ADVANCED HIGHLY POLLUTED RAINWATER TREATMENT PROCESS

A new PVC-filter filled with recycled glass and crushed foam glass has been investigated the removal of major pollutants in rainwater to enhance the physical properties and enrich the matrix of this potential source of water with essential minerals. The physical properties of 10 pre-filtered and 10 post-filtered specimens of rainwater are tested. Then, all samples are analysed to assess the chemistry of rainwater. The ions found in pre-filtered rainwater follows the order: HCO3− > SO42− > NO3− > Cl− > F- for anions and Ca2+ > Mg2+ > Na+ > NH4+ > Sr2+ > K+ for cations. The relative abundance of heavy metals in pre-filtered rainwater follows the descending order: Cu2+, Fe2+, Zn2+, Se4+, Pb2+, Mn2+, As5+, Ni2+, Cd2+. On the other hand, the high concentrations of SO42-, NO3-, and the heavy metals found in this study can be signs of that Damascus rainwater is mainly of anthropogenic origin. After filtration, the analytes in rainwater becomes in conformity with the World Health Organization for drinkability. The performance of this filter is compared with Eugene Water & Electric Board. This comparison proves that this filter is greener and eco-friendly option to conventional rainwater purification practices. Results of this research prove the capability of this filter to shift polluted raindrops into a freshwater.