Rainwater samples were collected from rainwater harvesting (RWH) systems at seven sites located in a 30 km radius around the City of Guelph in Ontario, Canada. From October 2006 to October 2007, a total of 360 samples were collected from two sampling locations—the rainwater cistern and at the point of use—and analysed for pH, turbidity, colour, total and fecal coliforms, total organic carbon, total nitrogen and UV absorbance (254 nm). Additional parameters, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, total metals, Campylobacter and Legionella were examined in selected samples. Following data collection, statistical analysis was performed to investigate the factors that influenced rainwater quality. The results of the quality assessment programme were largely consistent with those reported by several other researchers, with the exception of improved microbiological quality during periods of cold weather. Total and fecal coliforms were detected in 31% and 13% of the rainwater samples, respectively, while neither Campylobacter nor Legionella were detected above 1 CFU/100 ml detection limits. The results indicate that, while quality can be expected to vary with environmental conditions, the rainwater from a RWH system can be of consistently high quality through the selection of appropriate catchment and storage materials and the application of post-cistern treatment.
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March 2009
This article was originally published in
Journal of Water Supply: Research and Technology-Aqua
Article Contents
Research Article|
March 01 2009
Assessment of rainwater quality from rainwater harvesting systems in Ontario, Canada
Christopher Despins;
1School of Engineering, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada
Tel.: +1-519-824-4120 x.53832 Fax: +1-519-836-0227; E-mail: [email protected]
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Khosrow Farahbakhsh;
Khosrow Farahbakhsh
1School of Engineering, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada
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Chantelle Leidl
Chantelle Leidl
1School of Engineering, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada
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Journal of Water Supply: Research and Technology-Aqua (2009) 58 (2): 117–134.
Article history
Received:
February 05 2008
Accepted:
June 20 2008
Citation
Christopher Despins, Khosrow Farahbakhsh, Chantelle Leidl; Assessment of rainwater quality from rainwater harvesting systems in Ontario, Canada. Journal of Water Supply: Research and Technology-Aqua 1 March 2009; 58 (2): 117–134. doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/aqua.2009.013
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