The Effects of Catchment Materials and Treatment Train on Rainwater Quality in a Rainwater Harvesting System

Abstract:

Recently the interest on rainwater harvesting has been increasing and the installation of rainwater harvesting system (RWHS) has been spread. However, little information is available about influences of catchment materials and system configurations on rainwater quality. This study was performed to examine the rainwater quality according to catchment conditions and system configurations in a roof RWHS. The catchment area of the building #39 in Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea is 3,652 m² and consists of the concrete roof, roof garden and marble terrace. RWHS provides water for toilet flushing through the supply facilities. Water quality was analyzed at each catchment area and facilities of the system during rainfall. The pH, EC, turbidity and SS of runoff from the marble terrace showed higher than those of runoff from roof and roof garden. As influences of runoff from terrace and roof garden, turbidity, SS and EC showed high concentration in early part of the RWHS, but those were lower as passing through the system. Catchment conditions should be considered carefully in design of RWHS. Furthermore, the change of water quality due to the arrangement and configurations of the system should be reflected to evaluate water quality in RWHS.

• Periodical: Materials Science Forum (Volume 724)
• Pages: 451-454
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/MSF.724.451
• Online since: June 2012
• Authors: Jung Soo Mun, Ree Ho Kim, Moo Young Han
• Keywords: Catchment Materials, Rainwater Harvesting, Rainwater Quality, Treatment Train

References

[1] Kim, R.H., Lee, S., Lee, J.H., Kim, Y.M. and Suh, J.Y.: Environmental Technology, Vol. 26 (2005), pp.401-410.

[2] Lye, D. J.: Science of the Total Environment, Vol. 407 (2009), pp.5429-5434.

[3] Han, M. Y and Mun, J.S.: Water Science & Technology, Vol. 63 (12) (2011), pp.2796-2801.

[4] Han, M.Y. and Mun, J. S.: Water Science & Technology, Vol. 56 (11) (2008), pp.73-79.

[5] Han M.Y. and Lee S.J.: J. of Korean Society of water and Wastewater, Vol. 19(1) (2005), pp.31-37.