Study looks at the quality of harvested rainwater
Feb. 26, 2013
Jean McLain, Associate Director of the Water Resources Research Center (WRRC), is leading an investigation into the biological and chemical quality of harvested rainwater in Arizona. Along with Leif Abrell (Department of Soil, Water and Environmental Science) and Nathan Allen (Biosphere 2 Center), McLain is assessing if inline filtration devices increase the quality of the harvested rainwater and decrease health risks.
Rainwater harvesting has become increasingly popular in the western United States. The benefits of rainwater harvesting can include reduced demand on potable water supplies, decreased erosion, and interception of low quality "first flush" runoff water in the landscape, preventing it from entering the storm water system. Within the City of Tucson hundreds of residents have been trained on construction and use of harvesting systems but no water quality standards exist regarding the use of harvested rainwater and the risk that harmful constituents collected within the water tanks may present to human health.
This study will involve a temporally intensive water analysis of two established harvesting cisterns in Southern Arizona. One cisterns is located at the WRRC and the other is at the Biosphere2 Center. Results of the study will be incorporated into a risk assessment to identify potential human health concerns, and will be useful to utilities and municipalities throughout the western United States in drafting plans for safe use of harvested rainwater.
To read the full project abstract, click below.