Rainwater can carry bacteria, parasites, viruses and chemicals that could make you sick, and has been linked to disease outbreaks. The risk of getting sick from rainwater can vary depending on your location, how often it rains, the season, and the way you collect and store rainwater. While clean rainwater is safe to drink, it can easily become contaminated when dropped, which could pose a major health hazard. Drinking rainwater can also improve human digestion due to its alkaline pH content.
Rainwater has the same pH as distilled water, so it helps neutralize blood pH levels and promotes stomach functions. Rainwater avoids this problem by having an incredibly low, almost zero, dissolved mineral salt content. Because the water is so gentle, it promotes healthy hair and skin. Low mineral content means it's very gentle on hair and skin and doesn't take away moisture and the most natural essential oils.
Most rainwater is safe to drink. Levels of pollution, pollen, mold and other contaminants are low, possibly lower than those in your public drinking water supply. Keep in mind that rain picks up low levels of bacteria, dust, and occasional insect parts, so it's a good idea to treat rainwater before drinking it. A properly maintained rainwater tank can provide good quality drinking water.
As long as rainwater is clear, has little taste or smell, and comes from a well-maintained water intake system, it is likely to be safe and unlikely to cause illness for most users. After cleaning, it is recommended to rinse the internal walls and floor of the tank with clean water. Australian Drinking Water Guidelines Now Recommend Use of the Pesticide S-Methoprene for Mosquito Control in Rainwater Tanks. This “first flush” can be used for washing, watering plants, or other non-drinking uses.
Drinking rainwater is not expensive and is the main source of water in areas where people cannot access clean tap water or any other water supply. Cisterns, rain barrels, and other containers intended to store rainwater should also be properly maintained and disinfected, and according to the CDC, especially after floods and heavy rains. However, if you suspect that the tank water is contaminated, you can chlorinate it by adding powdered chlorine for swimming pools (calcium hypochlorite, 65% available chlorine) or liquid chlorine (sodium hypochlorite, chlorine available at 12.5%). To maintain a safe water supply after the initial dose, 1 gram of calcium hypochlorite or 4 milliliters of sodium hypochlorite per 1000 liters should be added to the rainwater tank and allowed to stand for a minimum of two hours.
In urban areas, public water supply remains the most reliable source of good quality drinking water for the community. Proper maintenance of the tank, catchment system, roof, gutters and inlet is essential to ensure a safe water supply and is best done before heavy rain seasons. Good quality water supply depends on proper design and installation, followed by prudent maintenance of the rainwater tank and catchment area. Collecting, storing and using rainwater, called rainwater harvesting, can be an effective way of conserving and reusing local water.
Companies that leverage municipal water for their bottled water products don't usually make much change to that water and often only act as bottlers. Water used for domestic purposes for drinking, preparing food, or bathing must meet water quality guidelines to protect your health and that of your family. With rainwater harvesting, all that is needed is a sufficient amount of flat roof, storm water and some collection tanks. A number of factors can affect the safety of rainwater, including how often it rains in your geographic area, levels of air pollution, and the methods and tools used to collect, treat, analyze and store water (.
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