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Harvested Rainwater Quality Before and After Treatment and Distribution in Residential Systems
Author(s) -
Kim Taegyu,
Lye Dennis,
Donohue Maura,
Mistry Jatin H.,
Pfaller Stacy,
Vesper Stephen,
Kirisits Mary Jo
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
journal ‐ american water works association
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.466
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1551-8833
pISSN - 0003-150X
DOI - 10.5942/jawwa.2016.108.0182
Subject(s) - rainwater harvesting , cistern , tap water , water quality , environmental science , filtration (mathematics) , aspergillus flavus , legionella , antimicrobial , legionella pneumophila , aspergillus fumigatus , potable water , acanthamoeba , environmental engineering , contamination , toxicology , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , bacteria , ecology , mathematics , geography , statistics , genetics , archaeology
Rainwater harvesting (RWH) is an alternative method of providing water for indoor domestic use, but the water quality after treatment and distribution at individual residences is not well documented. In this study, water quality parameters were measured at the cistern and indoor cold‐water taps of six residential RWH systems that use various treatment processes. Potential human pathogens ( Mycobacterium avium , Mycobacterium intracellulare, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus fumigatus, and Aspergillus niger ) were found frequently in cisterns and in treated rainwater delivered at the tap; Legionella pneumophila was not detected as frequently, but it persisted in a system after its first detection. The observed decreases in bacterial concentrations from the cistern to the tap after filtration/ultraviolet (UV) treatment and distribution were less than expected; this suggests deficiencies in the effectiveness of the filtration/UV processes employed and/or degradation in water quality in the distribution system due to the absence of a disinfectant residual.