Comparative study of rainwater quality in urban Zambia

Research Article| February 01 2005 Comparative study of rainwater quality in urban Zambia Lubinga Handia Lubinga Handia 1Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Zambia, PO Box 32379, Lusaka, Zambia Tel/fax: +260-1-290962; E-mail: handia@eng.unza.zm Search for other works by this author on: This Site PubMed Google Scholar Journal of Water Supply: Research and Technology-Aqua (2005) 54 (1): 55–64. https://doi.org/10.2166/aqua.2005.0006 Views Icon Views Article contents Figures & tables Video Audio Supplementary Data Share Icon Share Twitter LinkedIn Tools Icon Tools Cite Icon Cite Permissions Search Site Search nav search search input Search input auto suggest search filter All ContentAll JournalsThis Journal Search Advanced Search Citation Lubinga Handia; Comparative study of rainwater quality in urban Zambia. Journal of Water Supply: Research and Technology-Aqua 1 February 2005; 54 (1): 55–64. doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/aqua.2005.0006 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Reference Manager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex Five rainwater harvesting systems were installed in two peri-urban areas of Lusaka, the capital city of Zambia, consisting of six ferrocement tanks. Water samples were collected from the direct rain, roof and tank. In order to compare the rainwater quality with water from other sources, samples were also collected from piped water, boreholes and shallow wells. Rainwater was of higher quality than catchment and storage rainwater. However, harvested rainwater in tanks showed the best bacteriological quality probably due to the elimination of contamination by the first flush. The pH in the storage water was higher than that in rainwater and catchment water due to the reaction with the ferrocement tank. However, it was expected that as the ferrocement tanks matured, pH would drop in the storage water and probably meet the World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines. rainwater harvesting, water quality This content is only available as a PDF.