Evaluating greywater and A/C condensate daily volume and water quality in urban settings

Abstract

Due to increasing water demand as a result of population growth and improvement in living standards, many countries with arid climate are already facing water shortages that are being met by expensive desalination projects. Water reuse is an alternative that might provide an on-site water source that will save on pumping and conveying costs. Two potential sources for residential and business locations are greywater and A/C condensate. For both these sources studies need to be undertaken to estimate the volume that could be collected as well as the degree of treatment required. A study has been initiated to evaluate these two sources of water in residential and business offices in Doha, Qatar. Flow meters with loggers were installed on bathroom sinks in 3 residential units and 3 office units for greywater daily volume measurements. Rain gauges in containers were used to measure the A/C condensate volumes. In addition, temperature and humidity sensors with data loggers were installed inside and outdoors for potential correlation with water volumes. Water quality samples of both sources are being tested and various on-site treatments techniques (UV light, Ultra-filters) are being evaluated. The on-site experimental setup, the monitoring design and installation, the water treatment experimental setup, and preliminary results will be discussed during the presentation.