MODERN RAINWATER HARVESTING

Rainwater harvesting is a sustainable and eco-friendly solution to water scarcity problems. This project aims to automate the process of rainwater collection using an Arduino Uno, a rain sensor, a motor driver, and two DC motors. When the rain sensor detects rainfall above a certain threshold, the motor driver activates the motors to rotate a shed back and forth, collecting rainwater and storing it in a tank. The motors will rotate clockwise, then counterclockwise, continuously until the rain stops.

Components

• Arduino Uno: The central microcontroller.
• Rain Sensor: Detects rainfall.
• Motor Driver (e.g., L298N): Controls the DC motors.
• DC Motors: Rotate the shed to collect rainwater.

Circuit Connections

• Rain Sensor: Connect VCC to 5V, GND to GND, and OUT to an analog pin (e.g., A0) on the Arduino.
• Motor Driver (L298N):
  • Connect IN1, IN2, IN3, and IN4 to digital pins on the Arduino (e.g., 2, 3, 4, 5).
  • Connect the motors to the motor output pins on the driver.
  • Connect VCC to 12V (or appropriate power supply for your motors) and GND to GND.
  • Enable pins (EN1 and EN2) connected to 5V (or controlled via PWM pins if speed control is desired).

Circuit diagram is given below:

Code is given below:

// Define pins for rain sensor and motor driver
const int rainSensorPin = A0;
const int motor1Pin1 = 2;
const int motor1Pin2 = 3;
const int motor2Pin1 = 4;
const int motor2Pin2 = 5;

// Threshold value for rain detection
const int rainThreshold = 500; // Adjust based on calibration

// Function to stop the motors
void stopMotors() {
  digitalWrite(motor1Pin1, LOW);
  digitalWrite(motor1Pin2, LOW);
  digitalWrite(motor2Pin1, LOW);
  digitalWrite(motor2Pin2, LOW);
}

void setup() {
  // Initialize serial communication
  Serial.begin(9600);

  // Set motor driver pins as output
  pinMode(motor1Pin1, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(motor1Pin2, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(motor2Pin1, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(motor2Pin2, OUTPUT);

  // Set initial state of motors to stopped
  stopMotors();
}

void loop() {
  // Read the value from the rain sensor
  int rainValue = analogRead(rainSensorPin);
  Serial.print("Rain Sensor Value: ");
  Serial.println(rainValue);

  // Check if rain is detected above the threshold
  if (rainValue > rainThreshold) {
    // Rotate motors clockwise for 4 seconds
    digitalWrite(motor1Pin1, HIGH);
    digitalWrite(motor1Pin2, LOW);
    digitalWrite(motor2Pin1, HIGH);
    digitalWrite(motor2Pin2, LOW);
    delay(4000); // Rotate for 4 seconds

    // Rotate motors counterclockwise for 4 seconds
    digitalWrite(motor1Pin1, LOW);
    digitalWrite(motor1Pin2, HIGH);
    digitalWrite(motor2Pin1, LOW);
    digitalWrite(motor2Pin2, HIGH);
    delay(4000); // Rotate for 4 seconds
  } else {
    // Stop the motors if no rain is detected
    stopMotors();
  }

  // Short delay before the next loop
  delay(1000);
}

Benefits

• Automated Rainwater Collection: Efficiently collects and stores rainwater without manual intervention.
• Sustainable Solution: Promotes water conservation and reduces reliance on external water sources.
• Scalability: Can be scaled up for larger systems by using more powerful motors and larger collection mechanisms.

Application:

1. Residential Homes

• Individual Houses: Automatically collects rainwater for household uses such as gardening, toilet flushing, and cleaning, reducing reliance on municipal water supply.
• Apartment Complexes: Provides a communal rainwater collection system that can be used for landscape irrigation, car washing, and other non-potable water needs.

2. Agricultural Settings

• Farms and Greenhouses: Collects and stores rainwater for irrigation, reducing the dependency on groundwater and enhancing sustainable farming practices.
• Rural Areas: Provides an efficient method for storing rainwater in areas with limited access to clean water sources, supporting local agriculture and livestock.

3. Commercial Buildings

• Office Buildings: Utilizes collected rainwater for landscape irrigation, cooling towers, and other non-potable uses, reducing water consumption and operational costs.
• Shopping Malls: Enhances sustainability by using harvested rainwater for cleaning, landscaping, and restrooms, contributing to eco-friendly commercial operations.

4. Educational Institutions

• Schools and Universities: Implements rainwater harvesting to educate students about sustainable practices while providing water for gardens, sports fields, and restrooms.
• Research Facilities: Uses harvested rainwater for laboratory cooling systems and irrigation of experimental crops.

5. Public Infrastructure

• Parks and Gardens: Ensures that public green spaces are sustainably watered using harvested rainwater, reducing the strain on municipal water supplies.
• Community Centers: Provides water for community gardens and recreational areas, promoting community-based sustainability efforts.