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Location Mexico City, Mexico
Instance of Water testing system
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Rainwater is relatively free of impurities except for those pollutants from the atmosphere that settle on the roof, organic matter and bird and animal droppings entering the system, and possible pollutants from system materials. In Mexico City there are probably more risks from using municipal supply water rather then rainwater, nevertheless it is still important to measure the water quality coming from rainwater harvesting systems.

The health risks posed by different elements entering rainwater can be minimized by good design and maintenance practices.[1] Isla Urbana wants to test their rain water quality for domestic uses and the following are parameters, EPA and WHO recommended concentration levels, testing procedures, and results found by Isla urbana's systems. This is one project in a series of water quality and community service projects at Isla Urbana.

Background[edit | edit source]

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Testing is being done by the Laboratorio de Ajusco de Tecnologia Alternativa, a nonprofit laboratory providing technical assistance in testing different appropriate technologies. Right now they are working with Isla Urbana for rainwater quality testing and the International Renewable Resources Institute-Mexico for biodigester effluence water and fertilizer quality studies. Isla Urbana is a nonprofit working in as well as in other areas of Mexico to improve water quality and water accessibility to people who have no access to clean water. They coordinate efforts with different communities to build local capacity and local jobs for designing and building rainwater catchment systems around Mexico.

Rainwater harvesting system[edit | edit source]

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Rainwater harvesting system installed in Mexico City in colonia Cultura Maya

The following is a list of goals, test procedures, survey questions, equipment needed, and abstracts for testing systemwater quality in the field, the effectivness of different components in the field, and the effect of different rainwater harvesting designs. This is one test in a series of 4 different tests of rainwater, grid water, and store bought garafon drinking water quality at The Laboratory of Community Alternative Technologies at Ajusco in conjunction with Isla Urbana. Both groups are non profits in association with International Renewable Resources Institute-Mexico located in Mexico City. Isla Urbana is a group providing rainwater catchment systems around Mexico City and other areas of Mexico, Ajusco Labs is a laboratory testing center for appropriate technology projects and outcomes. Ajusco Labs will be testing rainwater quality outcomes from Isla Urbanas systems set up around Mexico City. This is one part in a series of rainwater testing at Isla Urbana and Ajusco Labs. Click here to connect to the main page on Rainwater quality testing.

Testing Procedures for Rainwater quality[edit | edit source]

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The Laboratory of Community Alternative Technologies at Ajusco

The following is a list of goals, procedures, equipment needed, and abstracts for four different rainwater quality testing procedures at The Laboratory of Community Alternative Technologies at Ajusco in conjunction with Isla Urbana. Both groups are non profits located in Mexico City. Isla Urbana is a group providing rainwater catchment systems around Mexico City and other areas of Mexico, Ajusco Labs is a laboratory testing center for appropriate technology projects and outcomes. Ajusco Labs will be testing rainwater quality outcomes from Isla Urbanas systems set up around Mexico City. This is one part in a series of rainwater testing at Isla Urbana and Ajusco Labs. Click here to connect to the main page on Rainwater quality testing.

Expected Parameter Concentrations for Rainwater[edit | edit source]

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Zach Estella lab technician at Ajusco Labs

The following is a list of parameters for testing rainwater quality at The Laboratory of Community Alternative Technologies at Ajusco in conjunction with Isla Urbana. Both groups are non profits located in Mexico City. Isla Urbana is a group providing rainwater catchment systems around Mexico City and other areas of Mexico, Ajusco Labs is a laboratory testing center for appropriate technology projects and outcomes. Ajusco Labs will be testing rainwater quality outcomes from Isla Urbanas systems set up around Mexico City. This is one part in a series of rainwater testing at Isla Urbana and Ajusco Labs. Click here to connect to the main page on Rainwater quality testing.

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Testing potability of rainwater after boiling[edit | edit source]

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Ajusco Labs

Boiling is a common way of disinfecting water for drinking around the world.[2] The length of boiling time changes not just based on elevation changes, but also based on personal judgments and personal work schedules. Though rainwater is relatively free of impurities there are still points of contamination including fecal material, which have shown up in some studies as coliforms above the recommended level for safe drinking water. This study will compare the effectiveness of E.coli removal at different boiling times from rainwater samples collected in real rainwater catchment systems set up by Isla Urbana in Mexico City. We will compare the effective removal of E.coli at different boiling times commonly used in the community and the boiling time suggested for our elevation at 8,000ft. Samples will be taken from at least 25 random sites among Isla Urbana's systems. Results will be compared with water portability standards set by the World Health Organization to see which ending samples are potable and at what recommended boiling time. Rainwater, Boiling water, water quality, coliforms, contamination, potability, Mexico City

Testing synthesized components of rainwater harvesting systems[edit | edit source]

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Isla Urbana

The following is a list of goals, test procedures, equipment needed, and goals for testing synthesized components of rainwater harvesting systems and how effective each componenet in the system is at removing contaminants. This is one test in a series of tests of rainwater, grid water, and store bought garafon drinking water quality at The Laboratory of Community Alternative Technologies at Ajusco in conjunction with Isla Urbana. Both groups are non profits in association with International Renewable Resources Institute-Mexico located in Mexico City. Isla Urbana is a group providing rainwater catchment systems around Mexico City and other areas of Mexico, Ajusco Labs is a laboratory testing center for appropriate technology projects and outcomes. Ajusco Labs will be testing rainwater quality outcomes from Isla Urbanas systems set up around Mexico City. This is one part in a series of rainwater testing at Isla Urbana and Ajusco Labs. Click here to connect to the main page on Rainwater quality testing.

References[edit | edit source]

  1. World Health Organization. Water Sanitation and Hygiene: 6.11 Rainwater harvesting. http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/gdwqrevision/rainwater.pdf
  2. World Health Organization.
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