Characterization of Atmospheric Bulk Deposition: Implications on the Quality of Rainwater Harvesting Systems in the Semi-Arid City of Mekelle, Northern Ethiopia

In this chapter, the authors describe Fluoride contamination spread in the environment. Fluoride in groundwater is a serious problem. Groundwater is the most valuable fresh water used for drinking purposes in different areas. Irrigation is one primordial sector in India where one-third of land surface falls under arid and semi-arid climate, and rainfall is seasonal and erratic. Semi-arid climate prevailing in Tonk district necessitates the characterization of groundwater quality for optimizing its use in irrigation as well as in domestic consumption. The majority of underground water contains a high concentration of salts, and their continuous use adversely affects soil, animal, and plant health, and thereby crop production. The plant-based phytoremediation approach to improve the quality of water and soil has become an area of importance to study regarding Fluoride.

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A Review of Roof and Pond Rainwater Harvesting Systems for Water Security: The Design, Performance and Way Forward

Water ◽

10.3390/w12113163 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (11) ◽

pp. 3163

Author(s):

Husnna Aishah Zabidi ◽

Hui Weng Goh ◽

Chun Kiat Chang ◽

Ngai Weng Chan ◽

Nor Azazi Zakaria

Keyword(s):

Urban Areas ◽

Rainwater Harvesting ◽

Water Security ◽

Small Scale ◽

Rapid Urbanization ◽

Harvesting Systems ◽

Alternative Water ◽

The Many ◽

Equatorial Climate

Rapid urbanization, population explosion and climate change have threatened water security globally, regionally and locally. While there are many ways of addressing these problems, one of the innovative techniques is the recent employment of Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) which include rainwater harvesting systems (RWHS). Therefore, this paper reviews the design and component of two types of RWHS, the namely roof harvesting system (RHS) and the pond harvesting system (PHS). The performance in terms of quantity and quality of collected rainwater and energy consumption for RWHS with different capacities were evaluated, as well as the benefits and challenges particularly in environmental, economic and social aspects. Presently, the RHS is more commonly applied but its effectiveness is limited by its small scale. The PHS is of larger scale and has greater potentials and effectiveness as an alternative water supply system. Results also indicate the many advantages of the PHS especially in terms of economics, environmental aspects and volume of water harvested. While the RHS may be suited to individual or existing buildings, the PHS has greater potentials and should be applied in newly developed urban areas with wet equatorial climate.

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An examination of factors affecting sustainability of domestic rainwater harvesting systems in a rural, semi-arid region of Mexico

Water Science & Technology Water Supply ◽

10.2166/ws.2016.066 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 16 (5) ◽

pp. 1388-1397 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Elena E. Neibaur ◽

Elizabeth P. Anderson

Keyword(s):

Water Quality ◽

Water Treatment ◽

Social Acceptance ◽

Rainwater Harvesting ◽

World Health ◽

Plate Count ◽

Human Consumption ◽

Technical Feasibility ◽

Harvesting Systems ◽

Semi Arid

Rainwater harvesting (RWH) is increasingly utilized today by populations to alleviate water supply issues, particularly in rural, dry environments. Limited research has considered, simultaneously, the numerous factors that contribute to sustainability – for example, social acceptance, water quality, and maintenance needs – of RWH. This research aimed to improve the understanding of factors influencing the sustainability of rainwater harvesting systems for domestic use (DRWHS) through examination of social, water quality, and technical feasibility components. We conducted 50 household surveys and 17 rainwater quality analyses in San Jose Xacxamayo, a rural, semi-arid community in Puebla, Mexico. Results showed that DRWHS are socially accepted primarily because of the presence of existing local skills and knowledge, as well as critical need for water. Results from most of the water quality parameters measured were within World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for human consumption, with the exception of pH, total coliform, and heterotrophic plate count, which required water treatment prior to consumption. Technical feasibility was the main barrier to the sustainability of DRWHS; highly seasonal rainfall and small roof sizes (averaging 70 m2) resulted in households unable to meet annual water needs. Increasing roof sizes and providing water treatment could ensure DRWHS sustainability in the studied community.

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DEVELOPING IMPROVED DRYLAND CROPPING SYSTEMS FOR MAIZE IN SEMI-ARID TANZANIA. PART II. USE OF A MODEL TO EXTRAPOLATE AND ADD VALUE TO EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS

Experimental Agriculture ◽

10.1017/s0014479703001297 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 39 (3) ◽

pp. 293-306 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

J. W. GOWING ◽

M. D. B. YOUNG ◽

N. HATIBU ◽

H. F. MAHOO ◽

F. RWEHUMBIZA ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Crop Production ◽

Rainwater Harvesting ◽

Cropping Systems ◽

Objective Assessment ◽

Experimental Results ◽

Rainfall Regime ◽

Drought Risk ◽

Target Area ◽

Harvesting Systems ◽

Semi Arid

Dryland agriculture is critically important to food security and rural livelihoods in Tanzania, but crop production is seriously constrained throughout the semi-arid lowlands by the rainfall regime. A major challenge is to develop improved cropping systems to alleviate the moisture constraint. Experimental evidence indicates that adoption of rainwater harvesting systems can bring benefits, but the restricted spatial and temporal extent of the experimental work leads to difficulties in extrapolation. This paper shows how the PARCHED-THIRST model can add value to the experimental results and provide important insights into their transferability. The model is seen as an aid to researchers, planners and extensionists in interpreting experimental results and designing locally appropriate interventions. Simulation based on 30 years of daily meteorological data provides an opportunity for temporal extrapolation. The long-term simulation allows an objective assessment of the risks and benefits associated with alternative rainwater harvesting systems. Simulation for different soils and modified rainfall regimes permits objective analysis of spatial transferability of experimental results to any other site for which rainwater harvesting interventions might be considered. It is shown that macrocatchment rainwater harvesting reduces drought risk within the target area, but may bring a serious risk of erosion due to excessively high flow rates. The overall assessment of the twin-track approach (experimentation+simulation) is that rainwater harvesting has potential for increasing productivity and sustainability of maize cropping systems in semi-arid Tanzania provided that the innovations are properly matched to the site-specific environmental conditions.

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Reliability analysis of roof rainwater harvesting systems in a semi-arid region of sub-Saharan Africa: case study of Mekelle, Ethiopia

Hydrological Sciences Journal ◽

10.1080/02626667.2015.1061195 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 61 (6) ◽

pp. 1135-1140 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Getachew Redae Taffere ◽

Abebe Beyene ◽

Said A.H. Vuai ◽

Janvier Gasana ◽

Yilma Seleshi

Keyword(s):

Reliability Analysis ◽

Arid Region ◽

Rainwater Harvesting ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Harvesting Systems ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Semi Arid Region ◽

Semi Arid

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Modelling runoff on ceramic tile roofs using the kinematic wave equations

Water Science & Technology ◽

10.2166/wst.2016.148 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 73 (11) ◽

pp. 2824-2831 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

A. Silveira ◽

J. R. C. B. Abrantes ◽

J. L. M. P. de Lima ◽

L. C. Lira

Keyword(s):

Ceramic Tile ◽

Wave Equations ◽

Rainwater Harvesting ◽

Coefficient Of Determination ◽

Kinematic Wave ◽

Correct Evaluation ◽

Harvesting Systems ◽

Real Scale ◽

Peak Discharges

Generally, roofs are the best candidates for rainwater harvesting. In this context, the correct evaluation of the quantity and quality of runoff from roofs is essential to effectively design rainwater harvesting systems. This study aims to evaluate the performance of a kinematic wave based numerical model in simulating runoff on sloping roofs, by comparing the numerical results with the ones obtained from laboratory rainfall simulations on a real-scale Lusa ceramic tile roof. For all studied slopes, simulated discharge hydrographs had a good adjust to observed ones. Coefficient of determination and Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency values were close to 1.0. Particularly, peak discharges, times to peak, peak durations and runoff volumes were very well simulated.

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