Water Quality of Rainwater Harvesting Systems and Acceptance of Their Reuse in Young Users: An Exploratory Approach

The main objective of this study is to evaluate the water quality of different rainwater harvesting (RWH) systems and the social acceptance of their reuse in young users as an exploratory approach. Three RWH systems were implemented, and the quality of harvested rainwater was evaluated focusing on p...

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Main Authors: Pablo Vidal, Ana María Leiva, Gloria Gómez, Marcela Salgado, Gladys Vidal
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Resources
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9276/13/11/159
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author Pablo Vidal
Ana María Leiva
Gloria Gómez
Marcela Salgado
Gladys Vidal
author_facet Pablo Vidal
Ana María Leiva
Gloria Gómez
Marcela Salgado
Gladys Vidal
author_sort Pablo Vidal
collection DOAJ
description The main objective of this study is to evaluate the water quality of different rainwater harvesting (RWH) systems and the social acceptance of their reuse in young users as an exploratory approach. Three RWH systems were implemented, and the quality of harvested rainwater was evaluated focusing on physicochemical and in situ parameters. Social acceptance was studied in one of the RWH systems using an adapted technology acceptance model. An informative talk about the operation of RWH was given to the users, who were students from a rural primary school. Surveys were conducted before and after the talk to evaluate the impact of providing information to users. The social acceptance was studied in one of the RWH systems. The results indicated that the harvested rainwater from RWH systems was suitable for reuse in agriculture despite the increase in turbidity and chloride concentrations in the outlet tap. The concentration of turbidity, phosphate as phosphorus, chloride and nitrate ranged between 0.8 and 1.9 NTU, 0.01–0.2 mg/L, 2.8–5.0 mg/L and 0.3–0.9 mg/L, respectively. In the acceptance study, the survey results and correlation analyses showed that providing information to users is crucial for increasing the acceptance of RWH systems. Moreover, this study demonstrated that RWH systems are a viable alternative technology for reusing and supplying water in arid and semiarid areas.
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spelling doaj-art-dd9ce35619ec415981b6e8a0f05f53ca2025-08-20T02:05:07ZengMDPI AGResources2079-92762024-11-01131115910.3390/resources13110159Water Quality of Rainwater Harvesting Systems and Acceptance of Their Reuse in Young Users: An Exploratory ApproachPablo Vidal0Ana María Leiva1Gloria Gómez2Marcela Salgado3Gladys Vidal4Engineering and Biotechnology Environmental Group (GIBA-UDEC), Environmental Science Faculty, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción 4070386, ChileEngineering and Biotechnology Environmental Group (GIBA-UDEC), Environmental Science Faculty, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción 4070386, ChileEngineering and Biotechnology Environmental Group (GIBA-UDEC), Environmental Science Faculty, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción 4070386, ChileWater Research Center for Agriculture and Mining (CRHIAM), ANID FONDAP Center, Concepción 4070411, ChileEngineering and Biotechnology Environmental Group (GIBA-UDEC), Environmental Science Faculty, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción 4070386, ChileThe main objective of this study is to evaluate the water quality of different rainwater harvesting (RWH) systems and the social acceptance of their reuse in young users as an exploratory approach. Three RWH systems were implemented, and the quality of harvested rainwater was evaluated focusing on physicochemical and in situ parameters. Social acceptance was studied in one of the RWH systems using an adapted technology acceptance model. An informative talk about the operation of RWH was given to the users, who were students from a rural primary school. Surveys were conducted before and after the talk to evaluate the impact of providing information to users. The social acceptance was studied in one of the RWH systems. The results indicated that the harvested rainwater from RWH systems was suitable for reuse in agriculture despite the increase in turbidity and chloride concentrations in the outlet tap. The concentration of turbidity, phosphate as phosphorus, chloride and nitrate ranged between 0.8 and 1.9 NTU, 0.01–0.2 mg/L, 2.8–5.0 mg/L and 0.3–0.9 mg/L, respectively. In the acceptance study, the survey results and correlation analyses showed that providing information to users is crucial for increasing the acceptance of RWH systems. Moreover, this study demonstrated that RWH systems are a viable alternative technology for reusing and supplying water in arid and semiarid areas.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9276/13/11/159rainwater harvesting systemswater qualitysocial acceptance
spellingShingle Pablo Vidal
Ana María Leiva
Gloria Gómez
Marcela Salgado
Gladys Vidal
Water Quality of Rainwater Harvesting Systems and Acceptance of Their Reuse in Young Users: An Exploratory Approach
Resources
rainwater harvesting systems
water quality
social acceptance
title Water Quality of Rainwater Harvesting Systems and Acceptance of Their Reuse in Young Users: An Exploratory Approach
title_full Water Quality of Rainwater Harvesting Systems and Acceptance of Their Reuse in Young Users: An Exploratory Approach
title_fullStr Water Quality of Rainwater Harvesting Systems and Acceptance of Their Reuse in Young Users: An Exploratory Approach
title_full_unstemmed Water Quality of Rainwater Harvesting Systems and Acceptance of Their Reuse in Young Users: An Exploratory Approach
title_short Water Quality of Rainwater Harvesting Systems and Acceptance of Their Reuse in Young Users: An Exploratory Approach
title_sort water quality of rainwater harvesting systems and acceptance of their reuse in young users an exploratory approach
topic rainwater harvesting systems
water quality
social acceptance
url https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9276/13/11/159
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AT marcelasalgado waterqualityofrainwaterharvestingsystemsandacceptanceoftheirreuseinyoungusersanexploratoryapproach
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