Case Studies from Around the

World
Tanuja Ariyananda
LRWHF
Star City
Location: Seoul, Korea
Extend: Built on a 6.25 hectare
site, originally owned by
Konkuk University
4 apartment towers with 1,310
apartments, completed in 2007
Municipality refused on the
ground that it will increase
storm water flow: Overall, the
precipitation has increased, with
more rainfall in summer and less
in spring.

Design
3% subsidy to build 40
apartments to be built
where the plans already
allowed for three underground
story's for car parking. A fourth
sub-surface storys would now
be added to accommodate
rainwater in two meter deep
tanks
Each block has a plan area
of1500m
2
Rainwater from all four roofs is
piped to the RWH basement
under the 35 storeys block
where there are 3 separate
storage tanks each of1000m
3

capacity.


Multi Purpose Rainwater Management
Flood
Control
Water
Saving
Emergency
1000 M
3
1000 M
3
1000 M
3
For Others !!! For Myself !!! For All of us !!!
Operation

Benefits
Monthly monitoring programme shows that some 40,000m3 of rainwater has been
harvested and beneficially used over the 12 month period.
Estimated about 67% of the rainfall on the site
With average consumption from the public supply amounting to 250 litres/head/day
in Seoul, it is no surprise to learn that Star City residents welcome the reduced water
rate resulting from the harvesting scheme.
Reduction in flood risk in a floodprone area.
Considering the average cost of
Supplying one cubic meter of tap water in Korea is about seven U.S. dollars, the
saving is significant to the city, while the residents will save about US$ 80,000 per
year in reduced payment for water.
The construction cost for the rainwater harvest system was approximately US$
450,000
Energy saving
Energy required to treat and deliver a cubic metre of tap water is 1.8244kWh
Treatment of grey water (treated on site) 1.1177kWh per cubic metre
Rainwater needing no transport or treatment, can be delivered for a mere 0.0012kWh, the
pumping energy needed to raise the water from storage.
Capture The Rain
the skyscraper features an innovative
roof and external shell, which consists
of a system of gutters to harvest
rainwater to meet the daily needs of its
inhabitants.
The designers estimate that the
average daily consumption of water
per person is about 150 liters, out of
which 85 liters may be replaced by
rainwater
A network of gutters on the external
surface of the building is designed to
capture rainfall flowing down the
building. While most of the harvested
water is supplied to the apartments,
surplus water is stored in a reservoir
under the building.

Rain House