Quality of Rainwater Runoff on Roofs and Its Relation to Uses and Rain Characteristics in the Villa Alexandra and Acacias Neighborhoods of Kennedy, Bogota, Colombia

• Published in: Journal of environmental engineering (New York, N.Y.) Vol. 139; no. 10; pp. 1273 - 1278
• Main Authors: Torres, Andrés, Méndez-Fajardo, Sandra, Gutiérrez Torres, Ángela Patricia, Sandoval, Santiago
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Reston, VA American Society of Civil Engineers 01.10.2013
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Drinking water and swimming-pool water. Desalination; Exact sciences and technology; Natural water pollution; Pollution; Rainwaters, run off water and others; Technical Papers; Water treatment and pollution; South America; Colombia; America; Drinking water; Colombia; Roof corrosion; Urban areas; Rainwater use in underserved communities; Rainfall; Roofs; Urban area; Relation of roof material―water quality; Runoff water; Rainwater harvesting; Time variation; Heavy metal; Rain; Corrosion; Water quality; Turbidity; Rain water; Urban rainwater quality; Water quality for domestic uses; Urban rainwater uses
• ISSN: 0733-9372; 1943-7870
• DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)EE.1943-7870.0000746

AbstractIn Colombia, several communities with limited or uncertain access to drinking water services collect rainwater for various domestic uses. This paper presents the results of a water quality analysis of the rainwater runoff from roofs in Kennedy (Bogota) to evaluate the suitability of adapting this water to satisfy domestic uses in this district. Based on the high values of turbidity and biochemical oxygen demand, and on the high concentrations of total suspended solids and heavy metals found in the studied rainwater, it is concluded that the water samples are not suitable for any of the domestic uses currently employed by the citizenry. Nevertheless, a high spatial and temporal variability was detected, in addition to variability as a function of the roof material. In particular cases, the runoff water from roofs may be adapted as an alternative source for domestic uses in the district.