Towards the Adoption of Non-conventional Water Resources (Green and Grey Condensation): The Case of Egypt

Abstract

This research evaluates the dependency between air conditioner water and rainwater as a solution to water scarcity in Egypt. A sample from rain and air conditioner water has been collected in Cairo for lab testing. Also, an experiment involving a 1-tonne air conditioner has been conducted to estimate the volume of output water from the air conditioner. Moreover, a study of the meteorological data of El Shorouk City and the potential for water capture and reuse have been estimated. The British University in Egypt (BUE) has been taken as a case study to evaluate the amount of water per year that can be generated if the aforementioned two water sources are used. The lab testing results of rain and air conditioner water indicated that both had a slightly acidic nature with low mineral content. However, both samples meet standards for irrigation of crops and non-potable uses set by the Egyptian Decree of Health Ministry (No. 458) (2007). As for BUE, the amount of water that may be collected from air conditioners and rainfall was estimated at 1523.45 m³ and 8065 m³ per year, respectively. This water may be used for irrigation of green areas, distilled water for soil and concrete labs, or cleaning purposes.