Aproveitamento de águas pluviais no semiárido cearense: estudo de caso na Universidade Federal do Ceará em Crateús

Abstract

Educational institutions have great potential for implementing Rainwater Utilization Systems due to the provision of a vast area for catchment. In this sense, the objective of the present work was to analyze the potential for saving drinking water by implementing a model of a rainwater cover system for non-drinking purposes in two buildings at the Federal University of Ceará, Campus Crateús. Based on the survey of local rainfall data and information on the demand for non-potable water, an investigation was carried out on the potential for capturing and using rainwater. The conditions of the existing gutter and conductor structure were checked and other components of the system were dimensioned, such as reservoirs and pretreatment devices. The results indicated that the capture and use of rainwater would provide a reduction in the consumption of drinking water in the order of 68.7 %, supplying all the demand for sanitary basins, urinals, cleaning and irrigation activities.