Optimal sizing of storage tanks in domestic rainwater harvesting systems: A linear programming approach

Chiemeka Onyeka Okoye, Oğuz Solyalı and Bertuğ Akıntuğ

Resources, Conservation & Recycling, 2015, vol. 104, issue PA, 131-140

Abstract: This paper proposes an optimization model to determine the optimal tank size of a single residential housing unit for rainwater harvesting and storage. Taking into account the site specific data such as the rainfall profile, the roof area of the building, the water consumption per capita and the number of residents, an integrated optimization model based on linear programming is proposed to decide on the size of rainwater storage tank to build such that the net present value of the total tank construction costs and freshwater purchase costs is minimized. The proposed model was tested on a case study from Northern Cyprus, the results of which emphasized the feasibility of rainwater harvesting as a sustainable supplement to the depleting aquifers in the region. The study also offers managerial insights on the impact of various parameters such as the number of residents, roof area, discount rate, water consumption per capita, unit cost of building the rainwater tank, and rainfall characteristics on the optimal tank size and on the net financial benefit gained from rainwater harvesting through detailed sensitivity analysis.

Keywords: Domestic rainwater harvesting; Sustainable water use; Tank storage; Linear programming; Cost optimization (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:recore:v:104:y:2015:i:pa:p:131-140

DOI: 10.1016/j.resconrec.2015.08.015

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