Design of a Rainwater Harvesting Design of a Rainwater Harvesting UnitUnit

HARVESTING A FRESHWATER HARVESTING A FRESHWATER FUTUREFUTURE

Kevin CryanBrad Gauthier

Arjun KanianthraChetan Mistry

Presentation LayoutPresentation Layout

Background InformationBackground Information

Nilgiris District of Southern India requires a Nilgiris District of Southern India requires a solution to their water crisissolution to their water crisis

Government has enforced a law that requires Government has enforced a law that requires rainwater harvesting units to be installed on the rainwater harvesting units to be installed on the rooftopsrooftops

There are a total of 42 homes in the villageThere are a total of 42 homes in the village 32 homes have a rooftop that is 60m32 homes have a rooftop that is 60m22 (type A), (type A),

and 10 have a rooftop that is 100mand 10 have a rooftop that is 100m22 (type B) (type B) Our task is to present a design that maximizes Our task is to present a design that maximizes

the amount of water harvested (an efficiency of the amount of water harvested (an efficiency of at least 90%), while trying to minimize costat least 90%), while trying to minimize cost

Storage Tank SizingStorage Tank Sizing Microsoft Excel was used to calculate the Microsoft Excel was used to calculate the

most efficient storage tank sizemost efficient storage tank size 2 different sized tanks were required for 2 different sized tanks were required for

the 2 different sized housesthe 2 different sized houses 3 equations were used:3 equations were used:

Ci = min (Si-1 + APiz, Di) Ci = min (Si-1 + APiz, Di) Qi = max (Si-1 + APiz, Di – V – Ci, 0) Qi = max (Si-1 + APiz, Di – V – Ci, 0) Si = Si-1 + APiz, Di – Qi – Ci )Si = Si-1 + APiz, Di – Qi – Ci )

We found the most efficient storage tank We found the most efficient storage tank sizes to be 7800L (type A) and 5600L (type sizes to be 7800L (type A) and 5600L (type B)B)

Total CostTotal Cost

We were given a budget of We were given a budget of 840,000840,000 Rupees Rupees Total costs for our project came to Total costs for our project came to 849,000849,000

RupeesRupees However, there are many ways we could reduce However, there are many ways we could reduce

our costs:our costs:- train the citizens of the village to install and - train the citizens of the village to install and maintain their own unitsmaintain their own units

- enlist volunteers to install the units- enlist volunteers to install the units

- construct the tanks on site (lower shipping costs)- construct the tanks on site (lower shipping costs)

- fundraising events- fundraising events

MaterialsMaterials The The storage tanksstorage tanks are to be built from are to be built from

ferrocement for the following reasons:ferrocement for the following reasons:- extreme strength- extreme strength- will not burn, rot, or rust- will not burn, rot, or rust- “near zero” maintenance is required- “near zero” maintenance is required

The The down pipingdown piping will be constructed from will be constructed from polyvinylchloride (PVC) piping for the following reasons:polyvinylchloride (PVC) piping for the following reasons:

- excellent corrosion and chemical resistance- excellent corrosion and chemical resistance- excellent flow characteristics- excellent flow characteristics- light weight- light weight- accommodates expansion and contraction very - accommodates expansion and contraction very

wellwell

MaintenanceMaintenance

Very little maintenance is requiredVery little maintenance is required General inspection of all unit components General inspection of all unit components

must be done every 2 weeks and a must be done every 2 weeks and a thorough inspection must be done every 6 thorough inspection must be done every 6 weeksweeks

Any problems or concerns should be Any problems or concerns should be reported immediatelyreported immediately

Absolutely no makeshift components are Absolutely no makeshift components are to be installed to be installed

RecommendationsRecommendations

One sufficient rainfall must occur before One sufficient rainfall must occur before any water is consumed any water is consumed

Water within the storage tank must be Water within the storage tank must be tested regularly for contaminationtested regularly for contamination

All contamination cases must be reported All contamination cases must be reported immediatelyimmediately

All water must be sanitized (through All water must be sanitized (through boiling or the use of chlorine iodine) before boiling or the use of chlorine iodine) before consumptionconsumption

Code of EthicsCode of Ethics As engineering students we should guide As engineering students we should guide

ourselves through all tasks with the code of ourselves through all tasks with the code of ethics in mindethics in mind

We have many duties to fulfill, including:We have many duties to fulfill, including:- Duty to Society (we must do all we can to design - Duty to Society (we must do all we can to design the most appropriate solution for the citizen’s of the the most appropriate solution for the citizen’s of the village)village)- Duty to Colleagues (we must work together as a - Duty to Colleagues (we must work together as a group to obtain the best results possible)group to obtain the best results possible)

By adhering to the code of ethics, we stand a By adhering to the code of ethics, we stand a much better chance at being successfulmuch better chance at being successful

ConclusionConclusion

An engineer must explore possibilities beyond the An engineer must explore possibilities beyond the completion of a projectcompletion of a project

An engineer must strive to design a safer, more An engineer must strive to design a safer, more efficient and more effective solutionefficient and more effective solution

We could look into developing lighter, stronger and We could look into developing lighter, stronger and cheaper materials to construct our unitscheaper materials to construct our units

We should work hand-in-hand with the citizens of the We should work hand-in-hand with the citizens of the village to ensure they get the water they needvillage to ensure they get the water they need

We should take every step possible to ensure that we We should take every step possible to ensure that we make an improvement to this village’s standard of make an improvement to this village’s standard of living living