Back in the early days of civilization, water consumption is derived from natural sources such as springs, rivers, and even glaciers. Another good source of natural clean water is rainwater. Creating these occasional downpours is nature’s way to clean the world’s water source supply. In fact, most rainwater harvesting is even safer to consume than publicly distributed water supply, according to SFGate.
But if rainwater is clean, why can’t we drink the rainwater we collected after raining? Why the majority of drinking tap water do is distributed via pipes under the ground? The answer is simple: although rainwater is clean, the air, roofs, and gutters aren’t. To consume the water collected during the rain, you need to get rid of pathogens, metals, and other contaminants. In this article, the three best and safest ways on how to make rain water safe to drink tutorials are presented.
First Things First
Minimizing the contamination in the rainwater is an important part of collecting. To minimize contaminants, make sure the roof and the gutter are debris-free and clean. Always throw away the first batch of rainwater you collected because the water will be teeming with contaminants. Only store the later batches of water because they contain lesser contaminants. Clean and seal the storage to avoid any mold and other nasty things forming inside your collected water. Before consumption, make sure to treat your water with the methods below.
Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHQmvjF89pE
Water Filtration Using Microns
A rainwater systems is the most recommended solution for small-scale water purification. It’s easy to maintain and has simple mechanics. The drawback of this method is that depending on your usage, you might have to often replace your filters. Here are the things you will need to set up a microfiltration system.
- Carbon, Ceramic, or membrane filters
- Pre-filter (a grate and a mesh will be enough
- Storage
- Testing tools (optional)
Instruction:
- Pre-Filtering Water
Check your pumping system to make sure that it works. Use a pre-filter to remove sediments and other organic or inorganic sediments. A simple grate or a mesh will do the job. Remember that this is only a pre-filtration system, which means that the filtered water is not yet potable.
- Check / Replace Filters
Make sure that the filters are still not worn out and are still functioning; replace a filter if it’s already used up. Filters can either be made with activated carbon, membrane filters, or ceramic. All of these filters are usually located beside or near the faucet. To achieve cleaner water, most people use a combination of filters, which is usually more expensive.
- Test The Water
Last but not least, check the quality of your filtered water via testing tools. Tools once you’re satisfied with the result, you can use your storage system to set aside the water for future usage. If your current filter setup is not enough to produce drinkable water, additional filter or treatment procedure might be needed.
Chemical Treatment
Treating rainwater through chemicals, also called disinfection, is the most commonly used method when it comes to large-scale treatment. But this doesn’t mean that it cannot be used in a home water treatment system. In this method, chemicals are used to kill pathogens, remove dangerous minerals, and other nasty things that you would not want to exist in your water. Here are the things you would need for chemical treatment:
- Your choice of chemical for treating water (chlorine is usually used)
- Additional filtration
- Testing tools
Instructions:
- Chlorine Sterilisation
Chlorine Sterilisation is commonly used in treating rainwater. To use this chemical, just add the right dosage to your water. As per Cleana Water, the initial dosage per liter of rainwater is a minimum of 5 mg. Because chlorine easily reacts to organic materials, chloroform can easily be formed. To avoid this, it’s important to keep the chlorine dosage rate correct. (e.g. for 50L storage tank, use 250mg of chlorine) .
- Maintaining Chlorine Concentration
After 30 minutes, make sure that the chlorine concentration is maintained at 25mg per liter. To remove the unpleasant smell and taste, using another filtration system such as activated carbon is recommended. Although chlorine is the most commonly used chemical for water treatment, other chemicals such as algicide and sodium bicarbonate are used.
Watch here: https://youtu.be/1Ve-ks-fU3M
Irradiation (UV Light)
Another way of treating rainwater for safe consumption is Irradiation or the usage of Ultraviolet light. Instead of chemicals working to kill pathogens and other organisms, the UV light destroys every cell’s genetic makeup. With this method, all the organisms in the water will not be able to reproduce anymore. Irradiation is often preferred because it does not use chemicals to kill viruses and bacteria.
- UV Water Filter
- Existing rainwater collecting system
- Pre-filter
Instructions:
- Pre-filter The Rainwater
Run the rainwater through a pre-filter to remove the sediments present. When these sediments are not removed, these will serve as a protection for pathogens and other disease-causing organisms. This happens when sediments block the UV lights, leaving the organisms unharmed. A pre-filter is usually included in available irradiation systems.
- Check If The UV Lamp Needs To Be Replaced
The UV lamp, which is the last process of the filter, usually has a 365-day counter. This tells you if the UV lamp needs replacement. If the lamp is still working properly, the rainwater after this stage is now ready for usage. This is recommended if you prefer not to use any chemical products to treat your rainwater.
Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0jRb5jM2n8
Conclusion
And that’s it for this article. In summary, getting an off-grid water supply is beneficial, especially if you want to save money. Rainwater is a great source of natural water. The three most common water treatment processes are water filtration using microns, chemical treatment, and irradiation. For better water quality, a combination of these treatments is sometimes required. I hope you enjoy the article and found the solution to your water treating questions. For more information and for additional questions, leave a comment below and share the article if you find it useful.
Related Topic: 3 Easy Methods To Remove Chlorine From Drinking Water Without Special Equipment