SIMCAP: computational tool to assist decision-making on the implementation of rainwater harvesting systems

ABSTRACT One of the possible solutions to overcome the problem of availability of water and to preserve water resources is the rainwater use. This technique consists on capturing rainfall in impermeable areas and storing it in reservoirs to enable its use. This technical note presents an electronic tool, named SIMCAP, created to assist decision-making concerning the volumes of reservoirs implanted in buildings of towns of the state of São Paulo, Brazil. Therefore, the tool requires: a reservoir capacity suggestion, the municipality the system will be implemented, the building category and the rainwater demand. The tool brings results regarding the technical information about the volume of reservoir suggested by the user as guarantee of rainwater supply, water and economical savings resulted from the system.