Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Encik K.Nantakumar
Jabatan Saliran dan Pengurusan Sungai
Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur
RAINWATER
Guidelines for Installing A Rainwater Collection and Utilization System
INTRODUCTION
Wherever the country or city experiences a severe water shortage,is inclined to construct more
dams upstream.The development of giant dams upstream however devours vast tracts of forest
and the cost of such projects are enormous.Moreover the demand of water supply in urban
areas is likely to increase due to a rapid concentration of population and increase in industries.
The country is endowed with far more rainfall than the amount of water demand.Rainwater
harvesting could be and effective tool for helping to reduce the use of treated water and
provides a convenient buffer in times of emergency or a shortfall in public water supply.
Rainwater harvesting from rooftop catchments and cistern storage is not new.It has been an
important source of water supply for domestic purposes in many rural areas in the past.
The need to promote rainwater collection and utilization can lead to the comprehensive
resolution of water resources problems and the environmental problems in urban areas.
The proposal to build tens of thousands of “mini dams” (rainwater tanks) in urban areas instead
of continuing to build giant dams upstream not only contribute to treated water conservation
but also helps to control urban floods by storing rainwater from roofs and the ground
surface.The stored water can be used for non-drinking purposes and as a back-up water supply.
RAINWATER
Guidelines for Installing A Rainwater Collection and Utilization System
CONTENTS PAGE
Acknowledgements
Introduction
3.1 General 6
3.2 Rainwater and Roof Collection 6
3.3 Recommended Usage of Rainwater 6
5. MULTI-STOREYED BUILDING
5.1 Definition 20
5.2 Rainwater Collection and Utilization 20
5.3 Roof Catchments 20
5.4 Collection Rainwater 20
5.5 Rainwater Storage Tank/Facility 20
5.6 Usage of Rainwater 22
5.7 Eliminating Contaminated First Flash Rainwater 22
5.8 Rainwater for Toilet Flushing 22
5.9 Material of Elevated Rainwater Tank 22
5.10 Using Treated Water in Time of Rainwater Shortage 22
5.11 Grit Chamber & Sedimentation Tank 24
5.12 Technical Points to be considered for 24
Large Rainwater Storage Tank
6. MAINTENANCE OF RAINWATER
COLLECTION AND UTILIZATION
7.1 General
7.2 Creative Design
APPENDIX
TABLES
FIGURES
The guideline for rainwater collection and utilization has been prepared to
document some of the ways in which rainwater can be collected from roofs of the
buildings and the practical utilization of the rainwater.
The Guidelines:-
• Section Two
• Section Three
• Section Four
This section explains the technologies for rainwater collection and utilization
system i.e. system to collect, store and use. It provides a selection of
alternative design elements which maybe appropriate in a given context.It also
include the menthod of preventing the breeding of mosquito.
• Section Five
• Section Six
The scopes described are likely to meet the needs in terrace houses,
bungalows, multi-storeyed buildings in housing complexes, commercial
buildings and school.
• Section Seven
This section makes suggestion that rainwater storage facility may not
necessarily be ready-made tanks. Storage facility can be designed with the
greatest potential as pieces of architecture, landscape and aesthetically to
blend with the surrounding environment.
• Appendix A
This appendix explores and gives some creative designs of rainwater storage
facility in place of storage tank that is aesthetically pleasing.
-some food for thought.
• Appendix B
The guidelines set out recommendations for the general principles, designs,
layout and installation of a rainwater collection utilization system.
The main components and elements in the rainwater collection system are:-
2. Communal catchments
-directly from the sky
- surface run-off from large paved area.
1. Series of gutters that carry the rainwater from the collection area to the
cistern / storage tank.
3.1 GENERAL
1. The quality of rainwater depends on the air quality. Rain washes off
suspended particles in the air while falling. Rain in urban areas contains
harmful substances such as sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides discharges
from cars and factories, and acid rain is the result of these in the air.
3. From record of rain stations,collected in Kuala Lumpur and Petaling Jaya for
1998, the pH value of the rain is between 4.4 to 4.8.(table 1)
1. The quality of rainwater collected from the roof of buildings depends on the
condition of the roof. Dirt, soot, leaves and excreta of cats and birds are
deposited on or attached to roofs causing contamination.Contamination is
especially heavy with the first raindrops after a long dry spell.
2. The first flush rainwater must be eliminated from the catchments before it is
collected. (Refer to 4.2).
3. The Interim National Water Quality Standards For Malaysia and Water
Quality Category and uses (Refer to 4.3 and 4.4).
i) Flushing toilets
ii) Watering plants
iii) Washing vehicles
iv) General cleaning
4.0 TECHNOLOGIES FOR RAINWATER UTILIZATION
• This chapter mainly deals with crucial point of each functional technique in
rainwater utilization for:-
1. Bungalows
2. Terrace house
3. Multi-Storeyed building
4.1.1 Roof
4.2.1 General
2. Rains in urban areas contain harmful substances such as sulphur dioxide and
nitrogen oxides emitted from cars and factories.
4. Contamination is especially heavy with the first raindrops after a long dry
spell.
1. Install a small first flush separation tank at the down pipe as shown in Fig.3.
2. Rainwater flows into the small tank first and when the tank is full,a float valve
installed in the small tank closes the inlet of the tank and the running
rainwater flows into the main rainwater storage tank.
3. Empty the first flush separation tank before the next rainfall.
4.3.1 General
1. When the great amount of rainwater gushes into a storage tank through a
rainwater collecting pipe in heavy rain,soil and sand accumulated at the
bottom are stirred up and this can cause equipment trouble.
2. The excess water during heavy rain will also overflow.
4.3.2 Protecting rainwater utilization facilities during heavy rain.(Fig.4)
2. The diameter of the overflow pipe should be larger than that of the rainwater
inlet pipe.
3. A short pipe for relieving the pressure of the collecting pipe should be
attached to the vertical part of the collecting pipe to prevent abnormal pressure
from being produced inside.
4.4.1 General
2. Frequent cleaning is not practical for this uppermost part of the house or
Building.
To prevent leaves, dirt or sand coming together into the downpipe and into the
rainwater tank:-
1. Install a ready-made cartridge filter or strainer just before the rainwater enters the
storage tank.
3. Strainer should be made of rust proof material to prevent the deterioration of water
quality and be designed to be easily removable.
4. Ordinary net mesh or stainless mesh can be used at roof drain and gutter.(Fig.5 &
Fig.6)
6. A strainer or a cartridge filter installed just before the rainwater enters the storage
tank makes removal of obstacles easier.
4.5 STORING RAINWATER IN TANKS
Any vessel or container used as a rainwater storage tank shall comply with following
conditions:-
1. No leakage
3. It must have a lid to prevent dirt and vapourization and is designed so that the inside
can be easily cleaned.
2. A overflow pipe larger in diameter than the incoming rainwater supply pipe.
2. The minimum storage capacity is based on use of rainwater usage for toilet
flushing, watering plants, washing vehicles and general cleaning.
3. It is based on the location having rain once every 4 days on the average.
4. Existing structures may have difficult to ensure a place for large rainwater storage
tank.
4.6.1 General
The system of supplying rainwater to place of use depends on the place of installation
of tank or storage facility.
Rainwater storage tanks / facility installed either in roof tops (including balconies or
roof-terrace),it is possible to supply the water to toilets by gravity.(Fig.10)
The simple purpose of collecting and utilizing rainwater is to install the storage
facility/tank under the roof and it is possible to supply water to lower level/floors by
gravity.There maybe a restriction on the tank size due to space.The structure of the
building needs to be checked to ensure that it is sufficiently adequate to take the weight
of the water.
It the storage tank is installed to the ground level,in the garden or underground,it is
necessary to pump water to supply it to upper levels/floors.(Fig.11 & 12)
1. The rainwater pipe supplying to place of use should be a separate piping system
from the treated water piping system to prevent contamination of the treated water.
4.6.6 Pumps
1. For small installations, pneumatic pumps may suffice.However for large
installations centrifugal pumps or end section pumps may be used.
4.7.1 General
When rainwater is used for flushing, toilets become unusable when the rainwater tank
runs out of water.It is necessary to use treated water from the treated water supply
system, when there is no rain.
3. During period of dry weather, the rainwater tank will be empty,the remaining
stagnant water should be drained out completely.
5. The overflow pipe only has water running through it during rainfall and it can be a
route for mosquitoes to enter the rainwater storage tank.Putting a net over the outlet
of and overflow pipe will prevent their invasion.(Fig.13)
5.1 Definition
1. Multi-storey buildings refer to buildings other than single /double storey terrace
building or bungalows.
2. Multi-storey buildings maybe an office-block,a commercial complex,an
institutional building or a medium/high rise housing complex.
2. The cooling tower discharges salt-rich water into the rainwater downpipe and the
water drained from the elevated tank into the rainwater downpipe (if there is no
separate drainage downpipe from the tank) is contaminated by cleaning
chemicals.(Fig.14)
3. Ensure that during and after cleaning, the waste water from the cooling tower or
elevated water tank is drained through a separate drainage downpipe or else,the
rainwater collected is not recommended for toilet flushing.
The simplest and the most reasonable method for collection of rainwater is from the
bottom of a nearby rainwater downpipe into a storage tank installed where rainwater is
used.
The rainwater storage tank / facility is normally installed on the ground, underground or
under the floor of the lowest level because of its large facility.
For existing buildings, renovation of pipes and pipe system is not easy and costly,
rainwater can be used for car washing,garbage collection area cleaning,and plant
watering.
1. Rainwater for toilet flushing is feasible for new buildings where the roof
area,storage places,storage capacity and the rainfall plumbing system are designed
for.
4. A float valve or an electrode rod is installed to start or stop the pump when the level
in the rainwater tank at the ground or in the elevated rainwater tank falls below a
certain point or when the level in the elevated tank is full.(Fig.16)
5. Install a pressure-reducing valve on the rainwater supply pipe if the water pressure
is too strong.
The material and structure are basically the same as those for treated water.
It is necessary to use treated water from the treated water supply in times of shortage of
rainwater or when there is no rain.
1. For large rainwater tank,a grit chamber and a sedimental tank are often incorporated
into a rainwater storage system to remove soil and sand from rainwater.
2. They are designed to use only the clear layer at the top of the water by settling soil
and sand in the grit chamber and suspended particles in the sedimentation tank by
gravity.
5. For a rainwater tank capacity less then 10 m3 only a sedimentation tank is required.
4. Removal of sediment, use a drain pipe with valve at the bottom of tank, sloping the
bottom of the tank, catch pit and access.
5. Prevention of rainwater I heavy rain from gushing in and stirring sediment, have a
bumper made of an artificial turf-like material just below the rainwater inlet.
Maintenance of the rainwater utilization equipment is very important for the collection,
storage and use of clean water.
The following areas should be carried out during the periodic cleaning of the system.
Trash and animal excreta in catchment area including roof must be cleaned off
regularly to prevent downpipe clogging.
6.3 Filter/Screen
Sand and trash caught by filters/screen should be removed and cleaned regularly.
Make sure that mechanical devices such as pumps are working normally by checking at
least every three months.Other devices should undergo a check about every six month
and maintained in the same way as treated water equipment.
7.1 General
2. Appendix ‘A’ gives some examples of creative designs of rainwater storage facility
in place of storage tank that is aesthetically pleasing.
3. These ideas are to encourage owners as well as architects to spawn new, practical,
creative and innovative ideas in designing rainwater storage facility as a ‘work of
art’.