Rainwater Harvesting

Rainwater harvesting is a sustainable practice aimed at mitigating water scarcity by collecting and storing rainwater for various uses. The Open University of Sri Lanka has implemented a rainwater harvesting system at the CRC building contributing towards global sustainable goals. This system efficiently collects and stores rainwater, which is then thoughtfully utilized for daily gardening, car washing, and toilet flushing. Notably, this practice not only significantly reduces the university’s operational costs but also aligns with broader sustainability goals, exemplifying an environmentally conscious approach to responsible water management.
Rainwater Harvesting System Overview

  • Roof Area = 423m²

  • Average monthly rainfall = 281mm

  • Monthly harvest water volume = 95m³

  • Collected water used for = Gardening, Toilet flushing, Car washing

Further, the university has designed a new rainwater system which is to be executed in Block 4. The roof area of this building is 393 square meters and it was estimated that 88 cubic meters of rainwater can be collected monthly from this rainwater system. The rainwater harvesting system is well-designed to capture rainwater from the roof, channeling it into a storage system. This system ensures cleanliness and usability throughout the year. The harvested rainwater is utilized efficiently through a drip irrigation system. Drip irrigation delivers water directly to the root zone of plants, minimizing water loss due to evaporation and surface runoff. 
The rainwater harvesting and drip irrigation setup for Block 4 is a significant step towards sustainable water management, embracing responsible resource usage and contributing to a greener, more sustainable future. The estimated monthly rainwater harvest volume ensures an adequate supply for irrigation needs.
 

Design Plans of newly proposed rainwater system