As climate change accelerates and droughts and water shortages become more evident around the world, it becomes more important to find new and more efficient ways to use our water. Akademiska Hus has recently had the opportunity to contribute to an innovative research project at the Chemistry Centre in Lund, in collaboration with the Department of Water and Wastewater Engineering at Lund University. The project aims to investigate how rainwater can be collected, purified and used for purposes such as flushing toilets and washing clothes.
Rainwater as a resource
The research project explores how rainwater from roof surfaces can be collected in gutters and led on through runoff to a treatment system using fine membranes. This process allows for a significant reduction in drinking water use, and the preliminary results of the project show that up to 30% of the drinking water currently used for these purposes can be saved.
In the Apparatus Hall at the Chemistry Centre, the researchers have tested a gravity-driven membrane technology to treat rainwater from the roof. The results are promising – the raw rainwater, which is initially dark and cloudy, has become clear and odourless after filtration. Two toilets in the building are now supplied with this purified rainwater.
The rainwater from the roof is purified through filter membranes and then led to the toilets
A sustainable and climate-neutral initiative
By contributing to this project, Akademiska Hus promotes both research and its own sustainability goals, including the goal of becoming climate neutral and operating circularly. Our involvement has mainly been to enable the necessary piping and to give permission for reconstruction in the property. The project has also resulted in degree projects that further highlight the potential of this technology.
There are large available roof areas at the Chemistry Centre that could be used to collect enough rainwater to supply all the toilets and washing machines in the building. The gravity-driven setup offers a simple and cost-effective filtration that does not require electricity, further underlining the technology's durability.
Future work
To further develop this technology, future research is planned to investigate the microbial quality of rainwater before and after filtration, and evaluate the long-term performance of the system. In addition, they are considering automating the plant and investigating the possibility of using the filtered rainwater for purposes other than toilets and washing machines.
We at Akademiska Hus are proud to be able to support this initiative that not only contributes to our pursuit of sustainability, but also promotes important research and development in water resource management.