Effects of roofing materials on harvested rain water quality

Abstract

Objective: Scarcity of conventional sources of water in arid and semiarid regions has promoted the search for additional sources of water. This study is aimed at assessing the level of portability of rainwater samples harvested from zinc and aluminium coated roofing materials of some residential homes located in a non-commercial centre in Minna, Nigeria. Method: Ten residential homes which had the requirements for the study, comprising the two materials were identified. Samples were collected once every week between the months of June and September for the years 2010, 2011 and 2012 respectively. A comprehensive physicochemical analysis was carried out on the sample and their averages taken. Result: Electrical conductivity ranged between 232 and 432 μs/cm; total dissolved solid ranged between 38.9 and 47.8 mg/L; total alkalinity ranged between 16.5 and 52 mg/L while the zinc content ranged between 1 and 2 mg/L. No aluminum deposits were observed from the study area. Conclusion: All the physiochemical parameters tested were within the recommended specification of NSDWQ of 2007 thus the harvested rainwater can be used for domestic and agricultural purposes.