Quality issues in harvested rainwater in arid and semi-arid Loess Plateau of northern China

摘要: Abstract Loess soils cover vast areas in the arid and semi-arid regions of northern China. Due to lack reliable surface water ground-water, rainwater harvesting has played a prominent role farmers’ domestic usage agricultural irrigation. An economical valid type storage cistern with optimum design components been introduced rural Plateau. Different collection alternatives showed apparent variations quality. By using different catchments, such as mortar roofs cement-paved courtyards, compacted land or road surfaces, can be effectively collected for cisterns. This study focused mainly on quality harvested from catchment systems stored periods time. analysis samples these cisterns, it was evident that could improved significantly by self-purification during storage. With emphasis affected systems, found measured inorganic compounds roof-yard generally matched WHO standards drinking water, while concentrations some surfaces appeared higher than guideline values but not beyond maximum permissible concentrations. However, Fecal Coliform, which is an important bacteriological parameter three exceeded limits greater extend. Trace amounts 55 organic pollutants were identified, including aliphatic hydrocarbons, aromatic phthalate esters, etc. The analytical results indicated catchments included “first flush” usually provided safe low contents, even immediately after rainfall. In contrast, had poor respect constituents, regardless