Research
Firsov Artyom Gennadievich
Natural-technical lyceum
Saransk 2004
Introduction
Rainwater is well absorbed by the body and contains a minimal amount of harmful impurities. It promotes better digestion and absorption of food. Retains skin moisture and keeps it in balance. But all this applies to clean rainwater. Under current conditions, the composition of rainwater depends on the area over which the cloud formed and how polluted the atmosphere there is. For example, sulfur and nitrogen compounds, reacting with water in the atmosphere, turn into acids and fall to the ground in the form of so-called “acid” rain. Given the current environmental problems, almost every rain can be called “acidic.” Therefore, now you can’t not only drink rainwater, but even wash your hair and wash clothes in it.
The body's response to acid rain depends on the concentration of harmful impurities in rainwater and the time of its exposure. Reactions can be of two types - immediate and delayed. Immediate symptoms include skin redness and itching. Delayed - hair loss, disruption of biochemical processes.
In connection with this problem, I decided to study the chemical composition of the rain that falls in the area of my house and determine its effect on the human body. Also, the goal of my work is to identify the reasons for changes in the chemical composition of rainwater.
1. Ecology in human life.
Factors influencing human health.
Acid rain is rain with a pH less than 5. The acidic nature of rain is given by many chemical compounds, but the main ones are SO2, SO42- and NO.
There is a close relationship between the mortality rate and the degree of pollution in the area. When SO2 concentrations are around 1 mg/m3, which occurs in winter in Budapest, the number of deaths increases, especially among older people and people suffering from respiratory diseases. Statistics have shown that such a serious disease as false croup, which requires immediate medical attention and is common among children, occurs for the same reason. The same can be said for the early mortality of newborns in Europe and North America, which annually amounts to several tens of thousands.
In addition to sulfur and nitrogen oxides, acidic aerosol particles containing sulfates or sulfuric acid are also dangerous to human health. The degree of their danger depends on their size. Thus, dust and larger aerosol particles are retained in the upper respiratory tract, and small (less than 1 micron) drops of sulfuric acid or sulfate particles can penetrate into the farthest corners of the lungs.
Physiological studies have shown that the degree of exposure is directly proportional to the concentration of pollutants. However, there is a threshold value below which even the most sensitive people do not show any abnormalities. For example, for sulfur dioxide, the average daily threshold concentration for healthy people is approximately 400 μg/m3.
In protected areas, the standards are correspondingly stricter. At the same time, it is expected that even lower regulatory values will be set in the future. However, the dangerous concentration may be even lower if different acidic pollutants enhance each other's effects, i.e., synergism occurs. In Hungary, a relationship has also been established between sulfur dioxide pollution and various respiratory diseases (flu, sore throat, bronchitis, etc.). In some contaminated areas of Hungary, the number of diseases was several times higher than in control areas.
In addition to the primary direct impact, of course, environmental acidification also indirectly affects humans. First of all, it leads to corrosion and destruction of metals, buildings and monuments (especially those built of sandstone and limestone and located in the open air).
1.2.Negative impact of human activities on the environment.
As a result of human activity, significant amounts of sulfur compounds enter the atmosphere, mainly in the form of sulfur dioxide. Among the sources of these compounds, the first place is coal burned in buildings and power plants, which produces 70% of anthropogenic emissions. The sulfur content (several percent) in coal is quite high (especially in brown coal). During the combustion process, sulfur turns into sulfur dioxide, and some of the sulfur remains in the ash in a solid state.
Sources of sulfur dioxide formation can also be certain industries, mainly metallurgical, as well as enterprises producing sulfuric acid and oil refining. In transport, pollution by sulfur compounds is relatively insignificant; there, first of all, it is necessary to take into account nitrogen oxides.
Thus, every year, as a result of human activity, 60-70 million tons of sulfur enters the atmosphere in the form of sulfur dioxide. A comparison of natural and anthropogenic emissions of sulfur compounds shows that humans pollute the atmosphere with gaseous sulfur compounds twice as much as occurs in nature.
In addition, these compounds are concentrated in areas with developed industry, where anthropogenic emissions are several times higher than natural ones, i.e. mainly in Europe and North America.
Among the anthropogenic sources of the formation of nitrogen oxides, the first place is occupied by the combustion of fossil fuels (Coal, oil, gas, etc.). During combustion, as a result of the high temperature, nitrogen and oxygen in the air combine. The amount of nitrogen oxide NO formed is proportional to the combustion temperature. In addition, nitrogen oxides are formed as a result of combustion of nitrogen-containing substances present in the fuel. By burning fuel, people annually emit 12 million tons of nitrogen oxides into the air. Slightly less nitrogen oxide (8 million tons per year) comes from internal combustion engines. Industry, which emits 1 million tons of nitrogen oxide into the air annually, is not a serious source of pollution compared to heating and transport. Thus, at least 37% of the nearly 56 million tons of annual nitrogen oxide emissions come from anthropogenic sources. This percentage, however, will be higher if we add biomass combustion products to this. Consequently, in general, the amounts of natural and artificial emissions are approximately the same, but the latter, like emissions of sulfur compounds, are concentrated in limited areas of the Earth.
1.3. Methods of protection against acid rain.
The most effective method of protection should be considered a significant reduction in emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide. This can be achieved in several ways, including by reducing energy use and creating power plants that do not use fossil fuels. Other options for reducing emissions of pollutants into the atmosphere are removing sulfur from fuel using filters and regulating combustion processes.
It would be best to use low sulfur fuel. However, there are very few such types of fuel. Removing sulfur from fuel oil and coal is a very complex and expensive process, and as a result, only 30-50% of the sulfur is released.
The amount of nitrogen oxide that is formed during combustion depends on the combustion temperature. It has been revealed that the lower the combustion temperature, the less nitrogen oxide is produced; moreover, the amount of NO depends on the time the fuel is in the combustion zone and on the excess air. Thus, by appropriate changes in technology, the amount of pollutant emitted can be reduced.
2. Rainwater is an indicator of air pollution.
During the work, 3 water samples were examined. The collection of each of them was carried out in the area of house No. 36 on Evseviev Street in Saransk (private development) as follows: a container was installed at a distance of about 1 meter from the ground, above which there was nothing (trees, roofs of houses, etc.). The collected water was then poured into a clean container, noting the date of collection and the direction of the wind.
2.1. Determination of pH of the medium.
pH was determined using the “Universal Ionometer EV-74” device.
2.2.Qualitative analysis of rainwater.
To carry out qualitative reactions to various ions, a certain amount of rainwater under study was taken, and, creating the necessary conditions, the necessary reagent was added.
When a solution of BaCl2 in HCl was added to this sample, a slight turbidity of the solution was observed, which indicates a low content of sulfate ions in the solution under study.
The presence of NO3- ions was determined by the addition of diphenylamine (C6H5NHC6H5) in the presence of sulfuric acid. The solution turned blue, indicating the presence of nitrate ions.
To determine chloride ions in the water sample under study, a solution of AgNO3 in a nitric acid environment was added. The solution became slightly cloudy. This shows that chlorine ions are present in small quantities.
To determine mercury ions (Hg2+), a solution of SnCl2 was added. A white precipitate was observed, which indicates the content of mercury ions in the water.
Due to the sharp increase in the use of fresh water bodies and the decrease in their reserves, the question often arises: can you drink rainwater and use it for other needs? Fresh water is considered one of the riches of our planet. It supports the life of people, animals and plants. Sources of life-giving moisture are rivers and lakes. To protect them from shallowing and loss of quality, alternative options are being considered. One of them was the collection of precipitation in the form of rain.
What is rainwater?
Rain is part of the cyclic movement of water masses that have gone through the stage of evaporation and condensation. As a result of these processes, drops of distilled water fall from the clouds. This liquid is suitable for drinking; the composition of the water is characterized by a minimal amount of salts, but does not harm the body. Why is its use limited?
When a drop flies to the ground, it attaches various chemical components that are in the air. The benefits and harms of precipitation depend on their quantity and type. The main danger lies in nitrogen and sulfur oxides, which form acid rain.
The level of pollution of rainwater is influenced by the general environmental situation of the territory.
Beneficial and negative properties of rain
In places where there are not many industrial enterprises, water reservoirs are still filled with sediment and used for personal needs. Distilled and melt water have the following beneficial properties:
- ease of absorption by the body;
- moisturizing and smoothing the skin;
- the soft formula allows you not to use detergents when washing;
- moisture is perfectly absorbed by plants.
Is it possible to wash with rainwater? Pure liquid has a beneficial effect on the condition of hair and appearance. With a pH level of 5.5, similar to human skin, it gives a smooth and velvety feeling. Changed acidity levels have a negative impact on health, so dirty sludge with impurities of harmful chemical components cannot be used.
Sediment collection and purification
Thrifty owners have long been using the rain for technical needs:
Even at the design stage of the house, it is planned where to place the tanks and make a drain from the roof. The shape of the roof and its covering are important. The best option is a gable roof made of materials that do not contain asbestos or lead. Harmful substances should not be contained in the system of gutters and pipes. Sediment removal is provided by a pipe under which a liquid collection barrel or other container is installed. The storage device may have an underground installation that protects the contents from sunlight and ensures low temperatures. It is better to install the watering container on the surface; plants need warm water. A partial transition to free moisture will reduce financial costs.
The use of precipitation will provide significant savings in water extracted from a well or well. In addition, it will help reduce energy consumption, as it allows you to turn on pumping equipment less often. However, you don’t know how to collect nature’s free “gift” for further use?
We'll show you how to do this. The article discusses a rainwater collection system and options for using precipitation for domestic needs. The device, design specifics are described, and the effectiveness is assessed taking into account the funds spent on organizing an alternative water supply.
For interested visitors, we have selected organizational diagrams with underground and above-ground reservoir locations, presented photos with options for masking the storage tank, and collected useful videos that allow you to organize water collection on your own.
Everything is in order with fresh water reserves in Russia, but the most economical owners of private lands have increasingly begun to think about the rational use of natural resources.
Absolutely safe and modern, most convenient for DIY installation.
Step #2 - selection of water collectors and storage tanks
Precipitation falls irregularly, so there are no devices without a “transfer base” that directly connect trays to water collection points. It is necessary to organize a large container for storing the collected water, which will allow it to be used only as needed.
The prototype of all modern tanks is an ordinary barrel. It can still be found in summer cottages, installed directly under the drainpipe.
The effectiveness of using a barrel is conditional, since it has a small volume and is not suitable for home water supply. In addition, there are no overflow systems planned in its design; all excess spills over the edges and enters the ground.
The purpose of an ordinary metal or wooden barrel is to collect a small amount of rainwater and then use it for economic purposes: for watering or cleaning
For water storage systems, volumetric tanks are made, which can be divided into two categories:
- ground installed under the drainage system near the wall (or inside the building);
- underground, buried in the ground near the house.
The material for all types is the same - it is polyethylene, less often concrete, fiberglass or steel. Synthetic rainwater storage tanks are in the lead because they are not inferior in performance to analogues made from other materials, but at the same time they are much lighter and therefore more convenient for transportation and installation.
The volume of above-ground tanks is from 750 to 2000 liters, underground - from 2000 to 5000 liters.
Modern products are completely ready for connection - they have a large hatch in the upper part and a fitting with a tap in the lower part (for ground-based versions)
Large underground tanks are equipped with surface tanks or for forced movement of water to water collection points. The use of various equipment requires additional fluid purification. To do this, a filtration system is used: a coarse filter is installed at the entrance to the tank, and the same one is installed at the outlet.
Options for plastic tanks for collecting and storing rainwater:
Image gallery
Compact container, decorated like a stone
If water flows to sinks for washing or washing dishes, fine filters with a mesh of no more than 5 microns, as well as multi-stage carbon units, are required.
Step #3 - organizing a drainage system
Let's assume that your private house is equipped with a full-fledged storm drain, including a set of gutters and trays, downpipes, sand traps and a sewer outlet to.
Is it possible to install a structure to use rainwater in a house without major changes? Of course, but you will have to supplement the circuit with storage capacity and related equipment.
First, you will have to analyze the state of the accumulating plane, that is, the roof. You should check its integrity, cleanliness, and if necessary, change the roofing covering to a safer one.
If the storm structure of pipes and trays is in order, a large factory-made polyethylene tank can be attached directly to it. Install a fitting at the bottom of the tank for emergency draining.
In order not to disturb the design of the storm drain, the easiest way is to install a large plastic barrel for irrigation, but it will not be suitable for house maintenance
If there is a need to install a large underground tank, you will have to make adjustments to the old structure - most likely, change the location of the sewer pipes. By digging a pit and installing pumping equipment, you will have to re-lay the communications for the drains.
We offer two options for installing rainwater use systems - with an above-ground and underground tank.
Construction of a simple system with a barrel
To assemble the easiest circuit, you will need a kit for installing gutters, a filter, a ready-made water tank, a short hose and mounting hardware.
The result of the work will be a simple system for collecting water from a sloping roof with a large plastic tank as a storage tank
We purchase plastic gutters, trays and pipes of the required size at a hardware store. If you are not satisfied with plastic, we use galvanized steel parts, homemade or factory-made.
We assemble the drainage system in the following order:
- Using special brackets or hooks, we secure the gutter along the edge of the roof;
- At the corner, in a place convenient for installing the tank, we hang the drainpipe;
- we connect the main elements with a receiving funnel;
- We seal seams and joints.
The good thing about assembling factory models is that all the necessary parts and even some of the tools are included with the container.
Diagram of a system with an underground tank
A large container installed near the house can satisfy 50% of the water requirement. Thanks to special wiring, rainwater will flow to water collection points that do not require high quality liquid: toilet cisterns, kitchen and watering taps. But even in this case, filters are installed.
The tank can be installed under the surface, in the basement or in a pit dug near the house. We will choose the third option, in which the container will be completely immersed in the ground, therefore, it will not occupy a free area near the building and will not spoil the beautiful landscape with its technological appearance.
Another advantage of a reservoir buried in the soil: cooled rainwater is an unsuitable environment for the development of bacteria, therefore it will not “bloom”
We select a container with a volume of 2.5-3.5 thousand liters, and, based on its dimensions, we look for a place for installation. In addition to the dimensions, when digging a pit, we must take into account the groundwater horizons and the level of freezing.
The depth of the pit should be approximately 70 cm greater than the height of the tank, since 20 cm is a gravel-sand cushion, 50 cm is a layer of earth above the tank (freezing in the middle zone and northern regions in winter).
- We take out the soil and take the excess to the side;
- we arrange a compacted gravel-sand cushion;
- We install a reservoir in the center of the pit;
- fill it on all sides with a mixture of soil and sand;
- we install pumping equipment and pipes (drainage and leading into the house).
Of course, before connecting electrical equipment, it is necessary to set up a water supply system from the roof and do it. Installation of drains occurs in the traditional way, a pipe through a hatch supplies water to the container.
The pipeline from the tank leads to certain, pre-selected points. Inside the house, in the utility room or basement, there is a place for installing a pump, filters, and control equipment.
Scheme of using a rainwater collection system: 1 – water level sensor; 2 – float device; 3 – filter; 4 – surface pump; 5 – water tank; 6 – siphon; 7 – filter
After installation and connection, it is necessary to perform a test start: fill the container with water and turn on the pump. If everything is in order, the liquid will quickly flow to the water collection points.
The container should not be empty, as ground movements can cause deformation of the body. If water runs out during a drought, it must be replenished from the main source. In order not to measure the water level using improvised means, you can draw a kind of scale on the inside of the wall with divisions in fractions or liters.
Rainwater in the heating system
In some cases, rainwater is used instead of distilled liquid or antifreeze in heating systems of private homes.
Natural characteristics - softness, absence of foreign inclusions and cleanliness - make it suitable for pouring into the heating network. To remove possible contaminants “caught” in the atmosphere, it is initially passed through a filter.
Option for installing a storage tank inside the house (in a boiler room, basement or utility room): a pump, filters, pressure gauge and piping are located nearby
In addition to cleaning procedures, it helps to enrich the liquid with special inhibitors and surfactants that reduce the tendency of water to form corrosion and plaque. Chemical compounds help dissolve lime and other deposits.
Conclusions and useful video on the topic
Educational informational videos will help you install your own rainwater storage tank.
Video #1. How to make a rainwater collection system with an external tank with your own hands:
Video #2. Useful theoretical information:
Video #3. Preparing a plastic barrel for autonomous water supply:
The purity and natural softness of rainwater make it possible to use it for household needs, irrigation, and sometimes to fill the heating system. Thanks to the large storage tank and pump, you can always use a backup water source, which is available when the well is empty.
If you have interesting information, valuable recommendations, or your own experience in installing a system built to collect rainwater, please leave comments. To place them, a block form has been opened below the text of the article.
Rainwater. What is this? What rain is, of course, is known to everyone, but what is it and where does it come from? Probably few people think about this.
Rainwater is one of the forms of atmospheric precipitation, moisture that evaporates from the surface of the soil and various bodies of water. Accumulating in the atmosphere, huge masses of water form clouds. A single rain cloud can contain more than one ton of water. Clouds are constantly moving, changing their composition, density and temperature. What do they carry in themselves and what is the composition of the rainwater that falls on our umbrellas, and sometimes on our unprotected heads?
Our great-grandmothers sang songs of praise to rainwater, considering it a real natural miracle for preserving youth and beauty. They collected it, washed it, and rinsed their hair. This was probably the case before, but alas. Rain water would indeed be wonderful water, but only if it does not contain foreign impurities, which is practically impossible in modern ecology.
What is the composition of rainwater today?
A drop of rainwater weighing 50 grams washes about 16 liters of air during its flight from a cloud to the surface of the earth. A liter of rainwater collects chemical compounds contained in three thousand liters of airy, sometimes completely unclean, mass. It turns out that the composition of rainwater directly depends on the place where the rain falls. If these are environmentally safe places, and there are still such places, then there is no need to be afraid of the rain. But it’s scary to think what the rainwater that pours on the heads of residents of modern megacities contains. If, for example, compounds such as sulfur or nitrogen enter into a chemical reaction with rainwater, then a harmless downpour becomes real acid rain. Acid rain is rain whose pH is less than 5. The acidic nature of rain is caused by many chemical compounds, but the main ones are SO2, SO42- and NO. But that is not all. Air pollution, and, as a result, rainwater, occurs due to the work of industrial and agricultural enterprises, transport, the activities of which supply nitrogen and sulfur oxides, carbon monoxide, mercury compounds, arsenic, lead, toxic chemicals, pesticides and an infinite number of other dangerous substances. All this rubbish enters the atmosphere, rains and evaporates again, but during evaporation, only water enters the clouds with the rising air, without the harmful impurities with which it fell to the ground, since all these elements are too heavy. This also explains the freshness of the rain that falls near the seas; only water evaporates from the sea, or, to be more precise, water vapor; the heavier salt remains in the sea. I don't really want to wash my face with that kind of water. It’s a pity that it has become dangerous to run barefoot in the warm summer rain, splashing through puddles. The consequences can be very unpleasant - from allergic reactions and baldness to the most serious diseases. Buy umbrellas and raincoats. Today this is an essential means of protection, unfortunately...