Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/1959.13/919602

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Title
Improving downpipe and gutter configuration on a residential dwelling to increase rainwater yield
Author/Creator
Lucas, S. A.;  Coombes, P. J.
Institution
The University of Newcastle. Faculty of Science & Information Technology, School of Environmental and Life Sciences
Description
The roof area connected to the rainwater tank is an important determinant for rainwater yield at the household scale. This study monitored the performance of a "Rainwater Harvesting System" that supplies a rainwater tank using an innovative configuration of the downpipe and gutter system that maximises connected roof area. Roof runoff is redirected in the gutter system towards the rainwater tank by closing downpipes during rain events. Roof runoff from non-connected roof areas would otherwise be directed to street drainage. The system was installed on a residential dwelling in Brisbane (QLD, Australia) and the site was continuously monitored for rainfall, water demand and water levels in the rainwater tank (6-minute timesteps). Monitoring data was used to calibrate PURRS (Coombes, 2002) to determine the long term rainwater yield at the allotment scale based on an 83 year rainfall record (Brisbane). Rainwater yield increased from 72 kLyr (with 5 kL tank only) to 142 kL/yr after connected roof area was maximised using the Rainwater Harvesting System. Results also highlight household water demand and connected roof area is more important than the size of the rainwater tank for increasing rainwater yield at the household scale.
Relation
32nd Hydrology and Water Resources Symposium (H2009). H2009: Proceedings of H2009, the 32nd Hydrology and Water Resources Symposium (Newcastle, N.S.W. 30 November - 3 December, 2009) p. 641-652
Relation
http://www.engineersaustralia.org.au
Date
2009
Publisher
Engineers Australia / Causal Productions
Keyword(s)
rainwater tanks;  rainwater yield;  downpipes;  gutter systems;  roof area
Resource Type
conference paper
Identifier
http://hdl.handle.net/1959.13/919602
Identifier
ISBN:97808258259461
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"Improving downpipe and gutter configuration on a residential dwelling to increase rainwater yield"
 
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