Polypipe Continuing Professional Development

Rainwater Harvesting In
The Sustainable Environment

Introduction to Polypipe Terrain

Aims and Objectives

The Sustainable Environment

The Concept of Rainwater Harvesting

Legislative Changes & Drivers

The System

Maintenance Requirements

Life Cycle Costs

Summary & Conclusion

Open Forum

The Sustainable Environmental

Flooding as a result of extreme storms similar to those of
the summer 2007:

57,000 homes were affected by surface water flooding

Damage estimated to be around 3 billion
Currently 80,000 homes in the UK have a 10% annual chance of
suffering surface water flooding with the likelihood of damages
estimated at 270 million per annum.

The Sustainable Environment

Climate Change is driving the need for innovative solutions for surface water
management

Average UK annual temperatures may rise by 2 3.5C by the 2080s

Seasonal distribution of rainfall will change significantly with the possibility of

winters becoming wetter.

Sea levels are expected to rise by between 90 to 690 mm

Increase in the prevalence of extreme weather events

The Sustainable Environment

Exceptionally low rainfall
Substantially below average
Below average
Normal range
Above average
Substantially above average
Very Wet

With the exception of the South West,

the whole of the UK has seen above
average rainfall compared with the
1961 1990 average
Source Met Office

The Sustainable Environment

The water stress method takes a
long-term view of the balance
between water availability and the
demand for public water supply,
rather than a snapshot of shorter or
peak periods.

Serious
Moderate
Low

(Environment Agency 2007)

For most companies (Water

Supply Undertakers), the
largest component of increased
demand is customer water
consumption; in other words it
predicted that we will nearly all
use more water in our homes in
the next 25 years.

The Sustainable Environment

95%

5%

Natural Undeveloped Land

5%

95%

Developed Land

The Sustainable Environment

Potable water is not as abundant in England and Wales as
you would think. We only have 1,334 cubic metres (m3) per
person a year much less than France (3,065 m3) or even
the hotter Mediterranean countries of Italy (2,785 m3) and
Spain (2,775 m3).
South East England has even less water per person due to
its high population density. The Thames Valley has only
266m3, only a fifth of the England and Wales average.
The average person in England and Wales uses 150 litres
of water every day. Most of it is used for washing and toilet
flushing, but it also includes drinking, cooking, car washing
and watering the garden. We use almost 50% more water
than 25 years ago.
Source OFFWAT

The Sustainable Environment

For most companies (Water Supply Undertakers), the
largest component of increased demand is customer
water consumption; in other words it predicted that we
will nearly all use more water in our homes in the next
25 years.

Environment Agency - 1998

Domestic Water Consumption

Commercial Water Consumption

Market Sectors

Housing
Commercial / Industrial / Retail
Agricultural / Animal Shelters
Education
Leisure
Utilities
Ministry of Defence
Hospitals
Fire, Police and Ambulance Stations
Airports

Rainwater Harvesting Applications

Housing

Speculative

Social

Self Build

Rainwater Harvesting Applications

Commercial / Industrial / Retail

Commercial

Industrial

Retail

Rainwater Harvesting Applications

Agricultural / Animal Shelters

Organic Farming

Horticulture

Animal Husbandry

Animal Sanctuaries

Rainwater Harvesting Applications

Educational

Universities

Secondary Schools

Primary Schools

Rainwater Harvesting Applications

Leisure

Golf Clubs

Swimming Pools

Football Stadia

Assessment Criteria

Principal use and location

Roof area
Roof Construction
Number of occupants
Applications for rainwater
Peak and total water demand
Gravity or pressurised system
Rainfall data
Water supplier
Detailed requirements
Health and Safety considerations

Assessment
Basic Information Requirement

To allow even a budget specification and quotation to be prepared for the

client, the following information will be required

Site Location This will allow us to use the correct rainfall average
and will also define the water company in the area thus allowing us to
calculate the water cost saving.

Roof Area & Material The surface area of the roof used for
harvesting purposes is required.

Drainage System Used Commercial roofs will either have standard

gravity downpipes or siphonic downpipes. Siphonic systems will
increase the flow rate thus affecting the filter chosen

Assessment

Type of Site Is the site a school, an office, domestic housing,

industrial etc

Population on site Split in to Male & Female. How many of each on

site.

Site Hours of Use How many hours per day, how many days per
week etc

Use for Water Toilets, irrigation, vehicle washing, industrial etc If

non standard use, try to find out quantity used.

Delivery of Water How will the water be delivered to the

appliances? Via a header tank, a booster set or direct to appliances.

Pump Duties Rarely available at this stage. Pumping distance.

Flow requirement. Pressure requirement. Pipe work size etc.

Legislation, Regulations & Drivers

British Standards BS 8515:2009

Now seen as the definitive guide for Rainwater Harvesting

design

Public Health considerations

Document L8

BREEAM

Water Supply Regulations

Building Regulations considerations

Important References

Part H of The Building Regulations

Planning Policy Guidance Note PPS 25

WRAS Information and Guidance Notes

The Private Water Supply Regulations

The Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations

HSC Document L8 for the control of Legionella

CIRIA Notes C359 & PR080

Delayed Part G of The Building Regulations

Legislation

British Standard BS-8515:2009

In 2002 Approved Document H changed the hierarchy of drainage

and drainage design considerably

Consider rainwater harvesting first and foremost

Attenuation or if ground conditions permit, a soak away structure may be
used
Discharge to sewer or watercourse may only be considered as a last
resort

PPS 25 -the EA to have a wider consultation role and recommends

upsizing drainage by over 20% to cope with future building and
climate change.

2008 Government Future Water Strategy launched together with a

consultation on improving surface water drainage

2009 Water Framework Directive starts to be implemented

Future Water Strategy

Sets out how Government wants the water sector to look by 2030 with
the following main aims :

reduced water demand by reducing average per capita water consumption

from 150l/p/d to 120l/p/d

Improved water supply with more reservoirs and fewer abstraction

licenses Encourages rain water harvesting

Improve water quality in the natural environment Water Framework

Directive (2009).

Improve surface water drainage by implementing SUDs

Reduce flooding risk from rivers and coasts by more integrated strategic
planning

Near universal water metering in water stressed areas

Code for Sustainable Homes

BREEAM

Concepts of Rainwater Harvesting

Rainwater Harvesting

Rainwater harvesting systems collect run-off from a roof and stores the rainwater
in an appropriately sized tank.

Water is then pumped back into the building for use in non-potable applications
such as toilet flushing, urinal flushing and commercial wash down areas.

Surface water from car-park areas can also be collected with rainwater only with
a purpose designed treatment filter is used for the surface water

On average, 63% of the water used within a commercial building is not required
to be of a potable standard and therefore rainwater can be used in these
applications.

Gravity System

Captured water is pumped from the

primary storage tank to a header
tank at high level within the building

Water in the header tank is

distributed to the point of use via
gravity

Pump option to boost the supply to

particularly remote outlets

Mains water top up directly to the

header tank

Available in single and duty

standby pump arrangements

Back up function ensures that

water supply is maintained even in
the event of power failure

Pressurised System

Electronic control system monitors

demand for water

Water is pumped directly from the

main storage tank directly to the
point of use

The control system measures

water level in the tank and imports
mains water if required to prevent
the system running dry

Delivers water under greater

pressure

Space saving no need for header

tank

Available in single and duty

standby pump arrangements

Filtration

A Rainwater Harvesting System usually incorporates 3

forms of filtration

Pre-tank filter (leaf filter)

Floating filter on the pump

In-line filter within the property

A fourth form of filtration will be incorporated if the system

installed includes UV Disinfection.

All filters within the system should be cleaned regularly in

accordance with manufacturers instructions

System Components
FILTERS
As stated in BS8515, filters must

Be water and weather resistant

Removable and accessible for

maintenance purposes

Have an efficiency rating of at

least 90%

Pass a maximum particle size

of less than 1.25mm

All filters must conform to these

specifications even
sedimentation chambers

Pre-Tank Filters

Filter options for a wide

range of internal and
external applications

Calculating Tank Size

As stated in BS:8515 there are 3 different calculation methods

Simplified Approach
Intermediate Approach
Detailed Approach

Simplified Approach Usually used for domestic dwellings and is

based on roof area/annual rainfall/no of inhabitants

Intermediate Approach A little more in depth, with set equations

used to calculate tank sizes based on either available yield or demand

Detailed Approach Used to calculate storage size more accurately

when, demand is irregular, yield is uncertain or costly or larger
rainwater harvesting systems are proposed

Usually all calculations are based upon storing 5% of annual rainfall

(18 days)

DREAM Assessment Method calculates RWH tank sizes on 14 days

and NOT 18!

Calculating Tank Size from available yield

We would in normal circumstances use the Intermediate

approach

Yr = A x e x h x n x 0.05 (18/365)

Where

Yr = annual rainwater yield (L)

A = collecting area in m2

e = yield co-efficient (%)

h = the depth of annual rainfall in mm

n = hydraulic filter efficiency (%)

Calculating Tank Size - demand

Tanks should be sized based upon 5% of the annual

demand

Dn = Pd x n x 365 x 0.05
Where

Dn = annual non-potable demand

Pd = the daily requirement per person

n = number of persons

BOTH of the above calculations are outlined in BREEAM

Calculation constants & variables

Yield or roof co-effient

Pitched

BS:8515 states between 0.7 - 0.8

BREEAM States between 0.75 0.9

Flat

BS:8515 no guidance

BREEAM between 0.4 0.5

Green/Sedum Roofs

No guidance in either generally taken as 0.4 as no other information is

available

Variations above are due to different roof materials

Calculation constants & variables

Filter efficiency is taken as 90% - co-efficient of 0.9

Annual Rainfall Data taken from Met Office based on published

Regional variances

Storage

5% of annual yield 18/365 days

5% of annual demand 18/365 days
This may differ when using the Detailed approach

Daily demand/requirement per person is dependant on

No of people
Flush volume
Toilet visits
Sex

System Components - Tanks

Domestic tanks usually from 1,500 litres to 6000 litres

Commercial tanks from 7,000 litres to 300,000 litres

Commercial GRP tanks in standard, medium & heavy duty depth based on
application and water table

Concrete Tanks

Plastic tanks now available in larger sizes

Above Ground Tank Options

Sectional GRP Tanks

Internal plant room applications

Sizes from 1m3 to 100m3

Specialist erection on site

WRAS Approved

Insulated with 40mm

polyurethane

Used in conjunction with pump

booster set or combined control
units

Typical system

System Components
Components

Pump

Floating filter

Inline filter

Controller

Combined Systems

Post Installation Inspection

Commissioning is the final stage when the system is shown to be functioning

properly and is ready to hand over to the customer.

In order to ensure that the system is going to work properly the developer must
ensure that :-

No debris is left inside the tanks or pipe work

The system has been pressure tested and is watertight
Filters are correctly housed
The level sensor is correctly positioned
Warning gauges are correctly calibrated
The pump is correctly suspended (if it is in the tank)
The control panel is working with all components
The valves are working properly
The mains back-up valve is working
The system operates correctly in all actions at full pressure with no leaks or
weeps.

Ultra-Violet Disinfection Unit

BS8515 states that UV Disinfection

for toilet flushing alone is not a
standard requirement

Systems that generate water

vapour or mist should be treated

Neutralises a wide range of

bacteria including Legionella

Design restricts shadowing

ensuring optimum treatment
efficiency

Wide range of units available

Regular maintenance is essential

Typical Pressurised System Layout

Gravity System

Combined Pressurised Systems

Below Ground Option

Gravity System

Tanks and overflow

Pipe Identification

Life Cycle Costs

Rapid payback periods

Reduced investment requirements

Minimum 25 year design life

Low operating costs, typically 3p per cubic

metre delivered

ECA Enhanced Capital Allowance

Maintenance Requirements

Leaf Filter

Tank

Components

U V Filter

Summary and Conclusion

The Sustainable Environment

The Concept of Rainwater Harvesting

Legislative Changes & Drivers

The System

Maintenance Requirements

Life Cycle Costs

Summary & Conclusion

Open Forum

The safe integration of this technology into our everyday working, living and
sustainable environment