Abstract
Origin of Research
Rainwater utilization in the ecological communities has multi-benefits. Currently, these
benefits have been evaluated based on theoretical and non-quantitative base. Also, rainwater
utilization has been designed for a single building. The purpose of this research is to collect
broadly related to rainwater utilization and cases on the scale of community and try to
establish the quantitative methods or models for rainwater use in community. Furthermore,
these results will be compiled as a reference manual for rainwater design in community.
Research Methods and Processes
Rainwater utilization technologies in ecological (sustainable) communities will be
investigated. For those communities mentioned in the reports published by Architecture
Technology Research Institute and other agencies will be examined for their rainwater
utilization and problems encountered. Also, rainwater utilization technologies for communities
and buildings from foreign countries will be collected and compared with those of domestic.
A lot of communities have named their communities as eco-community without any
evaluation from EEWH-EC system. Because of this reason, this report has chose four from
eleven communities, which are recommended by scholars and/or related reports, for field
investigation: Chi-liau community in Tainan city, Tai-chi community in Tainan city, Tao-mi
community in Nan-To county, and Chi-hua community in Tainan city. All communities have
no any rainwater utilization concepts but some have install detention pond for flood mitigation.
The major purpose of water management for eco-community is to maintain the healthy water
cycle in the community. The technology includes water saving, rainwater utilization, grey
water reuse, and storm water management which includes water storage, water retention and
water quality control. This research will concentrate on the issues of rainwater utilization and
water retention. The methodologies for both rainwater utilization and water retention on the
scale of community will be developed. These methods will be used in the Wan-fun community
for case study. For evaluate the overall water cycle condition in the community, a
mathematical model is needed. In the research, water cycle models currently used have been
collected and compared. Indicators for evaluating the rainwater utilization have also been
recommended.
Major Findings
1. All domestic eco-communities mentioned in reports are not evaluated by EEWH-EC
system and lack of healthy water cycle concept. Some communities have installed
detention pond for flood mitigation purpose.
2. The sustainable water cycle management for eco-community has been defined in the
research. In addition, water cycle technologies for eco-community have been discussed.
3. The planning method or procedure for rainwater harvesting for utilization purpose has
been developed.
4. The planning method or procedure for rainwater retention for increasing water infiltration
has been developed.
5. For evaluating the overall water management in the community, mathematical models for
evaluating the water cycle have been collected and compared. The water cycle model
suitable for community scale is rare.
6. Indicators for evaluating the efficiency of rainwater utilization in the eco-community have
been recommended.
Major Suggestion
Through this research, following suggestions are recommended:
Suggestion 1:
Education training program for eco-community: immediate executable;
Leading organization: Architecture Technology Research Institute, MOI;
Supporting organizations: all city and county governments
(1) Augment the concept the water management (including: water infiltration, water
retention, water supply, emergency water use, flood mitigation, water quality control,
etc.) toward a healthy water cycle in eco-community.
(2) Introduce the EEWH-EC system developed by ATRI and increase the evaluation
examples for the current communities.
Suggestion 2:
Increase demonstration eco-communities and related regulations: middle to long term;
Leading organization: Architecture Technology Research Institute, MOI;
Supporting organizations: all city and county governments
(1) Increase the demonstration eco-communities for various types and quantify their
benefits;
(2) Establish a professional team for providing and planning the water cycle management
in eco-community.