Design Project 1
Preliminary Design and Technology
Design Situation
Most of the world's natural resources are finite. These include key resources such as: coal, gas, oil and water. In the past these resources have been taken for granted, but there has been a growing awareness and concern regarding the continuing supply of some of these as well as the impact on the environment in the undisciplined use of these resources.
Global warming, which many reputable scientists suggest is contributed to by an increasing use of and reliance on fossil fuels, will affect us all. In Australia there are growing concerns with the availability of water and the impact that the redirection of wear from natural river flows is having on the environment.
Increasingly there is an expectation that designers and producers will be accountable for the impact of their work on society and the environment. Risks can be minimised and products can be enhanced by considering both the short and long term consequences of decisions made throughout the design process.
The wider community and governments today are facing complex challenges related to these issues. There is a phrase that is sometimes used "Think globally and act locally". This task invites us to takes up that challenge in a practical way at a domestic level in Australia.
Design Brief
To help combat global warming designers must create new and innovative products to help reduce the negative outcomes of their work on society and the environment and to create alternative ways of utilising natural resources. The availability of water is a key issue in today's society, forcing designers to create new products to stabilise water use and provide alternative measures.
Domestic water management systems rely on the natural occurrence of water to acquire water on-site of a home or building. Rainwater harvesting specialises in obtaining usable water through natural hydrological cycles, in particular; precipitation. This water is often collected in gutters and will flow into tanks where it is stored before utilising it for gardens, washing, livestock and with proper treatment; drinking.
Domestic water management systems need to be redesigned to create compact and simple systems that are available to all households. By doing this, water management will become easier and more appealing, and therefore more people will be able to assist in the fight against global warming.
Design Propsal
To help solve the global crisis of global warming more effective ways of collecting, storing and using water must be designed. Rainwater is ideal to use for several purposes and can be easily collected through the use of pipes and a tank or tanks. As seen below, rainwater also carries little risk of unhealthy bacteria when treated properly.
Below is an outline of different issues that need to be considered before developing and completing the project.
Domestic water management systems play a vital role in the conservation of water. For these types of systems to be effective in domestic settings they must be compact, affordable and simple to use and repair if necessary. These are some of the functional requirements of domestic water management systems.
Another factor that needs to be considered when designing a domestic water management system is aesthetics. Homeowners don't wish to have unpleasant looking systems exposed around their house so the system must be small and concealed or pleasing to the eye. The system design may be simple or elaborate to achieve appealing aesthetics.
Currently it is suggested that rainwater should not be used for drinking consumption, however, some rural properties without access to the main water supply rely on rainwater for all aspects of life. To make rainwater safe to drink many processes must be followed. These processes include; the management of risks to the water supply, treatment of the water supply and the maintenance of the water supply and system.
Risks to rainwater supplies include risks from roof materials, faeces, animals, leaves, and pesticides. These risks can lead to a variety of bacteria, which may then cause viruses and diseases for the consumer. Below is a diagram displaying the necessary management of a rainwater harvesting system.
The last step to prepare rainwater for domestic use the continual maintenance of the rainwater harvesting system. This can be done by continual filtration and disinfection. The water quality should also be tested when the system is installed, after the system has been altered in anyway and after any major events, such as natural disasters. The system should be cleaned and maintained every three months (for most parts) and after major storms.
After evaluation of the factors affecting the design of a rainwater harvesting tank it is suggested the system be simple, efficient and easy to manage. The system will follow a similar structure to regular rainwater harvesting systems, specialising in aesthetics and easy management.
Project Management
Evaluation
Rainwater harvesting benefits the environment in various different ways. This includes the idea that it is recycled, does not use power to generate and lowers the need for a large public water systems.
As rainwater is a product of the hydrological cycle, collecting it and utilizing it has minimal negative impacts on the environment. Only small amounts of water is lost as it is used and then essentially 'released' back into the environment to start the cycle again. The diagram below depicts one of the options available after rainwater has been used in the home. As seen in the diagram wastewater can be used for irrigation or treated and then released back into rivers and oceans.
Domestic rainwater harvesting eliminates the need for water to transported over long distances, and therefore eliminates the need to clear land for water stations and use of excessive amounts of power to drive the systems.
Figure 5.2 Sydney water system network
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