scholarly journals Knowledge of measures to safeguard harvested rainwater quality in rural domestic households

2009 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 334-345 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Baguma ◽  
Willibald Loiskandl ◽  
Ika Darnhofer ◽  
Helmut Jung ◽  
Michael Hauser
Keyword(s):  
Rainwater Harvesting ◽  
Water Harvesting ◽  
First Flush ◽  
Waterborne Diseases ◽  
Subsequent Growth ◽  
Adequate Care ◽  
Harvesting Systems ◽  
Improve Water Quality ◽  
Rainwater Quality ◽  
Rainwater Tanks

Given the possibility of waterborne diseases caused by inappropriate rainwater harvesting systems, a survey was conducted in Uganda to assess existing knowledge of both physical and non-physical measures that safeguard harvested rainwater. Households who had received rainwater tanks were assessed on issues related to harvested rainwater quality. The study shows that 84% of respondents were aware of various sources of rainwater contamination, but only 5% were aware that they needed to adjust use of rainwater, depending on whether they cleaned the tank or not. Most of the respondents were not aware that gutter cleaning was necessary to improve water quality. Indeed, as the water from the collection surface is channelled through gutters, a number of measures need to be taken to control the entry of contaminations and subsequent growth of pathogens in the tank, e.g. first flush diverts, installation of filters, chemical use and mesh cleaning. The majority, however, did not take adequate care of the gutters and this impacts on health and social livelihood. Overall, the findings emphasize the need to provide more information to households when installing water harvesting tanks to ensure that the harvested rainwater is of high quality.

Assessment of rainwater quality from rainwater harvesting systems in Ontario, Canada

2009 ◽  
Vol 58 (2) ◽  
pp. 117-134 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher Despins ◽  
Khosrow Farahbakhsh ◽  
Chantelle Leidl
Keyword(s):  
Rainwater Harvesting ◽  
Harvesting Systems ◽  
Rainwater Quality

Analysis of Fiber Filter Media after 6 Years of Use as a First Flush Filter

2011 ◽  
Vol 695 ◽  
pp. 93-96
Author(s):  
Ree Ho Kim ◽  
Jung Hun Lee ◽  
Sang Ho Lee ◽  
Hana Kim
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Ion Exchange ◽  
New Media ◽  
Rainwater Harvesting ◽  
Quality Parameters ◽  
First Flush ◽  
Filter Media ◽  
Harvesting Systems ◽  
Fiber Filter

Pollutants in rainwater often cause problems such as non-point source pollutant and deterioration of collected water quality in rainwater harvesting systems. Fiber filter media have been developed to resolve these problems by removing pollutants in rainwater by filtration and ion-exchange mechanisms. They have been also successfully applied for the treatment of first-flush rainwater. However, little information is available on the long-term efficiency and the lifetime of the fiber filter media. In this study, new and used fiber filter media were compared in terms of their filterability and ion-exchange capability. The used filter media samples were taken from a first flush filter in a rainwater harvesting system located in an elementary school in Kyonggi-Do. They were used from 2005 to 2010 without any replacement or cleaning. Water quality parameters of an inflow and outflow in the first flush filter were analyzed to quantify the on-site treatment efficiency of the used media. It was shown that the turbidity was removed by approximately 60% and COD was partly removed. The removal efficiency of particles by the used media was similar to that by the new media. Nevertheless, the removal efficiencies of nitrogen and phosphorous by the used media were substantially reduced when compared with the new media. This suggests that the fiber filter media should be periodically replaced to maintain high removals of nutrients. On the other hand, they can be used for more than 6 years if their primary purpose is to removal particles.

Multi-method efficiency analysis of Rainwater Harvesting Systems in Corredor Seco region, Central America

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elena Bresci ◽  
Giulio Castelli ◽  
Nadia Ursino ◽  
Antonio Giacomin ◽  
Federico Preti
Keyword(s):  
Rainwater Harvesting ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Water Source ◽  
Extreme Weather Events ◽  
Rainfall Time Series ◽  
Vegetable Production ◽  
Water Harvesting ◽  
Storage Tanks ◽  
Balanced Diet ◽  
Harvesting Systems

<p>The region of Corridor Seco (Dry Corridor, including parts of Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador) has been facing multiple food crises caused by extreme weather events, water scarcity and land degradation phenomena. In this situation, Rooftop Water Harvesting (RWH) systems can effectively enhance local livelihoods, especially in marginalized communities, by providing an additional water source for domestic use, livestock, and irrigation of small horticultural plots which are key for vegetable production and thus for vitaminic input in a well-balanced diet.</p><p>Dimensioning sufficient storage tanks for rainwater collection is key, since smallholder farmers’ capabilities are often hindered by low financial capacity as well as by limited land extension for reservoir building.</p><p>Efficiency of storage tanks and design criteria for water harvesting systems are investigated on the base of rainfall time series analysis, probabilistic risk assessment and Monte Carlo simulation (Ursino, 2016). The approach is tested on a series of (RWH) systems built in Guatemalan part of the Corredor Seco, Chiquimula department, with sustainable and appropriate building techniques, but with variable size due to the variability of each household. Factors affecting efficiency of storage tanks are discussed to inform future sustainable water management planning in the area.</p><p>Reference:</p><p>Ursino, N. Risk Analysis Approach to Rainwater Harvesting Systems. Water 2016, 8, 337. https://doi.org/10.3390/w8080337</p>

A method for sizing first flush water diverters tanks in rainwater harvesting systems

2009 ◽  
pp. 311-314
Author(s):  
Gonzalo López-Patiño ◽  
F Martínez-Solano ◽  
P López-Jiménez ◽  
Vicente Fuertes-Miquel
Keyword(s):  
Rainwater Harvesting ◽  
First Flush ◽  
Harvesting Systems

scholarly journals Developing Generalised Equation for the Calculation of PayBack Period for Rainwater Harvesting Systems

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 4266
Author(s):  
Monzur A. Imteaz ◽  
Maryam Bayatvarkeshi ◽  
Md. Rezaul Karim
Keyword(s):  
Rainwater Harvesting ◽  
Payback Period ◽  
Rate Of Return ◽  
Power Relationship ◽  
Traditional Practice ◽  
Specific Investment ◽  
Initial Cost ◽  
Harvesting Systems ◽  
Roof Area ◽  
Rainwater Tanks

Many end-users for the stormwater harvesting systems are reluctant in implementing the system due to uncertainties of the potential returns for their investment for such system. A common practice of presenting potential benefit of a certain investment is through calculation of payback period using net annual benefit from the system. Traditional practice of doing such payback period analysis for rainwater tanks was considering individual building/roof, system volume, and specific investment cost. It is not feasible to conduct such analysis for each and every rainwater harvesting system installed in different buildings. To overcome this tedious practice, this study presents development of a generalised equation for the estimation of payback period for rainwater tanks based on roof area, initial cost, and rate of return. Based on an earlier study, several payback periods were calculated for different roof sizes, initial costs, and rate of return. It was found that all these variables can be correlated and embedded into a base equation of power function. Final developed equation results were compared with the payback periods calculated through traditional practice considering net annual savings and net present value of cumulative savings. It is found that the developed equation can estimate payback periods with very good accuracies; for all the selected internal rates of return correlation values ranging from 0.99 to 1.0 were achieved. Corresponding coefficient of determinations varied from 0.988 to 0.993. Furthermore, it is found that for a fixed roof area and rate of return, the payback period is having a power relationship (having an exponent less than 1.0) with the initial cost.

scholarly journals A Comparison of Methods to Address Anaerobic Conditions in Rainwater Harvesting Systems

Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (23) ◽  
pp. 3419
Author(s):  
Kathy DeBusk Gee ◽  
Daniel Schimoler ◽  
Bree T. Charron ◽  
Mitch D. Woodward ◽  
William F. Hunt
Keyword(s):  
Arid Regions ◽  
Potable Water ◽  
Rainwater Harvesting ◽  
First Flush ◽  
Storage Tanks ◽  
Anaerobic Conditions ◽  
Rainfall Characteristics ◽  
Usage Patterns ◽  
Harvesting Systems ◽  
Semi Arid

Although historically used in semi-arid and arid regions, rainwater harvesting (RWH) systems have increasingly been used in non-arid and humid regions of the world to conserve potable water and mitigate stormwater runoff. Rainfall characteristics and usage patterns of stored rainwater are distinctly different in (semi-)arid and humid regions, thus presenting a unique set of challenges with respect to their utilization. Coupled with infrequent use, the addition of nitrogen and organic matter via pollen during the spring season can lead to anaerobic conditions within storage tanks, which hinders nitrogen removal, gives stored water an offensive odor, and ultimately discourages use of the water. This study evaluated three measures that can be implemented for new and existing RWH systems to prevent the development of anaerobic conditions within storage tanks: first flush diversion, simulated use, and the continuous circulation of stored water. Study findings indicate that preventing anaerobic conditions via simulated use and recirculation (1) does not necessarily remedy the issue of poor aesthetics within rainwater storage tanks, and (2) can decrease the water quality benefits provided by these systems. Rather, preventing the introduction of pollen and particulate matter to the storage tank via a first flush diverter and minimizing disturbance of settled material in the tank appear to be the most effective methods of addressing the poor aesthetics and odor problems associated with anaerobic conditions.

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