Title: Utilisation of drinking water from rainwater-harvesting cisterns in the Palestinian territories: assessment of contamination risk

Authors: Abdelrahim Abusafa; Hassan A. Arafat; Mohammad Abu-Baker; Khalid N. Khalili

Addresses: Department of Chemical Engineering, An-Najah National University, Nablus, P.O. Box 707, Palestinian Territory. ' Department of Chemical Engineering, Water Technologies Research Unit, An-Najah National University, Nablus, P.O. Box 707, Palestinian Territory. ' Water and Environment Studies Institute, An-Najah National University, Nablus, P.O. Box 707, Palestinian Territory. ' Department of Chemical Engineering, An-Najah National University, Nablus, P.O. Box 707, Palestinian Territory

Abstract: A set of established precautions and procedures must be followed to ensure water quality in rainwater harvesting cisterns. In this study, 106 cisterns were sampled and 176 cistern owners were surveyed in the northern West Bank region. It was found that although the nitrate concentration and Total Dissolved Solids (TDSs) readings of the sampled cisterns conformed to Palestinian standards, most cisterns were found to contain fecal coliform, exceeding 8000 cfu/ml in many cases. Cistern owners responses revealed an array of malpractices, which are suspected of leading to this contamination risk. Several remedial actions were proposed to alleviate this condition.

Keywords: rainwater harvesting; contamination risks; cisterns; drinking water; Palestinian Territory; West Bank; nitrate concentration; total dissolved solids; TDSs; water pollution; fecal coliform.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEWM.2012.046398

International Journal of Environment and Waste Management, 2012 Vol.9 No.3/4, pp.358 - 371

Published online: 13 Dec 2014 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article