Abstract

Jordan is currently one of the world’s four poorest nations in water resources. Rainfall harvesting from rooftops, roads, and parking lots can increase the water supply for various uses and help combat the chronic water shortage in Jordan. This work aimed at evaluating the potential for potable and non-potable water savings by using rainwater at Yarmouk University and to provide recommendations for increasing water efficiency use to minimize water waste and reduce the water bill. Results showed that a maximum of 99,000 m3/y of rainwater can be collected, 37,000 m3/y of it from roofs of buildings and 62,000 m3/y from open impervious areas, provided that all surfaces are used and all runoff from the surfaces are collected. The estimated potential for potable water savings is 125 to 145% of the total domestic water supply. Chemical and biological analysis of harvested water indicated the requirement of water treatment for nitrate and pathogenic organisms. The study recommends the adoption of several measures toward decreasing water consumption and eventually the water bill.

Key words: Water harvesting, Geographic Information System (GIS), satellite images, Yarmouk University, Jordan.