlight the urgent need
to systematically access and use additional resources, particularly renewable water supplies[12]. Buildings
are using Rainwater Harvesting Systems (RHS) more frequently to combat water shortages and rising costs
of centralized water supply. Despite the advantages of RHS, they could also have negative effects, mostly
because of the high energy consumption. The quantity of energy used per unit of water, or energy intensity,
is a crucial component to consider when assessing the environmental sustainability of different RHS [12].
In 2020, the production of renewable energy accounted for about 29% of the world's electricity, with an
annual increase of 2%. To ensure that everyone on earth has an equal chance of staying below 1.5 °C,
countries must drastically increase the number of renewable energy installations and reduce global energyrelated carbon dioxide emissions to zero by 2050. In order to achieve these goals, renewable generation
must increase by 12% on average between 2021 and 2030, or nearly twice as much as it did between 2011
and 2020[13]. For sustainable development to occur on the Philippine islands, renewable energy must be
used[14].
4. Research Gap
Table 1. Challenges and limitations that this study faced during the evaluation of related literature.
No.
Citations
Challenges
1
[5][3]
Efficiency of using RHW
2
[5] [12].
Sustainable Development
The development of a smart water system to increase efficiency and sustainability
performance has posed significant challenges to the water sector over the past few years[3]. The
designations that have been created and the case studies that have been analyzed demonstrate that
the application of this smart technology contributes to the future of smart cities in terms of water as
well as the energy nexus through effective smart water planning and management[3]. Systems are
typically controlled manually, which results in wasteful energy use. It is difficult to manipulate
physically operated devices to suit the needs of the user. Each person has unique needs that vary
depending on the circumstances surrounding them at any given time[5]. Thus, automatic systems
should take the place of manual ones.
In order to attain sustainability, an energy-efficient rainwater harvesting system is required
because annual increases in water usage occur. Thus, a system should be designed to preserve water
while making efficient use of energy[5]. RHS offer benefits, but because of their high energy
consumption, they may also have drawbacks. A significant consideration to take into account while
evaluating the environmental sustainability of various RHS is energy intensity, or the amount of
energy used per unit of water [12].
5. Conclusion
Water is one of the most important necessities in daily life, and as the population grows,
the need for water become a problem. But energy intensity is an important factor to consider when
assessing the environmental sustainability of different RHS. One of the solutions to exterminate this
problem is the use of solar power as an alternative and sustainable energy source for rainwater
harvesting systems which may be applied in residential buildings as well as in commercial
buildings. The water from the system can be used as non-potable water to irrigate landscaping, flush
toilets, wash cars, or launder clothes. The application of renewable energy source to rainwater
harvesting system is globally essential because it is truly a sustainable method that will helps to
reduce water scarcity and to preserve water and conserve energy.
6. REFERENCES
[1]
S. Rahman, M. T. R. Khan, S. Akib, N. B. C. Din, S. K. Biswas, and S. M. Shirazi,
“Sustainability of rainwater harvesting system in terms of water quality,” The Scientific
World Journal, vol. 2014, 2014, doi: 10.1155/2014/721357.
[2]
D. Saurí, “Water conservation: Theory and evidence in urban areas of the developed
world,” Annu Rev Environ Resour, vol. 38, pp. 227–248, Oct. 2013, doi: 10.1146/annurevenviron-013113-142651.
[3]
V. Sharma, “Arduino based Smart Water Management.” [Online]. Available:
https://github.com/blynkkk/blynk-library.
[4]
U. Nachson et al., “New modelling approach to optimize rainwater harvesting system for
non-potable uses and groundwater recharge: A case study from Israel,” Sustain Cities
Soc, vol. 85, p. 104097, Oct. 2022, doi: 10.1016/J.SCS.2022.104097.
[5]
B. Lasya, Y. Bhavana, B. Deekshitha, and B. K. Priya, “An innovative and effective
electronic based automatic rainwater harvesting system,” in Proceedings of the 3rd
International Conference on Smart Systems and Inventive Technology, ICSSIT 2020,
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., Aug. 2020, pp. 114–121. doi:
10.1109/ICSSIT48917.2020.9214118.
[6]
D. Adugna, M. B. Jensen, B. Lemma, and G. S. Gebrie, “Assessing the potential for rooftop
rainwater harvesting from large public institutions,” Int J Environ Res Public Health, vol.
15, no. 2, Feb. 2018, doi: 10.3390/ijerph15020336.
[7]
L. Tsuneto and J. Virgens Filho, “Rainwater harvesting system using alternative energy
sources in climate change scenarios in the State of Parana - Brazil,” in IOP Conference
Series: Earth and Environmental Science, Institute of Physics Publishing, Jun. 2020. doi:
10.1088/1755-1315/503/1/012037.
[8]
S. Rahman, M. T. R. Khan, S. Akib, N. B. C. Din, S. K. Biswas, and S. M. Shirazi,
“Sustainability of rainwater harvesting system in terms of water quality,” The Scientific
World Journal, vol. 2014, 2014, doi: 10.1155/2014/721357.
[9]
B. Lasya, Y. Bhavana, B. Deekshitha, and B. K. Priya, “An innovative and effective
electronic based automatic rainwater harvesting system,” in Proceedings of the 3rd
International Conference on Smart Systems and Inventive Technology, ICSSIT 2020,
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., Aug. 2020, pp. 114–121. doi:
10.1109/ICSSIT48917.2020.9214118.
[10]
A. Rahman, “Rainwater harvesting for sustainable developments: Non-potable use,
household irrigation and stormwater management,” Water (Switzerland), vol. 13, no. 23.
MDPI, Dec. 01, 2021. doi: 10.3390/w13233460.
[11]
B. Lasya, Y. Bhavana, B. Deekshitha, and B. K. Priya, “An innovative and effective
electronic based automatic rainwater harvesting system,” in Proceedings of the 3rd
International Conference on Smart Systems and Inventive Technology, ICSSIT 2020,
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., Aug. 2020, pp. 114–121. doi:
10.1109/ICSSIT48917.2020.9214118.
[12]
A. S. Vieira, C. D. Beal, E. Ghisi, and R. A. Stewart, “Energy intensity of rainwater
harvesting systems: A review,” Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, vol. 34, pp.
225–242, Jun. 2014, doi: 10.1016/J.RSER.2014.03.012.
[13]
R. Nahar Myyas, M. Al-Dabbasa, M. Tostado-Véliz, and F. Jurado, “A novel solar panel
cleaning mechanism to improve performance and harvesting rainwater,” Solar Energy,
vol. 237, pp. 19–28, May 2022, doi: 10.1016/J.SOLENER.2022.03.068.
[14]
P. Bertheau, J. Dionisio, C. Jütte, and C. Aquino, “Challenges for implementing renewable
energy in a cooperative-driven off-grid system in the Philippines.”
DESIGN OF SOLAR-POWERED AUTOMATIC RAINWATER HARVESTING SYSTEM AS AN
ALTERNATIVE NON-POTABLE WATER SOURCE IN AURORA STATE COLLEGE OF
TECHNONOLOGY’S SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING: A LITERATURE REVIEW