Modelling the potential of rainwater harvesting to improve the sustainability of landscape and public garden irrigation

• DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.119167
• Publication Date: 2023-10-12T03:47:31Z
• Authors: H. Jacque; J.W. Knox; M. Gush; I.P. Holman
• Keywords: Rainwater Harvesting; Amenity

Access to water for irrigating amenity landscape and public gardens is under intense pressure due the rising competition between different sectors, exacerbated by increased drought risk climate change. Rainwater harvesting (RWH) has potential reduce economic impacts of restrictions on irrigation abstraction in dry years build resilience future shortages. This study investigated hydrological viability RWH garden sector based an analysis five Royal Horticultural Society gardens. A model was developed combined with on-site observations, key informant interviews GIS analyses, estimate demands volumes harvested rainfall contrasting agroclimatic years. The results showed that located wetter regions low demand harvestable area ratio had a higher could almost exclusively rely rainwater meet demand, even more limited drier where they would require larger areas harvest storage. Appropriately designed systems offer remove most during associated planting quality visitor experience.