IMPROVED SUSTAINABILITY OF ARSENIC-IMPACTED WATER SUPPLIES THROUGH RAINWATER HARVESTING

摘要

The challenges of supplying water for the rural poor inrndeveloping countries is increasing. One of the mostrnsevere circumstances is where water supplies arerncontaminated with arsenic. In response, opportunities tornimprove the sustainability of water supply systems arernfeasible by utilizing a combination of water sourcesrnwherein rainwater harvesting is used for a portion of thernyear, thereby reducing the duration of the year duringrnwhich arsenic-impacted groundwater is utilized. As arndemonstration, where a rainwater cistern of 3.2 m~3rnvolume in Bangladesh provides rainwater for periods ofrnapproximately 16 days of the year, groundwater at 0.091rnmg/L arsenic for the remainder of the year, provides thernequivalent body burden arising from groundwater at therninterim drinking water guideline of arsenic concentrationrnof 0.050 mg/L for 365 days of the year.