Utilisation of drinking water from rainwater-harvesting cisterns in the Palestinian territories: assessment of contamination risk
Publication Type
Original research
Authors
  • Abdelrahim Abusafa
  • Hassan A. Arafat
  • Mohammad Abu-Baker
  • Khalid N. Khalili

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.

Journal
Title
Int. J. of Environment and Waste Management, 2012 Vol.9, No.3/4, pp.358 - 371
Publisher
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Publisher Country
Palestine
Publication Type
Both (Printed and Online)
Volume
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Year
2012
Pages
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