The Evidence project, funded by the Fund for Bilateral Relations, has already been completed and addressed the need to find reliable tools for simulating savings associated with optimizing water efficiency through rainwater harvesting systems in different climates and building types.
Developed by IST-ID – Associação do Instituto Superior Técnico para a Investigação e Desenvolvimento, in partnership with SINTEF in Norway, the project studied rainfall patterns in two contrasting European climates: the Mediterranean climate of Portugal and the northern climate of Norway, as well as water consumption patterns in both countries, in residential and office buildings. Additionally, the team studied models focused on snowmelt, allowing the inclusion of this source as an additional contribution of water available for harvesting in colder climates.
With these two contributions, it was possible to develop an easy-to-use tool that allows detailed and accurate modeling of rainwater harvesting systems, including inputs from both rainfall and snow. The tool is designed to provide estimates of expected water savings.
The project’s results were widely disseminated, and it played a crucial role in strengthening bilateral relations among all participants, fostering future collaborations in the field of maximizing "water circularity."
The main project activities and the rainwater harvesting simulation tool are available is available through the following link.