Search Results (321)

This paper explores the intricate relationship between novel paleo-hydrological settings and the sustainability of ancient human societies in the Sahara Desert, focusing on the sandstone massifs of Tassili n’Ajjer, Tadrart Acacus, and Messak Settafet. While this region is currently hyper-arid, archeological evidence reveals a history of significant human settlement facilitated by the African Humid Period (AHP). The core of the research is the idea that the natural geological and hydrogeological settings worked to magnify rainfall in a manner that is analogous to modern techniques in water systems engineering. Serendipitous features of geology, structural settings, and stream networks are presented, along with illustrative calculations to suggest how this system functioned as an accidental rainwater harvesting system, concentrating runoff into conveniently located lakes. On the Messak Settafet, the archaeologic evidence points to a rising water table and more robust groundwater flow as runoff infiltrated. We conceptualize this behavior as a managed aquifer recharge system. This natural system worked effectively by storing ephemeral surface water in a sandstone aquifer, shielded from the high evaporation rates of the Sahara. These “natural technologies” created perennial water sources such as lakes, ponds, and springs that supported hunter-gatherers and pastoralist societies. Long after the end of the Holocene AHP, the Garamantian Empire arose with the help of qanat technology that was able to produce the stored groundwater. This paper illustrates how an unlikely array of components worked to create natural technologies able to provide “livable niches.” These findings offer instructive lessons for modern sustainability, demonstrating how integrated landscape management can secure water resources in water-stressed environments. Full article

Very small islands face freshwater scarcity due to limited catchment areas, rainfall variability, and saline intrusion. In Indonesia, rainwater harvesting (RWH) can reduce household water stress, but its reliability as an independent source remains uncertain. This study used field surveys and a daily water-balance model to assess household RWH systems on the Belakang Padang and Mecan Islands. Representative wet (2023) and dry (2019) years were selected from a 30-year rainfall record to evaluate storage performance, rainwater supply reliability, and water saving efficiency (WSE). Simulations considered 200, 500, and 1000 L tanks under household-demand scenarios of 60–300 L/day. During the wet year, rainfall frequently refilled storage tanks and improved water availability, although overflow occurred when harvested water exceeded storage capacity. Larger tanks reduced overflow losses and extended water availability after rainfall events. In contrast, dry-year storage performance declined because rainfall was limited and concentrated within a short period. Even 1000 L tanks could not maintain sufficient storage under high demand during prolonged rainless periods. Rainwater supply reliability and water saving efficiency were higher during the wet year, ranging from 31 to 99.2% and 0.231 to 1.029 on Belakang Padang and 25.2 to 98.6% and 0.211 to 1.024 on Mecan, while dry-year reliability declined markedly as demand increased. Belakang Padang showed higher reliability than Mecan because its larger roof catchment area harvested more rainwater from the same rainfall event. Overall, household RWH is unlikely to provide a dependable independent domestic water supply on very small islands but can serve as an important supplementary source during disruptions to centralized systems. Reintroducing and maintaining household RWH, together with improvements in tank capacity, effective roof catchment area, and conveyance systems, could strengthen household water security on the Belakang Padang and Mecan Islands. Full article

Progressive climate change and rapid urbanization are placing increasing pressure on water resources, highlighting the need for local stormwater retention and reuse in residential areas. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of geological-engineering and geotechnical conditions on the design of stormwater management systems and to develop a conceptual solution for a residential property in Kraków, Poland. Geological, hydrogeological, hydrological, and topographic conditions were assessed using archival data verified through field investigations. Rainfall data from the Kraków-Balice meteorological station (2014–2023) were used to estimate rainwater harvesting potential and evaluate system performance. The proposed system consists of surface and subsurface drainage, two storage tanks, and an infiltration well. The first tank collects roof runoff for non-potable domestic use, whereas the second stores water from the drainage system and paved surfaces for irrigation. The annual rainwater harvesting potential was comparable to the non-potable water demand of a five-person household, while water collected from the drainage system and paved surfaces was sufficient for irrigation. Monthly precipitation analysis revealed pronounced seasonal variability, with winter shortages and summer surpluses. Integrating the storage tanks with the infiltration well enabled effective management of excess stormwater while supporting groundwater recharge. The results demonstrate that consideration of geological-engineering conditions is essential for the effective and sustainable design of residential stormwater management systems. Full article

This study addresses the dual challenges of seasonal water scarcity and urban flooding in the Garzan River basin, a region with a semi-arid climate. We propose and analyze an integrated water management system designed to mitigate these risks and promote both ecological and economic sustainability. Our methodology began with a comprehensive analysis of meteorological data from 2000 to 2024, which quantified the significant seasonal irregularity in the annual rainfall regime. The findings revealed that the bulk of the average 800 mm of rainfall occurs between January and May, while the summer months experience near-drought conditions. Based on this, we calculated the potential of various water conservation strategies. The system combines rainwater harvesting from a 1000 m² roof and a 500 m² parking lot, projected to collect 1020 m³ annually, with greywater reclamation and low-flow fixtures, which add a combined 400 m³ of annual savings. The total annual water savings of 1420 m³ were found to provide a gross annual economic benefit of $3550. Considering the installation and maintenance costs, the project’s payback period is estimated to be around 32 years. We also developed an annual precipitation prediction model providing a locally applicable early warning mechanism that forecasts total rainfall based on spring data. The use of proactive hydrometeorological data can improve the feasibility of long-term infrastructure projects to a certain extent. Finally, the proposed system’s design was confirmed to be eligible for multiple LEED certification credits, demonstrating its alignment with international sustainability standards. In conclusion, this research provides a comprehensive and viable solution that addresses local water issues and offers a valuable model for other regions facing similar challenges. Full article

Water scarcity in Chile has been exacerbated by a decline in precipitation and an increase in water demand. This has prompted a search for strategies to increase water supply, whether through aquifer recharge or reservoir construction. In this study, aquifer recharge was evaluated through rainwater harvesting systems (RWHS) and direct injection into rural wells in the Ñuble Region. Three wells were selected in the Ñuble Region (Ñiquén, San Carlos, and Coihueco) using hydrogeological and operational criteria. To characterize the hydrogeology of the area, local piezometric data, geophysical surveys using electrical resistivity tomography (ERT), and seismoelectric tests were considered. This enabled the identification of aquifers with water levels between 2.6 and 23 m depth across the different geological units of the territory. The hydrological design was based on a frequency analysis of annual precipitation (1991–2020), which yielded design rainfall values between 442 and 694 mm. The implemented RWHS demonstrated injection capacities between 0.9 and 1.4 L·s⁻¹. The results show that rainwater harvesting combined with direct aquifer recharge represents a viable alternative for improving water security, with potential for territorial scaling through regional public policies. Full article

Rainwater harvesting systems (RWHS) are increasingly being adopted globally as part of green infrastructure to complement climate change adaptation and sustainable stormwater management. This study reviews the adoption of RWHS in non-domestic sectors, including commercial, industrial, and institutional settings, situating the topic within the broader challenges of water security in urban areas. This review aims to synthesise existing evidence on the key drivers, barriers, trends, and research gaps shaping RWHS adoption beyond the conventional domestic household scale. Following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, peer-reviewed manuscripts published since 2000 were systematically identified and screened from the Scopus and Web of Science databases, focusing explicitly on adoption-related outcomes in non-domestic contexts. The findings indicate that RWHS adoption is primarily driven by anticipated water bill savings, sustainability, corporate environmental commitments, and stormwater management benefits, while major barriers include high initial capital costs, regulatory uncertainty, technical and maintenance complexity, and concerns regarding water quality and system reliability. This review also reveals sector-specific trends, such as the integration of RWHS with green building certification schemes and smart water technologies, and the prioritisation of process and utility water uses in non-domestic sectors. Overall, the findings indicate that non-domestic RWHS have substantial potential to contribute to sustainable stormwater management, but wider uptake depends on targeted policy support, economic incentives, clearer regulatory frameworks, and improved technical guidance, alongside further empirical research addressing the identified knowledge gaps. Full article

Rooftop rainwater harvesting (RWH) offers a practical adaptation option for Mediterranean cities where water scarcity is amplified by seasonal rainfall and climate variability. This study reports early findings from a simplified monthly water balance screening model for a typical residential building, driven by ERA5-Land monthly precipitation for Antalya and İzmir (Türkiye). Scenarios cover roof areas of 250–3000 m² and practical tank capacities of 2–100 m³ under a fixed non-potable demand of 0.20 m³/day. The model tracks monthly storage dynamics and supply demand in order to compute demand coverage and monthly reliability (i.e., fraction of months in which full demand is met). Reliability-based storage thresholds (≥0.80) are derived for four evaluation windows (1996–2010, 2011–2025, 1996–2025, 1950–2025) to explore climate sensitivity. In parallel, a guideline-style sizing which is consistent with the Turkish rainwater harvesting guideline is implemented using a three-day storage rule based on the wettest month potential. To enable a like-for-like comparison, the collection losses are harmonized by setting loss to 0.10 in the simulation and efficiency to 0.90 in the guideline method. The results show stable thresholds for Antalya but stronger period sensitivity in İzmir. They also quantify cases where guideline sizing does not achieve the target reliability under dry season constraints. This approach supports the rapid, climate-aware pre-design of small- to medium-scale urban RWH systems. Full article

Human activities and economic development require large amounts of water and energy. The analysis of the nexus between water and energy flows can improve the understanding of the quantitative relationship between the two resources and guide actions and policies to obtain better results with lower risks. This article aimed to analyse and evaluate the use of rainwater in urban environments and its relationship with the water–energy nexus through a literature review. The PRISMA guidelines were used to structure the research, and the RStudio programme was used for the bibliometric analysis. A total of 118 articles published between 2013 and 2023 were identified in the Scopus and Web of Science databases, of which 30 met the eligibility criteria and were included in the review. The risk of bias in the studies included was assessed by two independent reviewers, and disagreements were resolved by consensus. The results were synthesized in a narrative and descriptive way, and organized in a table containing the authors, year, country, and main findings. The studies were grouped according to the theme addressed and the results related to the use of rainwater and the water–energy nexus were compared. The results indicate that the main use of rainwater is for non-drinkable purposes, to reduce the demand for potable water, lessen the pressure on water resources and contribute to environmental sustainability. Climate change can affect rainfall regimes and, consequently, the feasibility of systems. By decentralizing water supply services, the use of rainwater can save drinking water. When assessing energy savings, the use of rainwater is not always the best option, as system configurations and pump specifications are determining factors. Regarding the environmental impacts, all stages of the urban water cycle consume energy for their operation, and the environmental impact is directly related to the energy source used. Policies and regulations focused on rational use, water conservation, demand reduction, and tax incentives for the installation of rainwater harvesting systems, together with awareness campaigns, are necessary for the widespread adoption of rainwater harvesting systems. Finally, there is consensus regarding saving drinking water, but there is still a lack of studies and specifications regarding energy savings. The findings highlight the need for future longitudinal and simulation-based studies to strengthen knowledge of water–energy nexus dynamics in buildings. Full article

Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) have gained increasing attention as institutional mechanisms for improving the resilience of smallholder farming systems under changing climatic conditions. This study examines the role of FPOs in promoting the adoption of Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) practices, improved irrigation strategies, and sustainable land management in the arid region of Pali district, Rajasthan, India. A comparative assessment was conducted between FPO-associated member and non-member farmers to evaluate differences in climate change perception, adoption behaviour, and adaptive capacity. The study employed a mixed-methods research design using primary data collected from 408 farm households through structured interviews, focus group discussions, and key informant consultations. Descriptive statistics, mean comparison tests and regression analysis were used to examine adoption patterns and identify the major factors influencing farmers’ responses to climate risks. The findings indicate that delayed rainfall, rising temperatures, and increasing drought frequency are widely perceived by farmers as major threats to agricultural production. FPO membership was associated with higher levels of climate-risk awareness and greater reported adoption of CSA practices; however, these findings should be interpreted as associations rather than causal effects. Farmers linked with FPOs reported stronger uptake of improved and stress-tolerant crop varieties, crop diversification, mixed farming systems, agroforestry, soil moisture conservation, rainwater harvesting, improved irrigation methods, and integrated pest management practices. Education, farm size, access to extension services, market linkages, and climate information were also found to significantly influence adoption decisions. The study highlights the important contribution of FPOs in reducing transaction costs, improving access to inputs, technical knowledge, credit and markets, and encouraging collective responses to climate stress. Strengthening FPO governance, expanding extension support, and targeting vulnerable farmer groups can substantially enhance climate resilience and support sustainable agricultural transitions in arid regions. The findings demonstrate that farmer organizations can serve as effective intermediary institutions linking household-level adaptation strategies with broader goals of irrigation efficiency, land management, and rural sustainability. Full article

Access to safe and reliable water resources is one of the most critical global challenges of the twenty-first century. In developing regions, such as Palestine, ensuring adequate water access has become increasingly difficult due to rapid population growth and the intensifying impacts of climate change, which place additional pressure on limited water resources. In this context, alternative water sources, such as rooftop rainwater harvesting (RWH), represent a promising option for enhancing water resilience. This study assesses the impacts of climate change on water resilience in the West Bank by evaluating the future performance of rooftop RWH systems. The potential effects of climate change on optimal storage capacity, system reliability, and deficit ratio are assessed spatially across different West Bank governorates. Monthly rainfall projections for the period 2021–2100 were obtained under three climate change scenarios (SSP126, SSP370, and SSP585). The results indicate that climate change is expected to negatively affect both optimal storage capacity and system reliability, with the most pronounced impacts occurring under the high-emission scenarios. However, the magnitude of these impacts varies spatially among governorates. At the West Bank level, the reliability of the RWH system decreases from 38% to 34% when shifting from the low-emission scenario to the high-emission scenario. Additionally, the optimal storage capacity and the harvested volume will decrease from 65 m³ to 58 m³. This study is the first in this area to use the mass balance approach to predict the future impact of climate risk on the storage capacity of rooftop rainwater harvesting systems. Overall, the findings provide a comprehensive assessment of the feasibility of rooftop RWH as a mitigation and adaptation measure to climate risks and its potential role in enhancing water resilience in the West Bank. This study presents the full framework for assessing the reliability of rainwater harvesting systems under conditions of climate uncertainty. Full article

Water, a precious but limited resource since prehistoric times, has driven humans to develop systems for collecting and storing it. Evidence dating back to third millennium BC documents shows such systems among the Sumerians in the Fertile Crescent, as well as in Asia, Africa, China, and India. Aqueducts and cisterns, along with impluvium–compluvium systems, allowed the Romans to meet private and public needs; in Venice, wells provided filtered water until 1884. Today, climate change and increasing soil sealing urgently demand intelligent water collection and management, aligned with five of the 2030 Agenda Sustainable Development Goals (6, 11, 12, 13, 15). Buildings and construction account for about 35% of the global freshwater consumption. The construction sector, historically involved in the development of innovative rainwater harvesting and reuse systems, now faces a growing challenge in exploring innovative nature-based solutions for climate-resilient buildings (e.g., fog harvesting, green roofs for rainwater storage). Based on these considerations, we propose a scoping literature review of the last 15 years on innovative rainwater harvesting and storage systems. The analysis aims to provide a comparative mapping of the technological solutions that have emerged, to identify the geographical areas and climatic conditions favourable to each system, and to serve as a knowledge base for the development of integrated construction systems suitable for each specific context. A total of 136 peer-reviewed Open Access articles indexed in Scopus (2010–2024) were analysed following the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Full article

Santiago, Dominican Republic, faces a growing deficit in the supply of drinking water. Rainwater harvesting systems have the potential to provide a reliable and sustainable source of drinking water. This research examines water quality from the pilot testing of a rainwater harvesting system designed to directly capture rainwater in planter boxes, pre-filter it and store it. The pilot testing consisted of a field experiment comparing rainwater harvested with four filter media compositions with varying levels of sand (34, 62, 66 and 76%). From May 2024 to May 2025, bi-weekly water samples were tested for physicochemical and microbiological parameters including pH, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, turbidity, biochemical oxygen demand, heterotrophic bacteria, total and fecal coliforms, E. coli, and Enterobacteriaceae. Statistical models were fitted for each water quality parameter, using linear mixed-effects models or generalized linear mixed-effects models with a logit link, to evaluate the association between filter unit design and water quality outcomes. Results showed that physicochemical quality met Dominican drinking water standards but infrequently met bacteriological standards. However, filters with higher sand composition produced higher quality water for both physicochemical and microbiological parameters. Additional treatment such as chlorination would reduce bacteria and protect the water during storage. Full article

This work presents the design, development, and proof-of-concept validation of a smart greenhouse for romaine lettuce (Lactuca sativa var. longifolia) that integrates Internet of Things (IoT) sensing/actuation with an image-based crop state assessment pipeline. The proposed pipeline combines a lightweight AI image classifier with fractal texture descriptors (box-counting fractal dimension) to support the non-destructive monitoring of leaf condition and growth stage. The system also implements resilience-oriented resource strategies, including rainwater harvesting, graywater reuse, and a hybrid power supply (photovoltaic + grid backup). Water and energy indicators are reported as estimated values derived from the prototype operating profile and literature-based baseline values (i.e., contextual comparisons rather than a contemporaneous controlled trial). Using an expanded dataset (n = 1500 images) and an independent held-out test subset (n = 350), the image classifier achieved 97.1% accuracy, with detailed precision/recall/F1 metrics reported in the Results. Overall, the proposed architecture and evaluation workflow provide an accessible and reproducible pathway toward sustainable, low-cost smart greenhouses in resource-constrained settings. Full article

Water plays a critical role in residential consumption, accounting for a significant share of public water supply use. With increasing concerns over water scarcity and projections that a large portion of the global population will experience water stress by 2050, the need for effective water conservation strategies has become more urgent. This study evaluates the application and combined impact of water conservation measures in single-family homes. A deterministic modeling framework is developed to estimate household water consumption and conservation potential across four U.S. cities, namely, Houston, Phoenix, Las Vegas, and Des Moines, representing diverse climatic conditions. The analysis incorporates rainwater harvesting, HVAC condensate recovery, water-efficient fixtures, and greywater reuse systems. Scenario-based forecasting, including adoption rates of 1% and 5% of existing homes alongside new construction, is conducted over a six-year period using exponential smoothing techniques. Results indicate that the combined implementation of these measures can generate substantial aggregate water savings, with outcomes varying by climate and location. Greywater reuse and water-efficient fixtures consistently provide the largest contributions, while rainwater harvesting and condensate recovery depend more heavily on regional conditions. These findings highlight the importance of integrated and location-specific strategies and demonstrate the potential of decentralized, residential-level interventions to reduce demand on municipal water systems. Full article

The rapid growth of cities and expansion of impervious surfaces have intensified surface runoff problems and urban flooding risk. This scenario, exacerbated by the effects of climate change, demands sustainable and integrated solutions. Thus, this study evaluates the pre-feasibility of implementing sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDS) in the Monteverde neighborhood in Montería, Colombia; an area that is critically affected by floods during rainfall events. Using the storm water management model (SWMM) and hydrological simulations based on design hyetographs for different return periods, the performance of a conventional drainage system was compared with five scenarios using SUDS. To determine the modeling scenarios, a decision-making method through the analytic hierarchy process, AHP, was used to select the most appropriate SUDS. The results showed that implementing storage tanks reduces peak flows at outlets 1 and 2 up to 50%, while bioretention zones and rain gardens in isolation showed reduced effectiveness (<6%). Combining strategies slightly improves overall efficiency, although the impact keeps being dominated by tanks. This study demonstrates that the incorporation of SUDS in vulnerable urban areas lessens water risks, strengthens urban resilience, promotes rainwater harvesting, and eases the transition to a more sustainable infrastructure. In addition, it proposes a methodology that can be replicated in other similar Latin American cities. Full article