Investigation of the Current Situation and Prospects for the Development of Rainwater Harvesting as a Tool to Confront Water Scarcity Worldwide

What is it about?

Nowadays, available water resources face severe pressures due to demographic, economic, social causes, environmental degradation, climate change, and technological changes on a global scale. It is well known that rainwater harvesting, a simple and old method, has the potential to supplement surface and groundwater resources in areas that have inadequate water supply. In recent decades, many countries have supported the updated implementation of such a practice to confront the water demand increase and to reduce the frequency, peak, and volume of urban runoff. These considerations motivate interest in examining the current situation and the prospect of further development of this method worldwide. The present paper aims at the investigation of the current situation of rainwater harvesting (RWH) as an alternative water source to confront water scarcity in various countries around the world. In particular, the paper presents the following: (a) the causes of water shortage; (b) a concise historical overview of the temporal development of the RWH method; (c) the evolution of the concept of RWH; (d) the efforts to renew interest in RWH; and (e) incentives and perspectives for the spreading of the RWH method in various countries worldwide

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Why is it important?

Regarding the physical alternatives to realize the sustainable management of freshwater, there are two solutions. The first one is to find alternative or additional water resources by using conventional centralized systems, while the second is the limited use of available water resources in a more efficient way. Until today, much attention has paid to the first case. Owing to the difficulty of developing new freshwater resources, rainwater harvesting, as well as water reclamation and reuse, are important additional water resources. Moreover, the collection, protection, and re-use of rainwater represent a viable process that can significantly increase available water resources and reduce flood risks. RWH is probably the most ancient practice in use in the world to confront water supply needs. Harvested rainwater is an alternative source of water in many parts around the world. In the last decades, many countries have supported a modern implementation of such a practice to address the increase in water demand pressures due to climatic, environmental, and societal changes. The overall aim of this paper is the investigation of the current situation on rainwater harvesting as a tool to confront water scarcity throughout the world, as well as prospects for spreading of the method.

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