Water demand and sizing for rainwater harvesting: a pilot project in SFERA@UMS, Sabah, Malaysia
نویسندگان
1 Faculty of Tropical Forestry, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Jalan UMS, 88450 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
2 Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Jalan UMS, 88450 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
3 Faculty of Tropical Forestry, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Jalan UMS, 88450 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
4 Department of Forestry and Environmental Science, Faculty of Applied Science, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka
5 Centre for Sustainable Society Engagement, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Jalan UMS, 88450 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
6 EcoCampus Management Centre, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Jalan UMS, 88450 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
7 Development and Maintenance Office, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Jalan UMS, 88450 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
8 Development and Maintenance Office, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Jalan UMS, 88450 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
9 Faculty of Tropical Forestry, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Jalan UMS, 88450 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
10 Faculty of Tropical Forestry, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Jalan UMS, 88450 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
11 Development and Maintenance Office, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Jalan UMS, 88450 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
12 Faculty of Tropical Forestry, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Jalan UMS, 88450 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
13 Faculty of Tropical Forestry, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Jalan UMS, 88450 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
14 Institute for Tropical Biology and Conservation, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Jalan UMS, 88450 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
15 Faculty of Tropical Forestry, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Jalan UMS, 88450 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
16 Development and Maintenance Office, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Jalan UMS, 88450 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
17 Development and Maintenance Office, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Jalan UMS, 88450 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
doi
10.30501/jree.2025.512934.2315چکیده
Rainwater harvesting systems (RWHS) are practical solutions for supplementing conventional water supplies, particularly where piped infrastructure is absent or uneconomical. With rising urbanization and population growth, demand for clean water is increasing, often leading to shortages and flooding from disrupted hydrological cycles. This technical note, the first in a two-part series, documents the design and construction of a pilot RWHS at the Sustainable Forest Education & Research Area (SFERA@UMS), Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS). The system was intended to supply water for washing, toilet flushing, showers, and limited drinking. Annual water demand was estimated at 97,951 L (93,031 L non-potable, 4,920 L potable). Based on a 50 m² roof catchment and 2,718 mm annual rainfall, the theoretical collection potential is 122,314 L, exceeding demand by 24%. Monthly surplus, deficit analysis showed shortfalls in August and September, which could be mitigated by additional 4,500 L storage tanks to capture surplus from preceding wet months. Commissioning confirmed effective operation, with the first-flush device and treatment unit producing potable water that met quality expectations. The incremental RWHS cost was approximately RM 30,000, yielding a simple payback of about 9 years compared with tanker deliveries. Practical lessons include the importance of storage flexibility, cost-effective local materials, and the system’s value as a demonstration tool for sustainable water management. The SFERA@UMS project highlights the feasibility of small, modular RWHS in high-rainfall tropical settings and provides a replicable design reference for campus and community applications.
