Case studyThe collection of rainwater from dome stadiums in Japan
Introduction
Recent urbanization has brought a change to the hydrological cycle in urban areas. Urbanization has increased impermeable areas. and developed urban areas have lost functions of rainwater storage and infiltration. In addition, recent climate conditions have resulted in an excess or a shortage of water supply. Torrential rain caused by the heat island phenomenon occurs mainly in urban areas resulting in excess runoff which does not enrich natural sources of water supply because it is rapidly translated to rivers by sewers in urban areas.
As one of the best countermeasures against a shortage or excess of water supply, rainwater utilization plays a very important role. Rainwater utilization can overcome a shortage of water supply, and it is very effective for runoff control and restoration of the hydrological cycle in urban areas. Moreover, there has been increasing recognition that it is important to recover the hydrological cycle for the purpose of sustainable development. Rainwater utilization is also effective for the restoration of the hydrological cycle.
This paper describes the characteristics, design method, and the effects of rainwater utilization at dome stadiums (Tokyo Dome, constructed in 1983; Fukuoka Dome, 1993; Nagoya Dome, 1997), which Takenaka Corporation constructed.
Table 1 gives outline details of the dome stadiums, and Fig. 1 shows the location of the dome stadiums in Japan.
Section snippets
Social background
Rainwater utilization facilities are mainly divided into two types. One is a small-scale facility called a “Ten-sui-son”, which stores rainwater from eaves gutters of a private home. The other is a large-scale facility like a dome stadium that is described in this paper. Ten-sui-son have been used for fire fighting water for a long time, being installed along streets. In the early 1980s, serious shortage of water supply occurred in various Japanese cities, and there has been increasing
Characteristics of dome stadiums
Common characteristics of the three domes described in the paper are as follows:
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large-scale structures built in urban areas;
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large roof areas compared with high-rise buildings;
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multipurpose stadium with a capacity for a large number of spectators.
Design method of rainwater storage
The design method of the dentention tank volume is as follows:
Step 1. Investigate annual rainfall data. It is necessary to investigate the rainfall data in the past in order to estimate annual rainfall in the future.
Step 2. Estimate required water quantity. Estimate the water volume of each event to be held in dome stadiums and the number of days of each even in a year.
Step 3. Analyse water balance. Construct a hydrograph and a water demand graph, compare with each other, and estimate water
Achievement of rainwater utilization
This section indicates the achievement of rainwater utilization measured from April 1993 to October 1994.
Conclusions
The outcome of the inspection of rainwater utilization at the three dome stadiums is that they were effective. Nevertheless, further monitoring and reporting are required in the future.
In 1998, the Ministry of Construction began to investigate rainwater utilization facilities throughout Japan, as part of a wider program of urban storm water management. The investigation is supposed to be carried out until 2000, and the details of the investigation are not only technical and economic issues but
References (3)
- Takai, H. (1996). Report on planning and actual results of rainwater utilization at Tokyo Dome and Fukuoka...
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