2nd International Conference on Rain Water Cistern Systems
St Thomas, Virgin Islands - June, 1984

Section E: Quality Considerations

Paper E.3

Protection Of Water Quality From Roof Catchments By Appropriate Design And Maintenance

Georghios Mlichaelides & Robert J Young
University of Dundee, Scotland

Abstract

The methods of preserving the quality of water from a roof catchment after interception are : technical provisions in design and construction; maintenance of the system; and water treatment. This paper advocates that, in protecting water quality, priority should be given to preventive design and maintenance provisions at the expense of water treatment. Treatment processes should be minimised and only considered if they can be readily afforded and reliably operated. The fundamental approach should be to maintain the initial high water quality. In well designed, constructed and maintained systems, the risk of intrusion of toxic substances or pathogenic organisms can be minimised. Features required in design and maintenance for the protection of water quality are reviewed. Such features should be technically, environmentally and socioeconomically appropriate in rural areas of developing countries.

PDF of full document available to members (14pp, 340kb)