Stadiums use a significant amount of water in their daily operations. Collecting rainwater off roofs for reuse can be an environmentally preferable – and potentially economical – approach to fulfilling a portion of your facility’s water needs. Rainwater catchment systems, which can include cisterns and rain barrels as well as other simple devices to capture and reuse rainwater, can be designed and installed on a small scale as well as at larger scales.
Review the examples below, and consider installing a rainwater catchment system when embarking upon new construction or renovation.
- United Nations Environmental Program international examples
- Olympiastadion, Berlin, Germany
- This venue for the 2006 FIFA Soccer World Cup uses a rainwater harvesting system that diverts rain water into one of the largest cisterns in Europe, capable of storing over 49,000 cubic feet of water. The cistern supplies non-potable water for uses such as irrigating the soccer field.
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology Stata Center
- Stormwater/rainwater catchment system provides water for non-potable uses such as toilets. Case Study
Almost half the world’s population lives without a reliable supply of clean drinking water. In the United States, many sources of freshwater are being depleted faster than they can be recharged by natural processes, and global warming threatens to increase severe drought. Harvesting rainwater helps preserve natural water resources and stream and river ecosystems. Rainwater catchment systems also can reduce the need to transport water from distant locations, thereby reducing energy use and infrastructure requirements.
United Nations Environmental Program introductory guide for decision makers
Information from the University of Arizona and the American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association
Rainwater Harvesting Information from Montana State University
The Nine Mile Run Rain Barrel Initiative