Water Balance Assessment in Schools and Households of Rural Areas of Coquimbo Region, North-Central Chile: Potential for Greywater Reuse
Population growth, global warming, and increased demand for water have caused global concern about increasing water scarcity. Chile has an unequal geographical distribution of water resources. The north-central area where more than half of the country’s population lives has an availability of less t...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-10-01
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| Series: | Water |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/12/10/2915 |
| _version_ | 1797550559127928832 |
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| author | Carolina Rodríguez Rafael Sánchez Javier Lozano-Parra Natalia Rebolledo Nicolás Schneider Jennyfer Serrano Eduardo Leiva |
| author_facet | Carolina Rodríguez Rafael Sánchez Javier Lozano-Parra Natalia Rebolledo Nicolás Schneider Jennyfer Serrano Eduardo Leiva |
| author_sort | Carolina Rodríguez |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Population growth, global warming, and increased demand for water have caused global concern about increasing water scarcity. Chile has an unequal geographical distribution of water resources. The north-central area where more than half of the country’s population lives has an availability of less than 1000 m<sup>3</sup>/hab/year. Particularly, the Coquimbo Region has been one of the most affected by drought due to the great agricultural activity in the area. In this study, surveys were carried out in rural schools and households to determine water consumption habits. The results in the schools showed that between 42% and 72% of the wastewater generated comes from the washbasin, which represents light greywater, that is, with low organic matter content. According to the data obtained, the amount of greywater generated on average reached 12 L per capita per day. These waters have the potential to be treated and reused effectively for the flow of toilets or garden irrigation. In the case of households, the generation of greywater was 84% of the total water consumed, of which, more than 86% correspond to light greywater from the shower and washbasin. On average, the light greywater generated daily reached 204 L per person per day. Due to the heterogeneity of drinking water sources in rural areas of the Coquimbo Region, the high rate of greywater generation in both schools and homes indicates the great potential for water treatment and reuse in this area. These results contribute to a better understanding of water consumption habits in rural areas affected by water scarcity and the potential of implementing greywater treatment systems to generate a decrease in demand for drinking water. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T15:31:04Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-efc1a4d4a87846ee8a7160dd557ffa6d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4441 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T15:31:04Z |
| publishDate | 2020-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Water |
| spelling | doaj.art-efc1a4d4a87846ee8a7160dd557ffa6d2023-11-20T17:41:07ZengMDPI AGWater2073-44412020-10-011210291510.3390/w12102915Water Balance Assessment in Schools and Households of Rural Areas of Coquimbo Region, North-Central Chile: Potential for Greywater ReuseCarolina Rodríguez0Rafael Sánchez1Javier Lozano-Parra2Natalia Rebolledo3Nicolás Schneider4Jennyfer Serrano5Eduardo Leiva6Departamento de Ingeniería Hidráulica y Ambiental, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Avenida Vicuña Mackenna 4860, Macul, Santiago 7820436, ChileInstituto de Geografía, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Avda. Vicuña Mackenna 4860, Santiago 7820436, ChileInstituto de Geografía, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Avda. Vicuña Mackenna 4860, Santiago 7820436, ChileFundación un Alto en el Desierto, Omar Elorza 704. Ovalle 1842274, ChileFundación un Alto en el Desierto, Omar Elorza 704. Ovalle 1842274, ChileEscuela de Biotecnología, Universidad Mayor, Camino La Pirámide 5750, Huechuraba, Santiago 8580745, ChileDepartamento de Ingeniería Hidráulica y Ambiental, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Avenida Vicuña Mackenna 4860, Macul, Santiago 7820436, ChilePopulation growth, global warming, and increased demand for water have caused global concern about increasing water scarcity. Chile has an unequal geographical distribution of water resources. The north-central area where more than half of the country’s population lives has an availability of less than 1000 m<sup>3</sup>/hab/year. Particularly, the Coquimbo Region has been one of the most affected by drought due to the great agricultural activity in the area. In this study, surveys were carried out in rural schools and households to determine water consumption habits. The results in the schools showed that between 42% and 72% of the wastewater generated comes from the washbasin, which represents light greywater, that is, with low organic matter content. According to the data obtained, the amount of greywater generated on average reached 12 L per capita per day. These waters have the potential to be treated and reused effectively for the flow of toilets or garden irrigation. In the case of households, the generation of greywater was 84% of the total water consumed, of which, more than 86% correspond to light greywater from the shower and washbasin. On average, the light greywater generated daily reached 204 L per person per day. Due to the heterogeneity of drinking water sources in rural areas of the Coquimbo Region, the high rate of greywater generation in both schools and homes indicates the great potential for water treatment and reuse in this area. These results contribute to a better understanding of water consumption habits in rural areas affected by water scarcity and the potential of implementing greywater treatment systems to generate a decrease in demand for drinking water.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/12/10/2915water consumptionariditywater scarcitygreywater |
| spellingShingle | Carolina Rodríguez Rafael Sánchez Javier Lozano-Parra Natalia Rebolledo Nicolás Schneider Jennyfer Serrano Eduardo Leiva Water Balance Assessment in Schools and Households of Rural Areas of Coquimbo Region, North-Central Chile: Potential for Greywater Reuse Water water consumption aridity water scarcity greywater |
| title | Water Balance Assessment in Schools and Households of Rural Areas of Coquimbo Region, North-Central Chile: Potential for Greywater Reuse |
| title_full | Water Balance Assessment in Schools and Households of Rural Areas of Coquimbo Region, North-Central Chile: Potential for Greywater Reuse |
| title_fullStr | Water Balance Assessment in Schools and Households of Rural Areas of Coquimbo Region, North-Central Chile: Potential for Greywater Reuse |
| title_full_unstemmed | Water Balance Assessment in Schools and Households of Rural Areas of Coquimbo Region, North-Central Chile: Potential for Greywater Reuse |
| title_short | Water Balance Assessment in Schools and Households of Rural Areas of Coquimbo Region, North-Central Chile: Potential for Greywater Reuse |
| title_sort | water balance assessment in schools and households of rural areas of coquimbo region north central chile potential for greywater reuse |
| topic | water consumption aridity water scarcity greywater |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/12/10/2915 |
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