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Environmental and Economic Assessment of Rainwater use in a University Dormitory

Schlachter, Hannah
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1304693753

Abstract Details

2011, Master of Science in Civil Engineering, University of Toledo, College of Engineering.
With higher water demand and decreasing supply, harvested rainwater is becoming a popular alternative to using potable water throughout a building. However, the economic and environmental impacts of these systems, and the feasibility of applying these systems in both existing and new non-residential buildings still remains to be explored. This thesis analyses a typical dormitory at the University of Toledo in Toledo, Ohio. Five scenarios were developed which allowed the comparison of using rainwater for flushing toilets and irrigating in an existing dormitory, a new dormitory and a dormitory with fewer occupants. The effects of the sewer system on payback was also researched. The scenarios were compared using life cycle assessment and discounted payback period methods and with respect to their return on investment, their energy consumption and the global warming potential due to carbon emissions. It was determined that cost requires the longest payback followed by energy and then CO2 emissions. If rainwater is to be utilized for toilet flushing it is both economically and environmentally advantageous to install the system when the building is initially constructed to avoid construction associated with retrofitting the existing structure. The optimum end use at Crossings iv based on cost, energy and CO2 payback is irrigation. It was observed that an increase in roof area per occupant will result in shorter energy and CO2 paybacks when analyzing a building. When considering emissions per person an increased roof area will however result in longer paybacks. It was also observed that sites with combined sewer systems correlate to shorter environmental paybacks of rainwater harvesting systems due to the elimination of treatment of the rainwater at the wastewater treatment facility. No two sites are the same. There are many unique characteristics that will affect tradeoff times of rainwater harvesting systems. A model was developed in order to provide results unique to specific sites and buildings. Environmental and Economic Analysis of Sanitation Technologies (EEAST) is an excel based strategic planning model developed by the water sustainability group at the University of Toledo. The purpose of this software is to allow users to compare sanitation technologies within buildings with respect to cost, energy consumption and environmental footprint. The model is aimed at a broad audience which includes contractors, building owners, homeowners and researchers that seek a model that is capable of assessing long term economic and environmental impacts relating to sanitation technologies including; standard toilets, low flush toilets, composting toilets, and toilets and flushed with harvested rainwater. In addition to sanitation technologies, EEAST also models use of rainwater to irrigate. EEAST provides information needed to support budget and planning decisions, identify environmental and economic tradeoffs for each technology and determine the optimum choice for specific projects.
Defne Apul, PhD (Committee Chair)
Cyndee Gruden, PhD (Committee Member)
Youngwoo Seo, PhD (Committee Member)
Rainwater Harvesting; Life Cycle Assessment EEAST

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Citations

  • Schlachter, H. (2011). Environmental and Economic Assessment of Rainwater use in a University Dormitory [Master's thesis, University of Toledo]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1304693753

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Schlachter, Hannah. Environmental and Economic Assessment of Rainwater use in a University Dormitory. 2011. University of Toledo, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1304693753.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Schlachter, Hannah. "Environmental and Economic Assessment of Rainwater use in a University Dormitory." Master's thesis, University of Toledo, 2011. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1304693753

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

toledo1304693753
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© 2011, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by University of Toledo and OhioLINK.