Heavy metals and microbial assessment of air conditioning condensate water in Jeddah city-Saudi Arabia: concept of sustainable water resources

Abstract

AbstractThe demand for water is rising worldwide, especially in Saudi Arabia, where the existing water sources are barely sufficient to meet the present requirements. Condensates from air-conditioning units can be invested as an economical and supportive source of available water resources, which can be considered within global water supply accounts. The aim of the present study is to examine the possibility of recovering condensate water from air conditioner (AC) systems by determining the quantity and quality of AC water generated by either split or window AC systems. The results showed that split air conditioner systems were more effective than window-type air conditioners in generating condensate water in terms of quantity and quality. There was a significant correlation between the humidity and water content. The results indicate that the annual amount of water generated was 8,725 L for window AC and 20,614 L for split AC. The recorded levels of all elements in the water samples obtained from both the window and split air conditioning units, including pH, TDS, EC, PO4-3, Cl-, SO4-2, COD, and heavy metals, were found to be within the acceptable thresholds set for both drinking water and irrigation purposes. Bacteria were only present in three water samples from the window AC, and all were non-pathogenic. Utilizing air conditioner condensate as a strategic measure can address the issue of water scarcity in Saudi Arabia’s agricultural and industrial sectors. The findings of this study are extremely relevant and opportune, especially given the growing concerns about water scarcity and the need to conserve resources. By demonstrating that the HVAC water condensate is clean and safe for consumption, this study adds to our understanding of how we can make better use of available resources.