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Rainwater Harvesting as a Drinking Water Option for Mexico City

Author

Listed:
  • Mireya Ímaz Gispert

    (Programa Universitario de Estrategias para la Sustentabilidad, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Circuito de la Investigación Científica s/n Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacán 04510, Mexico
    Current address: Dirección General de Atención a la Comunidad, Oficinas exteriores Zona Cultural Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacán 04510, Mexico.)

  • María Aurora Armienta Hernández

    (Instituto de Geofísica, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Circuito de la Investigación Científica s/n Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacán 04510, Mexico)

  • Enrique Lomnitz Climent

    (Enrique Lomnitz Climent, Isla Urbana, Epsilon 130, Col. Romero de Terreros, Coyoacán 04310, México)

  • María Fernanda Torregrosa Flores

    (Programa Universitario de Estrategias para la Sustentabilidad, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Circuito de la Investigación Científica s/n Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacán 04510, Mexico
    Current address: Dirección General de Atención a la Comunidad, Oficinas exteriores Zona Cultural Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacán 04510, Mexico.)

Abstract

Mexico City is one of the most water-stressed cities in the world; poor quality water occurs in several parts of the City. The use of rainwater harvesting (RWH) as a source of drinking water is gaining acceptance in several contexts, but the quality of the water obtained through these systems has not been sufficiently studied. This manuscript presents the results of water quality tests from samples taken in each component of an RWH system, installed by Isla Urbana at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), southern Mexico City. The RWH system culminates with a drinking fountain which supplies water for the students, and other members of the university community. Samples were retrieved from August 2014 to November 2015, approximately once per month. Results showed that with an adequate operation of the RWH system the major ions, fluoride, zinc, arsenic, lead, iron, copper, chromium, aluminum, nitrate, and total coliforms comply with national standards and international guidelines for drinking water. Thus, RWH constitutes a viable option for providing good quality water in a megacity that will become increasingly water-stressed due to climate change.

Suggested Citation

  • Mireya Ímaz Gispert & María Aurora Armienta Hernández & Enrique Lomnitz Climent & María Fernanda Torregrosa Flores, 2018. "Rainwater Harvesting as a Drinking Water Option for Mexico City," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-13, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:11:p:3890-:d:178375
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Daniel P. Aldrich & Courtney Page-Tan, 2020. "Oasis of Resilience? An Empirical Investigation of Rain Water Harvesting Systems in a High Poverty, Peripheral Community," Economics of Disasters and Climate Change, Springer, vol. 4(1), pages 129-144, April.
    2. Blanca Itzany Rivera Vázquez & Edith Rosalba Salcedo Sánchez & Juan Manuel Esquivel Martínez & Miguel Ángel Gómez Albores & Felipe Gómez Noguez & Carina Gutiérrez Flores & Oscar Talavera Mendoza, 2023. "Use of Analytic Hierarchy Process Method to Identify Potential Rainwater Harvesting Sites: Design and Financial Strategies in Taxco de Alarcón, Southern Mexico," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-19, May.
    3. Shiara K. González-Padrón & Amy M. Lerner & Marisa Mazari-Hiriart, 2019. "Improving Water Access and Health through Rainwater Harvesting: Perceptions of an Indigenous Community in Jalisco, Mexico," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(18), pages 1-17, September.

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