Blog of law articles

(BY HUGO)

As mentioned in previous posts, rainwater management is an emerging trend.

Rainwater can be abstractly conceived as the ultimate upstream point in the hydrologic cycle which regenerates and replenishes freshwater resources for anthropogenic uses.

Pollution and reduction in quantities of unallocated water result in increasing water stress. To avoid shortages, users are moving from dowstream closer to upstream in the hydrologic cycle: historically, people have moved from «excess» surface water flowing in rivers to the sea, to groundwater sources directly dependent on rainwater infiltration, and now onward to rainwater directly harvested when and where it falls...

Other abstract upstream sources in the hydrological cycle such as desalination or cloud seeding are either more costly or technologically immature. As a result, rainwater harvesting will probably become an important aspect of water resources management in the near future.

The multiplication of news related to rainwater harvesting already suggests that this is already the case. The fact that water stressed regions currently develop projects for harvesting rainwater confirms that including rainwater within management regimes is essential.

The Los Angeles Times reports that a proposed law applicable to new home buildings and development projects would oblige rain capture and reuse to avoid runoff and waste. The generation of runoff would be sanctioned by a mitigation fee of $13 / gallon.

Coca-Cola and its partners in India have completed 16 rainwater harvesting projects in Madhya Pradesh for a total harvesting capacity of 3,600 cubic meters / year.

And in Queensland, Australia, rainwater harvesting from roofs combined with wastewater reuse and recycling at an onsite treatment plan will reduce the cost of a new development by AU$6 millions.