Quality of rainwater runoff on roofs and its relation to uses and rain characteristics in the Villa Alexandra and Acacias neighborhoods of Kennedy, Bogota, Colombia

In Colombia, several communities with limited or uncertain access to drinking water services collect rainwater for various domestic uses. This paper presents the results of a water quality analysis of the rainwater runoff from roofs in Kennedy (Bogota) to evaluate the suitability of adapting this water to satisfy domestic uses in this district. Based on the high values of turbidity and biochemical oxygen demand, and on the high concentrations of total suspended solids and heavy metals found in the studied rainwater, it is concluded that the water samples are not suitable for any of the domestic uses currently employed by the citizenry. Nevertheless, a high spatial and temporal variability was detected, in addition to variability as a function of the roof material. In particular cases, the runoff water from roofs may be adapted as an alternative source for domestic uses in the district.