Assessing Rainwater Quality and Harvesting Potential: A Spatial Analysis in a Medium-Sized City of Colombia

Abstract

Rainwater harvesting is a popular artisanal method that provides substantial economic advantages and effectively addresses the issue of water scarcity in many parts of Colombia. This method may not be appropriate from a public health standpoint in every instance. Despite Colombia’s ample precipitation, ensuring a stable water supply is problematic, particularly due to the dramatic fluctuations in weather patterns, such as droughts and severe rainy seasons, which affect the dependability of the water delivery system. This study examines the urban region of Villavicencio with two main objectives: (I) to assess the physico-chemical and microbiological quality of rainwater in the municipality’s residential and commercial sectors; and (II) to analyze the spatial distribution of physico-chemical parameters within the study area. The quality and spatial distribution of rainwater resources in the urban catchment region of Villavicencio were evaluated through the analysis of data obtained from several sampling locations.