Economic and ecological aspects of rainwater reclamation in cities

The aim of this paper was to investigate the economic and ecological benefits of rainwater utilization in urban areas. The case of Toruń. Conducted analysis has shown that in case of individual households which roof surface ranges from 100 to 150 m2 there is no economic justification for rainwater reclamation. With the exception of one variant, with the roof surface equal to 150 m2 and annual sum of precipitation significantly higher than the mean observed in Toruń. However, from the perspective of the whole city such projects may lead to significant financial and ecological benefits. It therefore seems essential for municipalities and environmental protection organizations to establish special programs, financially supporting such projects.