Rainwater Collection | Private Water Systems | Drinking Water | Healthy Water (2024)

FAQs

Is collected rainwater safe to drink? ›

To lower your risk of getting sick, consider using rainwater only for uses such as watering plants that you don't eat or washing items that are not used for cooking or eating. Avoid using rainwater for drinking, cooking, brushing your teeth, or rinsing or watering plants that you intend to eat.

Rainwater harvesting (RWH) is the collection and storage of rain, rather than allowing it to run off. Rainwater is collected from a roof like surface and redirected to a tank, cistern, deep pit (well, shaft, or borehole), aquifer, or a reservoir with percolation, so that it seeps down and restores the ground water.

The best filtration options for making rainwater potable are reverse osmosis and distillation. Mechanical filtration (via a sediment filter or Rusco spin-down system) is also integral to the success of rainwater treatment. A rainwater collection system can catch most large particulate matter like leaves and twigs.

Purity: Rainwater is considered pure and natural, as it does not contain any added chemicals or contaminants. It is free from chlorine, fluoride, and other substances that are often added to tap water, making it a good option for those who are sensitive to these chemicals.

They found that levels of at least two forms of PFAS in rainwater, PFOA and PFOS, “often greatly exceed” the safe levels in drinking water, as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) advises. Levels of the chemicals also exceed environmental protection agencies' standards in different parts of the world, too.

Rainwater may contain bacteria, pollutants, and parasites, so it should be filtered and disinfected before drinking. There's no evidence to suggest that rainwater offers additional health benefits compared to regular water. Water is an essential component of nearly all forms of life.

Household, unscented bleach with a 5–6% chlorine solution can be added at the rate of 1/8 teaspoon (8 drops) of bleach per gallon of water. A typical 55 gallon rain barrel would need approximately one ounce of bleach added on a monthly basis. During periods of frequent rainfall, bimonthly treatment may be necessary.

A professor at Stockholm University and lead author of the study, Ian Cousins noted, “There is nowhere on Earth where the rain would be safe to drink, according to the measurements that we have taken.”

While collected rainwater is high quality water, it has been exposed to anything that's on your roof. This means it is not potable (i.e. you can't drink it) without treating it first.

How to Make Sure Your Rainwater is Clean. If you've collected rainwater to clean, there are a few things you can do to make sure it's clean enough to drink. The first thing you can do is boil the water. Boiling the water kills just about any bacteria or pathogens that are in the water.

Is rain water better than bottled water? ›

Rain is naturally clean-as-a whistle. Cleaner than the strictest standards for bottled water. No need for harsh chemicals, ever. No chlorine, no added fluoride, no PFAS, no BPAs, no microplastics.

Generally yes. A properly maintained rainwater tank can provide good quality drinking water. Providing the rainwater is clear, has little taste or smell and is from a well maintained water catchment system it is probably safe and unlikely to cause any illness for most users.

According to the CDC you should not assume rainwater is safe to drink as is it contains germs and other contaminants. This is especially true if you live near a city, as old rain water, containing pollutants, evaporates into the atmosphere and eventually falls back to the surface embedded in new rain.

Summary. Rainwater can be stored indefinitely if you have the right systems in place to ensure the water is safe for drinking once it leaves the tank and into your water system.

How to Make Sure Your Rainwater is Clean. If you've collected rainwater to clean, there are a few things you can do to make sure it's clean enough to drink. The first thing you can do is boil the water. Boiling the water kills just about any bacteria or pathogens that are in the water.