Rainwater harvesting system for beverage plant water consumption reduction
A cost-effective rainwater harvesting solution designed for beverage plants to reduce potable water consumption. The system collects, treats, and stores rainwater from plant rooftops, offering a sustainable alternative water source particularly valuable during winter seasons.
Overview
Beverage plants consume large quantities of potable water in their daily operations. This solution addresses that demand by implementing a rooftop rainwater harvesting system specifically designed for beverage production facilities. The approach targets regions with seasonal rainfall and offers a practical, low-cost method to supplement plant water needs, particularly during winter months when rainfall is most available.
The system is designed for a pilot facility in an area receiving approximately 400 mm of annual rainfall. By collecting rainwater from a 5,000 square meter rooftop area and treating it for industrial use, the system can yield approximately 1,700 cubic meters of usable water per rainy season. This translates to a cost of roughly 9.0 JD per cubic meter, which falls within the accepted range for alternative water sources.
Technical specifications
Collection and treatment system:
- Rooftop preparation with cleaning, maintenance, and isolation materials to prevent contamination from air pollution, animal and bird fecal matter, insects, and organic compounds
- Conveyance piping to transfer harvested water from rooftop to storage, designed at 85% conveyance efficiency
- Water treatment process incorporating both filtration and biological treatment before storage
- Storage tank designed with 85 cubic meter capacity, sized to accommodate the highest expected daily rainfall intensity of 20 mm
- Electrical water pump for system operation
- Energy sourced from the plant's existing electrical supply
Key design parameters:
- Collection area: 5,000 square meters
- Storage capacity: 85 cubic meters
- Expected seasonal yield: approximately 1,700 cubic meters
- Estimated total implementation cost: 15,400 JD (excluding labor and operational expenses)
Technology readiness level
This solution is at the pilot study stage, ready for validation at a selected beverage plant site. The validation procedure has been fully outlined, including site selection, rooftop preparation, piping installation, water treatment setup, storage tank design, and pump installation. Cost estimates have been developed for each component, with a total budget requirement of 27,600 JD (approximately 39,000 USD) covering implementation, labor, operational costs, and research rewards over a six-month validation period. The approach leverages well-established rainwater harvesting methods adapted specifically for the beverage industry context.
About National Agricultural Research Center
The National Agricultural Research Center (NARC) is Jordan’s governmental applied research institution for agriculture, headquartered in Al‑Baq’a with a network of regional centers and field stations reflecting the country’s climate zones. Co‑located sites enable collaborative field trials and pilot‑scale validation with growers and agribusinesses across the Kingdom. Specialized facilities include the National Seed Bank and a national herbarium, alongside analytical and testing services available through the center. Research is supported by national government funding and competitively awarded international programs. An innovation and entrepreneurship incubator provides technical, legal, and commercial support to startups and SMEs, creating a structured path from proof‑of‑concept to market.
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