CP-1995-03
Rainwater harvesting: A practical means for water resources development and management in arid countries.
Fok, Yu-Si, and Show-Chyuan Chu
This paper presents examples of recent rainwater catchment system development in urban and rural areas. It also cites the importance of a national policy on rainwater harvesting and shows a matrix relating per capita annual average income with the types of water supply systems that are affordable by water users. This paper also explains that an ideal situation exists for private ownership of a rainwater harvesting system. This brings back the tradition of users managing their own water supply and not relying on the public water supply system. This is especially important in arid countries. Water is life! This paper also points out that the trend of 21st century buildings is for their construction to be in harmony with the environment. Natural renewable resources provided by mother nature should be beneficially collected and utilized by each building; in other words, each building should be constructed to serve as collectors and conservers of water and energy.