5th International Conference on Rain Water Cistern Systems
"Rainwater Catchment for Future Generations"
Keelung, Taiwan, R.O.C. - August 1991

Section 5: Cistern Management and Operation Guidelines

Page 292

Optimal Cistern Size For Hydroponic Greenhouse Operation

John W. Brown
University of Guam Mangilao, USA

PingSun Leung
University of Hawaii USA

Abstract

Hydroponic farms are starting to be adopted in the American Pacific Island for a variety of reasons. There are currently hydroponic operations in Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam and the Marshall Islands. Many of these operations use cistern stored rainwater, because of a lark of reliable water supplies, or because of the quality of available water supplies is unsuitable for hydroponic culture. Many of these sites are prone to periodic droughts. Thus, sizing. the cistern is of vital importance to the economic viability of the operation. The cost of construction of an oversized cistern is an unnecessary expense, while the construction of an inadequate cistern exposes the operation to a higher risk of a loss of crops.

This paper develops a simple methodology for the optimal sizing of cisterns given the rainfall history of the site, the water use of the hydroponic system and the costs of construction. Specific examples are developed for Guam and the Marshall Islands.

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