Abstract
A box-type solar heater was designed, constructed, and used to determine the effect of solar heating on quality of domestic roof-harvested rainwater (DRHRW). During testing, naturally contaminated DRHRW was harvested in Ibadan, Nigeria, and released into the system at 93.96 Lh−1 (2.61 × 10−5 m3 s−1) in a continuous flow process. Water temperatures at inlet, within the heating chamber, and at outlet from the heating chamber and solar radiation were monitored at 10 min interval. Samples were collected at both inlet to and outlet from the heating chamber at 10 min interval for microbiological analysis. The highest plate stagnation temperature, under no-load condition, was 100°C. The solar water heater attained a maximum operational temperature of 75°C with 89.6 and 94.4% reduction in total viable count and total coliform count, respectively, while Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were completely eradicated at this temperature. The solar heater developed proved to be effective in enhancing potability of DRHRW in Ibadan, Nigeria. This may be an appropriate household water treatment technology for developing countries, hence, a way of resolving problem of low quality water for potable uses.
Highlights
Good quality water is gradually getting beyond the reach of average households in developing countries [1]
Water temperatures at the inlet, within the heating chamber, and at the outlet to the heating chamber and solar radiation were monitored at 10 min interval
The design of the system is made such that the temperature is used up as soon as it is being built up by the incoming water that is constantly flowing through it
Summary
Good quality water is gradually getting beyond the reach of average households in developing countries [1]. This is attributed to low income earnings vis-a-vis the ever increasing cost of other sources of energy for water disinfectant such as kerosene and firewood. The use of chloride solution concentrate has been reported to be an effective means of cleaning vessels for water disinfection and prevention of waterborne diseases [2, 3]. This is far from reality in developing nations due to the collapse of public water supply systems
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