Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/1959.13/41464

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Title
Rainwater tanks and microbial water quality: are the indications clear?
Author/Creator
Evans, C.;  Coombes, P.;  Dunstan, H.;  Harrison, T.;  Martin, A.;  Morrow, A.
Institution
The University of Newcastle. Faculty of Science & Information Technology, School of Environmental and Life Sciences
Description
Deriving maximum economic and water savings benefits from rainwater harvesting in the urban environment requires the use of rainwater for internal applications, including showering/bathing, laundry and toilet flushing. Widespread use of rainwater for these applications has been hindered by uncertainty over quality and perceptions of health risk. This study examined the presence and abundance of the faecal indicators E. coli, enterococci and total coliform in over 100 water samples collected from rainwater tanks in eastern Australia. A large proportion of samples were compliant with the requirements of mains water drinking standards, especially among those collected via a hot water system, while almost universal compliance with bathing water quality standards was observed. Indicator species were found to represent a very small proportion of total bacterial contamination and no significant correlation between faecal indicator counts and heterotrophic plate counts was observed. Furthermore, enterococci were not significantly correlated with the other indicator groups. On average, heterotrophic counts were found to be dominated by Pseudomonas spp and several other widely distributed environmental organisms. The implications of these findings with regard to the scope of domestic rainwater use in the urban environment, and the difficulty in achieving reliable risk assessment, have been discussed.
Relation
Australian Journal of Water Resources Vol. 12, Issue 2, p. 143-152
Relation
http://www.engineersmedia.com.au/journals/ajwr.html
Date
2008
Publisher
Engineers Australia
Keyword(s)
water harvesting;  rain water;  water microbiology;  water quality
Resource Type
journal article
Identifier
http://hdl.handle.net/1959.13/41464
Identifier
ISSN:1324-1583
Reviewed
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Subject
"Australian Journal of Water Resources"
 
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