Title: Rainwater characterisation and its potential use in a Brazilian airport plant

Authors: Elaine Nolasco Ribeiro; Marcelo De Julio; Wilson Cabral De Sousa Junior; Wilfredo Urruchi Irrazabal; Marcelo Antunes Nolasco

Addresses: Division of Civil Engineering, Geomatics Laboratory, Aeronautics Technological Institute, Praça. Marechal Eduardo Gomes, 50 – Vila das Acácias, CEP12228-900, São José dos Campos, SP, Brazil ' Division of Civil Engineering, Geomatics Laboratory, Aeronautics Technological Institute, Praça. Marechal Eduardo Gomes, 50 – Vila das Acácias, CEP12228-900, São José dos Campos, SP, Brazil ' Division of Civil Engineering, Geomatics Laboratory, Aeronautics Technological Institute, Praça. Marechal Eduardo Gomes, 50 – Vila das Acácias, CEP12228-900, São José dos Campos, SP, Brazil ' Vale do Paraíba Institute of Applied Sciences, Rua Cidade de Bento Gonçalves, 133 - Palmeiras de São José CEP12237-865, São José dos Campos, SP, Brazil ' School of Arts Sciences and Humanities, University of São Paulo, Rua Arlindo Béttio, 1000. Ermelino Matarazzo, CEP 03828-000 São Paulo, Brazil

Abstract: This study evaluated the physicochemical and microbiological characteristics of rainwater and water samples taken from rainfall simulation over a roof and aircraft parking areas at São Paulo International Airport (SPIA), Brazil, aiming its reuse in non-potable situations. The results achieved did not indicate the presence of Volatile Aromatic Hydrocarbons, Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons, As, Cr, Hg and Cd. The results were compared with Brazilian and international guidelines. It indicated a low potential for pollution associated with the analysed waters. We concluded that rainwater is a viable alternative and it could save almost 25% of the whole water consumption at the airport.

Keywords: airports; Brazil; physicochemical characterisation; microbiological characterisation; rainwater reuse; simulation; aircraft parking areas; non-potable water; water pollution; water consumption.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEE.2012.050807

International Journal of Environmental Engineering, 2012 Vol.4 No.3/4, pp.394 - 409

Published online: 31 Dec 2014 *

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