Potencial de Uso del Agua proveniente de los Sistemas de Aire Acondicionado en el Caribe Seco Colombiano

Abstract

Potential use of water generated by air conditioning units was studied and evaluated. The availability and quality were quantified and its use was evaluated at the Universidad del Magdalena. Availability of water resources is essential, so their study is crucial for human development. At the end of 2015, due to the scarcity of water was declared as a public disaster in Santa Marta, Colombia, because the supply was reduced and networks are not able to meet the needs of the population. The results showed that 330 air units generate on average 4.26 m of water per day, with adequate physical-chemical characteristics. However, the microbiological analysis shown fecal coliforms contamination making it necessary to treat the water for domestic use. The resource is optimal for agricultural use and as a source for distiller’s laboratories. Thus, the use of water generated by air conditioning units is a viable and sustainable alternative.