ABSTRACT
Quality comparison of rainwater of Kuwait City, Kuwait (arid region) and Lahore (semiarid), Pakistan was carried out to assess their suitability for domestic use. Total 14 rainwater samples, seven from arid and seven from semiarid region, were collected during 2005-2006 and 2007 rainy seasons, respectively. The collected rainwater samples were analyzed for pH, TDS, turbidity, cations (Ca, Mg, Na, Κ), anions (HCO3, SO4, Cl, NO3), metals (Cu, Ee, Ni, Pb, Y, Zn), TOC, total coliform and faecal coliform. The pH of rainwater of arid region ranged from 5.02 to 7.60 with an average 6.41 whereas it ranged from 6.13 to 7.56 with an average of 6.78 for rainwater of semiarid region. TDS and turbidity concentrations of rainwater of arid region ranged from 41 mg/l to 150 mg/l with an average of 93.57 mg/l and from 2 NTU to 57 NTU with an average of 22.14 NTU, respectively, whereas for semiarid region it ranged from 19.00 mg/l to 42.00 mg/l with an average of 33.00 mg/l and 0.00 NTU to 8 NTU with an average of 2.29 NTU, respectively. TOC concentration of rainwater of arid region ranged from 0.13 mg/l to 2.80 mg/l with an average of 1.80 mg/l, whereas for semiarid region it ranged from 0.10 mg/l to 1.88 mg/l with an average of 0.89 mg/l. Metals concentrations of rainwater of both regions were detected below detection limits of analytical methodologies followed for their determination. Overall analytical results indicated better quality of rainwater of semiarid region, inorganically and organically, as compared to rainwater of arid region. The concentrations of observed constituents of rainwater from semiarid region complied with limits stipulated by WHO for potable water however, surpass of turbidity and total coliform contents of rainwater of arid region indicated that filtration and chlorination treatments would be required to make it potable.
