Rainwater harvesting is the process of collecting, storing, and distributing rainwater for reuse, rather than allowing it to run off. Greywater recycling consists of purifying processes that remove contaminants present in wastewater coming from faucets, showers, baths, clothes washing, and dishwashing, so that it can be reused, instead of becoming inlet wastewater for municipal wastewater treatment plants. In urban areas, rainwater harvesting and greywater recycling systems provide additional water supplies for houses, buildings, and industries, and also help to mitigate flooding events and pollution. Construction companies are looking for eco-friendly systems that benefit the environment while being profitable. This paper proposes a decision support system (DSS) for the design of rainwater harvesting and greywater recycling system (RHGRS) in residential construction projects. The DSS uses optimization to support construction companies in the design of a RHGRS that minimizes construction and operational costs. With the underlying optimization routine, the DSS addresses both the challenges of deciding whether to construct or not a RHGRS for a residential unit and its minimum-cost design. It is expected that the DSS will help construction companies to make decisions toward sustainable and eco-friendly cities.
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