This research evaluates which is the most cost-efficient rainwater harvesting (RWH) system in a new commercial building located in the north of Portugal, in Braga. Based on the economic analysis, the cost-efficiency of the presented RWH strategies may be considered for the case studied.The results of this research indicate that RWH scenarios proposed are cost-efficient. Considering a 10 % discount rate, the water price charge in the municipally of Braga and the cost of the infrastructures would be enough to make RWH cost-efficient for this option. At this discount rate, the payback period ranges from 2 to 6 years and the internal rate of return would range from 23 to 76 %. If a discount rate of 5 % were considered, the payback periods would be reduced by approximately 1 year.

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The main objective of this paper is to introduce the proposed theory of vulnerability of water pipe network (TVWPN) and, in particular, its theoretical concepts. These concepts have a basis in the structural vulnerability theory (Agarwal et al.contribution of this theory is to help design water pipe networks (WPN) more robust against damage to the pipelines. This is achieved through an analysis of the form of the network. The application of the TVWPN is presented through an example of a water pipe network.