Consideration of atmospheric rainwater quality parameters for business purpose: case study a suburban area in Durres, Albania

Abstract

This study considers the possibility of using atmospheric rainwater for business purposes in the city of Durres, Albania with a population of 205 thousand inhabitants living in an area of 432 m2. Untreated rainwater which is used for business purposes, was analysed for water quality based on twelve months of monitoring data. From May 2021 to May 2022, rainwater samples were taken by analysing the quantity and quality parameters. Samples were collected from different points within a rainwater harvesting systems we had installed in a business serving as a vehicle service. In order to evaluate the quality of atmospheric water were measured physic - chemical and bacteriological parameters of rainwater. Also, with the help of water meters we measured the amount of rainwater precipitation for a year collected in water tanks that we have installed in this business. From the measurements has result that the average amount of rainwater collected was 46 500 litres/year of water. This amount does not meet all needs of this business, but facilitates a lot their requirement for technological and sanitary usage. The performed physic - chemical and bacteriological analyses showed that the parameters were within the standards. Faecal Coliforms, Escherichia coli (E. coli) and faecal Streptococcus were not found in any sample. Results show that the untreated rainwater could be used directly for technological and sanitary purposes.