Valuation of water quality in a system of rain water collection. Case study: Laboratory of Isotope Ecology/CENA/USP

Abstract

Due to the intensification of industrial and agricultural activities, coupled with the large urban growth and the exponential increase in population over the last century, the pressure on water resources have intensified dramatically. Thus, there is a need to seek new sources of public water supply, and the use of rainwater is an alternative that can help increase this availability. However, since this is an area where the studies are recent and scarce, many questions permeate on the method to be adopted for implementation, execution and maintenance of rainwater catchment systems, as well as ensure the health of its users. Thus, looking to add scientifically and analyze new possibilities for systems of utilization of rainwater and thereby contribute to new alternatives that wish the availability of quality water for the population and to reduce environmental pressures, this project aims to analyze and characterize water quality, temporarily, at various points in a system for capturing, storing and using rainwater, at the Laboratory of Isotopic Ecology of CENA/USP in Piracicaba, SP. Through the studies will be conducted by the project, seeks to suggest and provide supports for changes in the methods currently used for the deployment and maintenance of rainwater catchment, aimed at spreading knowledge to enable new deployment projects that use a higher efficiency, quality and reliability. (AU)