Rainwater Quality Analysis for Its Potential Recovery: A Case Study on Its Usage for Swimming Pools in Poland

Anna Lempart-Rapacewicz, Julia Zakharova and Edyta Kudlek ()
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Anna Lempart-Rapacewicz: Department of Water and Wastewater Engineering, Faculty of Energy and Environmental Engineering, Silesian University of Technology, Konarskiego 18, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland
Julia Zakharova: School of Architecture and Built Environment, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Wolverhampton, Springfield Campus, Wolverhampton WV10 0JP, UK
Edyta Kudlek: Department of Water and Wastewater Engineering, Faculty of Energy and Environmental Engineering, Silesian University of Technology, Konarskiego 18, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 20, 1-21

Abstract: This paper describes the possibility of using rainwater for filling artificial swimming pools in Poland. The overall purpose of this study is to understand whether the quality of rainwater collected from roofs would be suitable for use in the swimming pools without any additional treatment. The rainwater samples were collected from five areas in the Silesian region and analysed for a number of physico-chemical parameters. The results show that the content of nitrates met Polish standards, whereas the standards set for pH and turbidity would only be met after the water had undergone the treatment process which takes place in every swimming pool installation. The paper further compares rainwater data from this study with the corresponding data for drinking water and groundwater. It shows that the content of ammonia, some metals (Ni, Cr and Mn) and a semimetal are in line with the parameters used for drinking water and are a lot lower compared to those set for groundwater. However, the results indicated some possible consequences which might be harmful for swimming pool users. These include the adverse effects of zinc and other organic micropollutants which are classified as contaminants of emerging concern (CECs). These may form dangerous byproducts in the presence of the chlorine, the use of which is required by the standards to be applied for swimming pool disinfection purposes.

Keywords: rainwater harvesting; water pollutants; swimming pools (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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