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Operation and Maintenance Guidelines

This document provides operation and maintenance guidelines for rainwater harvesting systems in Timor-Leste. It outlines recommended maintenance actions for major system components like the roof, gutters, storage tank, and more. Maintenance should be performed monthly or weekly to ensure proper system operation. Actions include cleaning debris from filters, draining first flush mechanisms, inspecting tanks for cracks, and clearing overflow pipes. Following these guidelines helps maintain rainwater quality and extend the lifespan of the system.

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Lindo
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58 views4 pages

Operation and Maintenance Guidelines

This document provides operation and maintenance guidelines for rainwater harvesting systems in Timor-Leste. It outlines recommended maintenance actions for major system components like the roof, gutters, storage tank, and more. Maintenance should be performed monthly or weekly to ensure proper system operation. Actions include cleaning debris from filters, draining first flush mechanisms, inspecting tanks for cracks, and clearing overflow pipes. Following these guidelines helps maintain rainwater quality and extend the lifespan of the system.

Uploaded by

Lindo
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Operation and maintenance guideline for

rainwater harvesting and storage systems

This operation and maintenance guideline is intended for use by personnel


responsible for rainwater harvesting and storage systems in school and
healthcare centres in Oecussi, Timor-Leste. The maintenance actions
mentioned in this document must be performed at the suggested
frequency to ensure the proper operation and ongoing functionality of the
system.

1
System components
The major components of a rainwater harvesting system are displayed in Figure 1 below.

Figure 1) Components of a typical rainwater harvesting system.

1. Roof – rainwater collection surface.


2. Gutter – gathers and directs water collected from the catchment area to the downpipe.
3. Downpipe – routes water from the gutter to the inlet filter and first flush mechanism.
4. Inlet filter – screen filter to catch or divert large debris.
5. First flush mechanism – diverts the initial contaminated flow of water as contaminants are
washed from the roof at the beginning of a rain event.
6. Tank stand – to elevate the water storage tank to ensure sufficient gravity head for
downstream distribution.
7. Storage tank – stores rainwater that is collected from the catchment surface. The tank should
be sealed and covered to protect stored water from contamination.
8. Inspection hole – to facilitate installation, inspection and maintenance of the rainwater
storage tank.
9. Air Pipe – to avoid the build-up of pressure or vacuum effect when filling and emptying the
tank.
10. Overflow – prevents the tank from overfilling by diverting excess water out of the tank to a safe
overflow area.

2
Rainwater harvesting systems require regular operation and maintenance (O&M), the table below lists
the recommended O&M actions for each of the major components. These actions should accompany
any further actions recommended by material or component manufacturers, specific to the installed
equipment. The O&M actions mentioned below require only basic tools including but not limited to a
sturdy ladder, a broom, a large hard-bristled brush, a waterproof torch and a 10L bucket. The following
actions should be taken at the suggested frequency and if defects are found during any inspection the
issue should be fixed as soon as possible.

No COMPONENT MAINTENANCE ACTIONS SUGGESTED


FREQUENCY
0 Surrounding Keep surrounding area and environment clean and Weekly
area sanitary.
Do not allow stagnant water to collect.
1-3 Roof, gutters Keep the roof area and gutters clean and clear of Monthly
and downpipe excessive debris, especially after prolonged dry periods
or following storms.
Ensure there is no excessive overhanging vegetation.
Inspect roof surface and ensure water flows properly into
the gutters as intended.
Inspect the gutters and ensure they are intact, straight
and secured firmly.
Inspect the gutters during a light to medium intensity rain
event to ensure no leakage or overflow of water from the
gutters.
4 Inlet filter Clear all debris from the filter screen surface and ensure Weekly during
screen it is clean so water can freely pass through. the rainy
Ensure the filter screen is intact and positioned correctly season
to remove large debris prior to entering the first flush
mechanism.
5 First flush Drain the contents of the first flush mechanism using the After each rain
mechanism drain valve and clean out any excessive sediment or event or
debris from inside. weekly during

3
Ensure the diverter is functioning as intended, diverting the rainy
only the initial flush of water during rainfall. season
Inspect the first flush mechanism for leakage or
unwanted overflow.
Inspect the first flush mechanism mounting to ensure it is
secured firmly to the wall.
6-9 Storage tank Inspect the tank for cracks, leakage or structural damage. 6-12 months
and stand Visually inspect the inside of the tank for sediment build-
up, if a significant amount of sediment has collected the
tank may require cleaning inside. If filters and the first
flush mechanism are well maintained then sediment
accrual should be minimal.
Inspect the outlet flow for water clarity, if the outlet flow
is turbid the tank may require cleaning inside, this is
more likely immediately after a rain event if the tank is
less than 25% full.
Cleaning the tank inside is best done when it is less than
10% full at the beginning of the rainy season. To clean the
inside of the tank drain it until water no longer flows out
of the outlet pipe. The inside will then have a small
amount of water remain which can be used to scrub the
inside of the tank with a hard-bristled brush. The dirty
water inside the tank can then be drained out the lower
cleaning valve located at the base of the tank. The
cleaning valve can then be closed and a small amount of
water added to rinse the remaining sediment from within
the tank. This rinsing water can be drained and the
cleaning valve once again closed then the cleaned tank is
once again ready for use.
10 Overflow Inspect the overflow pipe to ensure it is clear of debris. Monthly

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