Design and simulation of a reuse water system for a houseboat using EPANET

Urbanization and climate change are straining water resources, necessitating sustainable solutions. Greywater reuse is of paramount importance as it not only conserves freshwater resources but also contributing to sustainable water management efforts. This research aims to design and simulate an efficient water reuse system for a houseboat on the Kaiapoi River in New Zealand using decentralized treatment units. The system integrates river water storage, roof catchment, and greywater and blackwater treatment units, each employing different technologies for treatment. A houseboat's multi-demand water system is designed and simulated to achieve a sustainable approach in water reuse. EPANET's rule-based controls are used for simulation in this research. The research successfully designed and simulated a water reuse infrastructure, reducing freshwater demand by 29% through efficient infrastructure and treated greywater utilization for washing and toilets. The outcomes of this research hold great promise in the context of mitigating water crises, promoting the adoption of groundbreaking technologies, and encouraging sustainable practices. The effective and standards-compliant technologies and daily, weekly, and yearly simulations performed by EPANET. Beyond the immediate application on the houseboat, the effective and standards-compliant technologies and EPANET's comprehensive simulations provide a robust foundation for scaling up the system to serve larger decentralized infrastructures. The research’s outcomes have positive implications for addressing the water crisis in an efficient and sustainable manner. This is achieved by utilizing innovative technologies and sustainable practices. There is a potential to contribute to the development of similar sustainable water systems for households, communities, and industries.