Evaluation of the Contribution of Domestic Cooling Systems to the Reuse of Extracted Atmospheric Moisture to Support Agricultural Water

Abstract

     This study was conducted to evaluate the quantitative and qualitative aspects of condensate water generated by household air conditioners and its potential use as an alternative source for irrigating home crops. The study was conducted at 12 stations within Baghdad during the summer of 2023. Water samples were collected daily for 8 hours, at a rate of four samples per month. According to the findings, the quantity of condensed water ranged from 1.31 liters in June to 2.08 liters in August, the latter representing the maximum value. A positive correlation was found between the amount of water produced and temperature and relative humidity, a correlation coefficient of R=0.688 for temperature and a p-value of 0.058803, and R=0.659 for humidity with a p-value of 0.075266 at p<0.05. A qualitative assessment of water quality was conducted through measuring pH, (6.5 to 7.79), total dissolved solids (TDS: 20–483 mg/L), and electrical conductivity (EC: 38–1119 µS/cm).  Chloride ion concentrations and total hardness ranged from 0.01 to 0.06 mg/L and 30 to 70 mg/L, respectively. Sodium concentrations fluctuated between 0.9 and 37.8 mg/L, while calcium and magnesium each averaged 36 mg/L. Lead levels ranged from 0.003 to 0.056 mg/L, and iron concentrations from 0.07 to 28 mg/L.The study concluded that the air conditioning water can be used to irrigate domestic crops in terms of quantity, and its chemical properties are generally consistent with local and international specifications, except for its lack of essential nutrients necessary for plant growth.