1st International Conference on Rain Water Cistern Systems
Honolulu, Hawaii, USA - June 1982

Section 4: Water Quality

Page 244

Effect of Acid Rain Upon Cistern Water Quality

Thomas L. King & P.B. Bedient
Rice University, USA

Introduction

As consumption of water increases, surface water supplies are unable to meet the current demands and the receding groundwater table reflects the pressure placed on groundwater reserves. One potential source of water is precipitation. The use of rainfall catchment-cistern systems is not a new concept, but can be an old approach to an emerging need. Cisterns superficially appear to be a simple means to obtain water; however, cisterns require capital expense for the construction of the system, system maintenance and a means of assuring cistern water quality. Current and future use of cisterns requires an evaluation of precipitation quality in addition to water, quality degradation in cisterns. This paper addresses the impact of acid rain on cistern water quality.

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