Potencial for non-potable use of detention ponds water

ABSTRACT Detention reservoirs waters are generally not used productively and their potential is wasted. By their scattered location in the cities, their use can decrease water transport costs, and also allow water to be preserved for higher quality water uses. Some of their possible uses are irrigation of green areas, use in boilers, cooling towers and other industrial uses, in soil compaction, cleaning of public areas, in pisciculture, in fire fighting systems, etc. The improper dumping of water sewage into the drainage system influences the quality of this water. The study was performed in six infiltration and detention reservoirs of the Natal drainage system, northeastern Brazil, to verify the non-potable use condition of these waters in the urban environment. It was observed that some reservoir waters were compatible to be used in pisciculture and cooling towers and others require previous treatment, to decrease, mainly, pathogenic organisms before being used.