L'utilisation de l'eau de pluie en milieu urbain : comment les expériences étrangères interrogent- elles la situation française ? Rainwater harvesting in urban areas: how can international approaches question French context?

Since the end of the 1990s, rainwater harvesting (RWH) has been growing in France. This development was sanctioned by a first regulatory framework, constituted mainly by an order of August 21, 2008. If this first text helped to strengthen this practice, it also introduced limitation for RWH development. Considering the growing social demand, but also possible issues for water resources, it is likely that the first regulatory framework will be both refined and expanded. In order to anticipate these changes, foreign case studies may be very instructive. Based on a detailed analysis of 8 countries of different continents (Europe – Germany and United Kingdom, America United States and Brazil-, Asia India and Sri Lanka -, Oceania Australia and Africa Uganda), this paper is intended to draw up an international overview of RWH allowing to put this practice into perspective. Each case is studied through a set of common entries: regulatory issues, technical and scientific challenges, uses and health related issues, vectors of the development of this practice and, more widely, the role of RWH in the integrated management of water resource.