Is rain water safe to collect?

Rain can wash different types of contaminants into the water you collect (for example, bird poop on your roof could end up in your water barrel or tank). Rainwater can carry bacteria, parasites, viruses, and chemicals that could make you sick, and it has been linked to disease outbreaks.

What is the safest way to collect rainwater?

Rainwater must be kept free of contamination to be safe to drink. To make sure the water you collect will be safe: Clean the tank, entrance pipe, roof, and roof gutters before the rainy season. Never collect water in containers that have been used for oil, pesticides, or other toxic chemicals.

Does rainwater have minerals in it?

Rain contains few salts, minerals, treatment chemicals or pharmaceuticals often found in municipal tap water. Though relatively pure, rainwater can contain particulates from the atmosphere, such as dust or pollen. Well water can be very hard because it contains minerals from the bedrock it comes from.

How long rainwater can be stored?

Generally, rainwater will become contaminated after about one week. You can prolong its lifetime indefinitely by keeping it out of the light and from animal and insect contact. In this article, I explain what causes rainwater to go bad and how it can affect plants.

Is rain water good for your face?

According to skin experts, the idea that rain water is good for the skin is a myth. Instead, because of the high level of pollutants present in this water, it may cause skin eruptions and can make the skin dirty. It may even heighten the chances of a skin infection.

How do you store rainwater for drinking?

Rainwater storage containers should be opaque to prevent algae growth as well as screened or periodically drained to prevent mosquitoes from breeding, which can lead to disease. Of course, persons with a weakened immune system should always be careful with their drinking water source.