GSOE9010 RESEARCH PROPOSAL

REPLACING RC SLAB WITH HOLLOW SLAB INTEGRATED WITH

PLASTIC SPHERES

SUBMITTED BY

ABHISEK PANIGRAHI
zID- z5224608
Research Proposal GSOE 9010

1 ABSTRACT

Even after innumerable advancements in technology, millions of people still don’t have
access to clean and potable water. With the ever-increasing population, the demand for
water has increased drastically. Numerous factors have resulted in depletion of
groundwater as millions of people and industries have become increasingly reliant on using
the groundwater. Due to the rapid urban growth during the current decade, urban water
supply systems in major cities all over the world, which are largely dependent on large
surface water reservoirs, are highly stressed. Saving water has now become one of the
pressing global issues of the 21st century. Rainwater harvesting is one of the oldest and
simplest methods for storing rainwater.
Rainwater harvesting can fulfill about 40%-50% of the basic water demands of families. The
methodical use of this stored rainwater reduces the stress on the groundwater table and
also reduces the impact on the environment.
This research proposal focuses mostly on how to conceptualize Rainwater harvesting in a
Public Swimming pool center and calculate the amount of Rainwater that can be stored by
considering various external factors, like the working days on which the center is opened,
the quantity of people that visit the center and the quantity of water that is used to fill up
the various swimming pools in the center. Based on these various parameters, a Rainwater
harvesting plant will be designed and the various benefits that can be achieved would be
analyzed.
The conclusion of this research proposal is to efficiently save the rainwater, through surface
runoff, subsurface runoff, which is wasted otherwise and use it for various daily chores or
even filter it and use it to fill up the swimming pools. Also, to upgrade the existing Rainwater
harvesting system and make it more efficient and economical so that it could be
implemented everywhere.

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1 ABSTRACT ....................................................................................................................... 1
2 LITERATURE REVIEW .................................................................................................. 3
BACKGROUND ......................................................................................................... 3
2.1.1 RESEARCH PROPOSAL ................................................................................... 3
ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES [2] ....................................................... 3
2.2.1 ADVANTAGES .................................................................................................. 3
2.2.2 DISADVANTAGES ............................................................................................ 4
3 METHODOLOGY ............................................................................................................ 5
COMPONENTS OF RAINWATER HARVESTING SYSTEM [3].......................... 5
3.1.1 PROPOSED SCHEMATIC ................................................................................. 5
3.1.2 SCHEMATIC REPRESENTATION OF WORKING PLAN OF RAINWATER
HARVESTING .................................................................................................................. 6
4 EXPERIMENTAL PLAN ................................................................................................. 7
CALCULATION OF DISCHARGE Q....................................................................... 7
SIMPLIFIED METHOD ............................................................................................. 7
DETAILED METHOD ............................................................................................... 7
4.3.1 FACTORS REQUIRED FOR SUCCESFUL RUNNING OF THIS METHOD 8
4.3.2 CHALLENGES ................................................................................................... 8
5 DATA ANALYSIS .......................................................................................................... 10
6 CONCLUSION ................................................................................................................ 11
7 REFRENCES:- ................................................................................................................ 11

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Research Proposal GSOE 9010

2 LITERATURE REVIEW
BACKGROUND
About 2/3 of the earth is covered with water, but the amount of useable water is very
little. The growing population, industries and constant construction works require
huge amount of water, which has ultimately led to depletion of groundwater table to
such an extent, that many countries are now on the verge of having a drought.Many
countries are already facing drought. We need to take the conservation of water very
seriously and make every effort possible to save the wastage of water.
Obviously, it is nearly impossible to trace back to which civilization used the method
of rainwater harvesting first, but evidence shows that different types of rainwater
collection systems were used in 2000 BC in India, Mesopotamia, China, and modern-
day Israel.
The basic design of these systems often involved a large rock formed into a basin
using clay and other rocks to seal it from leaking. And then, using different diversion
tactics, water would be stored and used for drinking, washing, agriculture and more
[1].

2.1.1 RESEARCH PROPOSAL

• The goal of this research proposal is to provide and upgrade the existing
central rainwater system and equip it with the latest advancements and
technology.
• To reduce the waterlogging caused in the centers due to heavy downpour and
make use of the surface runoff water from the betterment of the swimming
pool center.
• By replacing the existing old and outdated system, a positive step would be
taken to improve the loss of water caused by them.
• To gradually decreases the dependency on local water bodies from which
water is being drawn to fill up the swimming pools.
• To gradually decrease the dependency on the use of groundwater for doing
various chores in the swimming pool center.
• The new and advanced method of Rainwater harvesting would have
numerous environmental benefits and.

ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES [2]

2.2.1 ADVANTAGES
• Easy to maintain-First of all, rainwater harvesting helps us to make
better use of an energy resource, which is abundant but not easy to use
due to the limitations of technology. The use of the rainwater
harvesting system gives society numerous advantages. This is critical
because drinking water is not easily reusable and not readily available.
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Research Proposal GSOE 9010

• Reducing water bills- It is also possible to use water obtained in the

rainwater harvesting process for several non-drinking purposes. This
results in a large reduction in their utility bill for many households and
small businesses. On an industrial scale, rainwater harvesting can
provide the required amounts of water for many operations to be
carried out efficiently without depleting nearby water sources.
• Reduces stress on ground water-With the ever-increasing population,
the demand for clean and potable water is also increasing. This has
impacted the groundwater tables in a negative way and has depleted
them in such a way that they have gone to significantly low levels in
some areas.
• Can be used for several non-drinking purposes-The rainwaters
collected through the rainwater harvesting system can be used for
numerous nondrinking purpose like flushing toilets, watering garden,
cleaning the swimming pool centers.

2.2.2 DISADVANTAGES
• Unpredictable Rainfall- As the rainfall is hard to predict, this can be a
major drawback or disadvantage of having Rainwater harvesting
system. It is advised not to be solely dependent on rainwater for all the
water needs.
• Initial High Cost-Depending on the size of the system and technology
used, the rainwater harvesting system may cost up to $200 to $2000.
• Regular Maintenance-As the rainwater harvesting can become damp,
due to the continuous flow of water, it can be home to many
mosquitos, rodents, algae growth, etc. If they are not regularly
maintained, they can become breeding grounds for many animals and
bacteria.
• Storage Limits- The Rainwater harvesting systems may not be able to
hold all the rainwater and ultimately it would end up in drains and
rivers during the heavy downpour.

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Research Proposal GSOE 9010

3 METHODOLOGY
The following modus operandi was proposed for this system which followed various
components that were included in the Rainwater Harvesting system, and each component
is designed with utmost precision and care.

COMPONENTS OF RAINWATER HARVESTING SYSTEM [3]

• Catchment Surface-This can be considered as one of the most important
factors that govern the system, as the rainwater falls directly on this particular
surface. The catchment surface should be made up of hard and non-porous
materials so that water is not absorbed.
• Pipelines-Also known as the distribution or transportation system, they
transport the water from the catchment surface to the storage tanks.
• Roof Washers- A system that diverts rain's "First Flush" before reaching the
storage tank.
• Filter or Screens-Screens or filters should be provided not only to maintain
the quality of water but also to prevent any blockage caused in the system by
the leaves, small rocks or debris. Regular cleaning should also be done to
remove any foreign materials that have accumulated.
• Storage Tanks- In particular, a rainwater harvesting system's most expensive
part is the storage tank. Numerous storage tank types and styles are available.
Storage can be achieved using water tanks or water reservoirs above ground
or underground. Galvanized metal, wood, cement, clay, plastic, fiberglass,
polyethylene, masonry, etc. can be used for storage tanks.

3.1.1 PROPOSED SCHEMATIC

COLLECTION OF WATER
FROM CATCHMENT AREA

DISTRIBUTION OF WATER
THROUGH PIPES

SCREENING

FILTERATION

STORAGE

DISTRIBUTION

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Research Proposal GSOE 9010

1)FLOW DIAGRAM

3.1.2 SCHEMATIC REPRESENTATION OF WORKING PLAN OF RAINWATER

HARVESTING

2)PICTORIAL REPRESENTATION OF RAINWATER HARVESTING SYSTEM[4]

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Research Proposal GSOE 9010

4 EXPERIMENTAL PLAN

CALCULATION OF DISCHARGE Q
Discharge, Q at the swimming pool center would be calculated using the below-
mentioned formula,
Q=VxHxW
Where, V= Velocity of water
H=Height of water
W=Width

In this proposal, we would like to examine and get the result from the following two
methods to calculate the area of the storage tank that is to be constructed.
• Simplified Method
• Detailed method
SIMPLIFIED METHOD
The simplified approach for tank sizing is based on calculating the drainage area of
the roof to the tank. Various factors such as average rainfall depth, the number of
buildings at the swimming pool center, are taken into consideration. The following
equation is used to calculate the amount of rainwater yielded at the center.

Yr =A x e x h x n x0.005

Where: Yr is the annual rainwater Yield (Liters)

A is the Area collecting the water (m2)
e is the coefficient of yield (%)
h is the depth/height of the rainfall received (mm)
n is the efficiency of hydraulic filter
DETAILED METHOD
This method is only used in big commercial centers and industrial areas, where the
demand is irregular and there is uncertainty in yielding. The rainwater harvesting
system, designed by this method is usually complex as the storage tank area would be
larger as compared to the one built by a simplified method which would, therefore, be
more costly. This method focuses on utilization of a computer program that follows a
continuous loop of simulation which combines the highest resolution of rainfall data
available and the most accurate demand data. [6]

Out of these two methods, the detailed method would be used to calculate the size of
the tank that would be constructed to store the rainwater, as the proposal emphasis the
rainwater harvesting in a swimming pool center.

To meet the design requirements of the large storage tank required to be constructed,
a method suggested by G.Davidson-Hauber would be applied. The
RainHarD(Rainwater harvesting design) allows us to compare the required rainwater
supply vs the demand that would be required over a period of one year.

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Rainfall data would be taken into consideration. This would be done by collecting
data from the local civic body and well as the weather station, local newspapers for
the past decade. Various aspects such as average annual rainfall, rainfall pattern, the
arrival of monsoon season, etc would be considered. After calculation of various
values such as initial losses, runoff coefficients, discharge is, a comparison graph
could be plotted for day to day requirement of water vs rainwater supply.
4.3.1 FACTORS REQUIRED FOR SUCCESSFUL RUNNING OF THIS METHOD
Many factors would be for the successful implementation of any rainwater harvesting
system on a large commercial center, some important factors such as easy to capture
roof areas, an appropriate location of the tank, are to be kept in mind. An experienced
civil engineer would be able to distinguish between which rooftops are able to collect
a sufficient quantity of rainwater and which ones are not. The most critical challenge
is to identify and follow the design guidelines that are mentioned above.

Another challenge that is often encountered at large centers is when multiple pipelines
are channeled into one. This often causes system overflow and loss of water as a huge
volume of water is lost during the flow of water from roofs to the storage tank. Over
the period, it may also lead to growth of bacteria, algae and other microorganism,
which may ultimately contaminate the storage tank.
4.3.2 CHALLENGES
Though the Rainwater harvesting method has been in practice for quite some time, it
has been facing a lot of challenges. They can be classified into quality, economical
aspect of the system, lack of awareness. The most critical challenge that we are facing
is converting the quality of rainwater into potable and useable water.

ISSUES RELATED TO QUALITY

The quality of rainwater has always been an issue, that has always hindered the
implementation of the Rainwater harvesting system. The quality of rainfall that is
received in rural or country area, is much better than in urban areas, as they are less
prone to atmospheric as well as industrial pollutants. When we compare it to the
quality of rainfall received in urban areas, we can see the drastic change, as it is
contaminated by pollutants, microscopic particles, etc.

PURIFICATION OF RAINWATER
For purification or filtration of collected rainwater, many techniques are available.
While some of them use natural resources like solar energy others use a traditional
way like san filters. Another technology that can be used is membrane technology.
Although the natural methods are inexpensive and readily available, they are not able
to completely purify the water.

ECONOMICAL ASPECT
If the harvested rainwater is being used for non-potable uses, it doesn’t require and
filtration or treatment. But this is most acceptable for household or small-scale
industries. As our research is based on swimming pool centers, which require potable
water, the initial cost of setting up the Rainwater harvesting system is high. We even
have to demolish some existing construction to pave way for setting up the
distribution system, which would hamper the functioning of the center and also would
require some capital.

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Research Proposal GSOE 9010

ISSUES RELATED TO RAINFALL PATTERN

As observed during the past few years, rainfall patterns have changed drastically due
to global warming and would likely continue to do so. A lot of studying must be done
on the recent rainfall patterns, before constructing and implementing the Rainwater
harvesting system.

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Research Proposal GSOE 9010

5 DATA ANALYSIS
The following table would be used to calculate the total discharge happening at the
swimming pool center.

TYPE OF MEMBERS WATER REQUIREMENT TOTAL WATER

CONSTRUCTION VISITING PER REQUIRED
THE PERSON(LITRES/DAY) (LITRES/DAY)
CENTRE

Table 1. Results

First, the total discharge at the center would be calculated which would give us the volume of
water. Also, with the help of the local council and newspaper, we could calculate the amount
of rainfall received which would help us in deciding the suitable rainwater harvesting
program.

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Research Proposal GSOE 9010

6 CONCLUSION
The implementation of various Rainwater harvesting schemes on commercial centers
like swimming pools, industries can make a positive impact and contribute to solving
the current water scarcity. By conducting these experiments on swimming pool
centers, we can increase the efficiency and overall cost of maintenance and also, we
would be able to come up with a plan, that is specific to the region by taking in mind
various factors such as geological location, amount of rainfall received, etc. This
would ultimately help us to efficiently make use of the water without letting it flow
away. As mentioned earlier, the initial cost of setting up the distribution system is
high, but the cost would be covered up within a span of time. It would also help is
recycling water and using it to fill up the swimming pools and also use the water for
various chores and the center. This would ultimately reduce the load on natural water
bodies and would help in recharging them.

7 REFRENCES:-
1. The History of Rainwater Harvesting, “Origin of Rainwater Harvesting”,
[Online].Available:
https://4perfectwater.com/blog/the-history-of-rainwater-harvesting/ .[Accessed 9th
November 2019]
2. What is Rainwater Harvesting, “Advantages & Disadvantages of Rainwater Harvesting”

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[Online].Available : https://www.conserve-energy-
future.com/advantages_disadvantages_rainwater_harvesting.php[Accessed 9th November
2019]
3. “Basic components of Rainwater Harvesting Systems”,Rainharvest.co.za, 16 April
2013[Online].Available http://www.rainharvest.co.za/2013/04/basic-components-of-a-
rainwater-harvesting-system/ [Accessed 10th November 2019]
4. Rainwater Harvesting System[Digital Image].Available
http://www.wett.co.za/services/rainwater-harvesting-in-cape-town/[Accessed on 11th
November 2019]
5. Hauber-Davidson, G. Large commercial rainwater harvesting projects [online]. In:
Rainwater and Urban Design 2007. [Barton, A.C.T.]: Engineers Australia, 2007: [364]-
[371]. Availability:
<https://search.informit.com.au/documentSummary;dn=889751252289657;res=IELENG
> ISBN: 1877040614. [cited 12 Nov 19].
6. Ward, S., Memon, F. and Butler, D. (2012). Performance of a large building rainwater
harvesting system. Water Research, 46(16), pp.5128
7. Ward, S., Memon, F. and Butler, D. (2012). Performance of a large building rainwater
harvesting system. Water Research, 46(16), pp.5127-5134.
8.

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