Sistema de reúso de águas pluviais para fins não potáveis em edificações de ensino: estudo de caso no Latram, Unipampa, Caçapava do Sul

Abstract

Water is an indispensable resource for life on the planet, but it is finite. With the growing demand, its availability in quantity and quality is a concern, and, therefore, alternatives for water reuse are being increasingly sought. The methodology of rainwater harvesting is a sustainable solution for the conservation of water resources. This paper aims to analyze the system of rainwater reuse for non-potable purposes in the building of the Mining, Planning and Mineral Treatment Laboratory (Latram) of the Unipampa, Caçapava do Sul campus, verifying the possibility of using and storing rainwater to supply local needs. For a more concise diagnosis, the use of water was quantified through a case study of the building, taking into account the current legislation, the environmental problems, the system sizing, and its economic viability. Initially, a preliminary survey of the data needed to design the water reuse system was done by analyzing the building's architecture, evaluating the coverage area (water collection area) and rainfall data of the region. Thus, it was possible to estimate the project's flow rate, the sizing of the gutter, the vertical conductors, the horizontal pipes, the inspection boxes, the debris removal device, the sizing of the reservoir, the daily demand of non-potable water, the upper reservoir, the storage time of the cistern, the sizing of the pumping station. These steps were essential to raise the budget evaluated in R$37423.30, presenting a payback period of 8.2 years. Thus, it was evident that the implementation of a rainwater reuse system in the university building has a viable economic potential, presenting a short-term return on investment.