Rainwater quality from different roof catchments in the Port Harcourt district, Rivers State, Nigeria

Research Article| August 01 2000 Rainwater quality from different roof catchments in the Port Harcourt district, Rivers State, Nigeria Beatrice Nnene Uba; Beatrice Nnene Uba 1Dept of Microbiology, University of Port Harcourt, P.M. B 5323, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria Search for other works by this author on: This Site PubMed Google Scholar Onakufe Aghogho Onakufe Aghogho 1Dept of Microbiology, University of Port Harcourt, P.M. B 5323, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria Search for other works by this author on: This Site PubMed Google Scholar Journal of Water Supply: Research and Technology-Aqua (2000) 49 (5): 281–288. https://doi.org/10.2166/aqua.2000.0024 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 Beatrice Nnene Uba, Onakufe Aghogho; Rainwater quality from different roof catchments in the Port Harcourt district, Rivers State, Nigeria. Journal of Water Supply: Research and Technology-Aqua 1 August 2000; 49 (5): 281–288. doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/aqua.2000.0024 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Reference Manager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex Rainwater samples collected directly from the atmosphere and through various roof catchments (aluminium, zinc, asbestos and thatch) were analysed for their physico-chemical and microbiological qualities. Results showed that the physico-chemical qualities of the rainwater, except for colour, were within the limits approved by the World Health Organization. Asbestos and thatch materials caused an increase in colour of the rainwater. A near neutral pH (7.02–7.45) was obtained in all the samples. Higher levels of aluminium were obtained in the samples collected from the aluminium roof catchment while zinc was only detected in the rainwater collected from the zinc roof catchment. Manganese and iron were present in all the samples. Microbiological analysis showed varying degrees of contamination in the different samples. All the samples contained a high number (5.8×102–7.6×103 cfu/ml) of heterotrophic bacteria. The filamentous fungi population was in the range of 1.0×10–4.0×102 cfu/ml. Pseudomonas spp. were found in the samples in the range of 1.0×10–8.8×102 cfu/ml, except for the samples from the zinc roof where none (0 cfu/ml) were recorded. Rainwater samples from the roof catchments also contained high numbers of pathogenic bacteria, Salmonella spp. Shigella spp and Vibrio spp. This result therefore suggests that the purity of the rainwater should not be taken for granted. Microbiological analysis of all rainwater should be undertaken and appropriate treatment measures adopted before rainwater can be declared potable. Zinc appears to be a better material for rainwater collection than aluminium, asbestos and thatch. Direct collection, however, is the best option when low volumes of water are required. aluminium, asbestos, direct catchment, rainwater quality, roof catchments, thatch, zinc This content is only available as a PDF.