Institutional Adoption and Economic Feasibility of Rainwater Harvesting in Existing University Buildings: A Review

Rainwater harvesting in existing university buildings requires an appraisal that connects institutional priorities, feasible retrofits and financial consequences. Selected reviews address system design, research trends and implementation barriers, providing a basis for examining how these considerations inform successive appraisal decisions. This critical narrative review develops a conceptual framework for Chinese universities through thematic synthesis of selected reviews and primary studies. Historical bibliometric visualizations provide descriptive context. The framework comprises six stages: institutional requirements, retrofit conditions, formation of comparable alternatives, operational assessment, economic evaluation and conditional adoption decisions. Catchment connectivity, storage placement, demand timing and maintenance access shape the alternatives considered. Within the framework, daily water-balance assessment provides estimates of delivered water, while life-cycle appraisal translates configuration-specific costs and water savings into financial measures. Comparable assessments require consistent system boundaries, clearly defined performance indicators and cost accounting that avoids omitted or duplicated expenditure. The contribution is an explicit account of the evidence required at each stage and the conditions prompting further information or design revision. The framework offers a structured basis for linking university investment appraisal with facilities management. Selected literature coverage and contextual differences limit generalization, and its practical usefulness requires empirical evaluation.