Maya Pillai
Independent Researcher
India
Abstract
This manuscript presents a comprehensive design framework for rainwater harvesting systems tailored to urban residential complexes, emphasizing technologies and practices prevalent up to 2017. The aim is to enhance potable water security, reduce municipal demand, and promote sustainable water management in dense habitats. Key considerations include roof catchment design, conveyance infrastructure, storage solutions, first-flush diversion, filtration, and distribution within a complex. Through detailed case studies drawn from diverse climatic and regulatory contexts, the research identifies prevailing methodologies, quantifies performance outcomes, and highlights practical challenges. A systematic gap analysis reveals areas requiring further engineering innovation. Methodological rigor is maintained via hydrologic modeling, hydraulic analysis, and economic evaluation. Results demonstrate potential water savings of 25–40 % of annual household demand when systems are correctly designed and maintained. The manuscript concludes with engineering recommendations to optimize system reliability, cost-effectiveness, and user acceptance, along with ten references from literature published no later than 2017.
Keywords
Rainwater harvesting, urban residential complexes, storage design, hydrologic modeling, first-flush diversion, filtration, sustainability.
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