Circular economy of water: Rainwater harvesting (RWH) and reuse solutions
Dominika Szołdrowska, Dariusz Włóka, Marzena Smol
Abstract
Water scarcity, economic development, population growth and increasing environmental pressures require the adoption of sustainable water management strategies. One such approach is the collection and reuse of rainwater, which is in line with the concept of the circular economy (CE) promoted by the European Commission (EC) for years. This study investigates the potential of rainwater harvesting (RWH) as an alternative source of water for domestic and irrigation applications. A physicochemical analysis of the collected and filtered rainwater was carried out to assess its suitability for reuse. The study was conducted in a rainwater recovery system consisting of three sections: water collection, purification and irrigation systems. The results indicate that the rainwater quality parameters, including pH, redox potential (ORP), electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids (TDS), salinity, turbidity and total phosphorus (TP), generally meet the required standards for non-potable water applications. The filtration system effectively reduces suspended solids that could cause blockages in the irrigation infrastructure. The results underline the importance of integrating RWH with appropriate treatment technologies to optimize its reuse potential. Future research should focus on improving filtration systems and assessing the long-term economic feasibility of RWH in different contexts.