Ultrafiltration of rainwater to produce drinking water

ABSTRACT

The aim of this work was to use the ultrafiltration (UF) for the treatment of rainwater, adjusting their physicochemical and microbiological parameters for the drinking water quality. Two UF membranes were tested at two different pressures to treat the rainwater collected in a building of the University of Passo Fundo. Rainwater showed a moderate concentration of suspended solids, color, turbidity, organic matter and coliform contamination and a low concentration of nitrites, nitrates and sulfates. The two UF membranes used (with molecular weight cutoff of 4 and 50 kDa) allowed the adjustment of these parameters to the potability, and the permeate flux of hollow fiber (50 kDa) membrane was above 130 L.h^-1.m^-2 (at 2 bar). Therefore, rainwater harvesting and its UF is a promising alternative for a decentralized supply of drinking water.

Keywords:
rainwater; membrane separation; drinking water