It is well documented that runoff from roof surfaces carries a wide variety of pollutants including sediment, heavy metals, nutrients and bacteria. Collecting and storing this roof runoff via rainwater harvesting systems could provide water quality benefits due to physical and chemical processes that occur within the storage tank. Four fire stations in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA, were equipped with rainwater harvesting systems. Samples of roof runoff were collected after each storm to determine pre-cistern water quality characteristics. Samples were also collected at the extraction spigot for the system. All samples were analyzed for total suspended solids (TSS), total nitrogen (TN), total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN), nitrite (NO_2)+nitrate (NO_3), ammonia (NH_3), and total phosphorus (TP). Water quality data will be analyzed to determine if storing water within a cistern has a significant effect on pollutant concentrations. Water usage data collected during the study period will be compiled and pollutant loads will be computed.
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