3 Important Steps to Purify Rainwater
Editor’s note: check out Water4Patriots for our top choice of personal water filtration.
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What other precious resource, aside from solar energy of course, literally falls from the sky? And are you taking full advantage of it?
Here’s how to start using rain water for drinking water in a couple easy steps:
- Install a downspout filter on your home’s roof drainage system. Here is a place that sells them but with a little elbow grease you could easily build one yourself for a fraction of that cost. http://www.rainharvest.com/centrifugal-standpipe-downspout-filter-collector-with-converter-kit.asp. This will divert grime, insects and bird waste out of your water supply.
- Install a rain barrel below the downspout filter. Make sure you have a spigot and smaller water vessels so that you transfer your water inside. Again, there are rain barrels sold everywhere but you can fashion one for yourself very easily.
- Set up a simple gravity filtration system to clean the water. Here is a set of plans and some filters: http://getpreparedstuff.ecrater.com/p/13284904/ceramic-water-filter-diy-gravity
- Start enjoying your free, clean water.
Of course if you are really concerned about the quality of your water, there are many other filtering and disinfecting techniques. But this is an easy way for most people to get started.
So what are you waiting for? Go out there and get going on yours free water system today…
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I purchased the Alexa pure filter system. I’m hoping that this should be adequate for filtering rainwater after basic particulate filter ration. Do you think this would be safe to drink?
I will comment about successfully harvesting rain water in a second. But first, I’d like to offer the description of a unique “Atmospheric Water Generation” system that I built in my (walk-out) basement. After noticing that my air conditioners, my heat pump and my dehumidifier were all discharging copious amounts of condensation, it became obvious. Harvest the condensation, which is essentially distilled water! I routed my de-humidifier’s discharge to perpetually drain out through a hose, rather than collect in the unit’s bucket. That condensate drains into a condensate pump you can buy at Lowes. When the pump gets full, about 2 quarts, it turns on and pumps the water out of the basement, into a floor drain, or in my case into two 55 gallon drums which are plumbed together at the base of both.
The rest later to anyone interested who emails me.
Before getting too excited about collecting rainwater, consider this: the radiation levels from the Fukishima destruction throughout the country are very high in some places. In fact it appears to be just about everywhere.
High cesium counts in the Pacific are another sign of the oncoming extinction event from this act of terrorism.
As far as our own nuke plants are concerned it is only a matter of time before we have our own Fukishima.
probably ok for your gardens as it doesn’t matter anyway but I for one would not drink rain water.
Frank did talk about the “sky is falling” mentality at the top of his post… and Bingo! …there we go!
Hi, Ive just purchased a Berkey Gravity fed purifier and just wonder about the collection of rainwater. I’m based in Thailand and don’t like the Idea of collecting it from the plastic and Aluminum guttering. However, in the country local collect water in giant ceramic pots with bamboo guttering. I recon this might be my solution. What do you think?
Hey, you do NOT have to worry about collecting water from plastic or aluminium guttering. Note: Emphasis on COLLECTING. Long-term storage is another matter. But just getting the water–no problem.
I collect rainwater in a cheap plastic kiddie pool sitting out on my patio. On my rain barrels, all openings are covered with window screen material left over from our last window screen repair. The remainder of the water is stored in 2-leter juice bottles. For a first cut at filtering the water, I use an old white athletic sock spread into the neck of the bottle and a paper coffee filter stuck into the sock. Now water is fit for watering garden and other outdoor uses. Husband thought I was silly when he helped me set up this system but we have not used our outdoor faucets at all this year and that’s been good for water bill. The only real cost to the system was the rain barrels and I found a good deal shopping online. The sock-rags were paid for long ago and can be washed and bleached with regular white clothes load — I just cut the wholly sock down the side so it doesn’t accidentally end up in sock drawer. The juice bottles, well, I’m giving them new life rather then sending them to expensive recycle.
I am now exploring ways to use the collected water indoors. I grew up with stories about how relatives at turn of previous century would boil rain water and, after a bit of cooling, use it to fill bathtub and to wash hair.
Also, our sewer lines are above the level of the basement drains so we have electric pump to put drain water into sewer. Will sand filter make washing machine water usable? Or should I just collect that water in buckets and use for cleaning?
Also, as part of fixing water issues in basement, we discovered a lively stream running under basement floor. The stream is now encased in concrete and we have two new sump pumps to take out excess water. Is there a cheap and easy way to harvest that water without tearing up basement again?
I’ve heard of folks harvesting their sump pump water. I’d talk to the guys who put in your drainage system.
Guts remember. If you collect rain water from a roof with fungus free shingles you are getting high levets of lead poisonin in yourcwater. The only way to remove that is to remove the water from the lead by steam distilling.. NOTHING else will donly it. Basic science guys. Try collection from a non toxic source.
DANGER!
i have a 1950’s CISTERN, unused since 1974, large enough to be a water source for our township fire department water tank truck,(Electric pumps feed the water towers and hydrants). Cistern needs work—–DANGER! DO NOT ENTER OLD CISTERN! DEADLY GASES! When I went to my nearest fire station to take measurements of the suction hose for the purpose of enlarging a water inlet for fire department to use, I was advised by Steve, God bless him, of the gases problem and that gas masks are Not the solution, because the gases displace the oxygen. SOLUTION
evacuate the gases. PLAN: 1) ENLARGE water inlet and run leaf blower on Vacuum with extension tubes to bottom of cistern (stove pipes and duct tape) 2) open service window from basement to Cistern and mount fan to blow air down into Cistern from wall opposite to the leaf blower suction.. 3) Since I will have to waterproof at least one wall, if ,not the whole Cistern, toxic chemicals may be involved and the venting described above may not be sufficient and I may have to rent or buy S,C,U,B.A gear.
If you have a Water Lubricated Compressor and an air tank which has only been used with air from a water lubricated compressor you might get by with only getting a regulator.
Steve explained that the department had been called our for rescues from cisterns,but that the runs ended up being dead body Recoveries!
A good idea would be to run a drain nine from the bottom of the cistern to lower spot on the hill on which the Cistern stands, this could be a difficult task since the volume approaches 10,000 gallons.
My plan started when I read that insurance companies were not paying claims for damages due to over hanging tree limbs and dead trees. Then the Emerald Ash Borer Bugs arrived and made more work. The house got a new roof after a bad thunder storm; but the facia boards were bad and the new facia boards and gutters went up recently. Since I had to trim ad drop trees anyway I hit the internet for info and sources; and I became a preper and realized that a safe room could be death trap.
I found that there are new waterproofing methods for the Cistern and new roof treatments to prevent asphalt shingle trash from getting into the gutters. Now gutter protectors might really work as part of the filtering. Downspout filters will still be needed as well as child and critter proofing of the fire department access and basement access,
A drought or a simple, severe straight line wind thunder storm can leave hydrants dry. Farm ponds swimming pools and large cisterns can be of great benefit in minor inconvencies to you and your area.
If successful i will have to fix or replace my cistern pump system for soft water clothes washing and bathing and let my insurance company know that my house is no only , wihin 1000 feet of a hydrant, it is a hydrant.
I worked for AT&T for 35+ years, and as a splicer, I spent many hours working in underground vaults(manholes). We were required to test the air before pulling the cover off, since natural gas could have leached in, and a spark created from the metal cover sliding off could prove fatal. We purged the air before pumping the water out, and tested it again before entering. The blower unit was required to be in use the entire time we worked down there. You are absolutely correct. Underground structures can be deadly, due to methane, gas, stale air, or other reasons oxygen levels are low. Be careful. This is truly nothing to treat lightly.
I did order this information but I find I had most of it from what I had received with the year long supplu of freez dryed food.
Bryan, and any others,
Your question about taking minerals out of your water has another, better answer, use magnetic treatment. Your softener is expensive to buy, requires calcium or potassium salt to operate with, puts some of those salts into your water and removes much of the minerals your body really needs.
The magnetic treatment process will allow the water to “hang on” to the minerals instead of them plating out onto your pipes and areators and dishes. Better for you because you get the minerals you need and better for your home and your environment.
Try it and find out for yourself.
Is there any way to print the “comments” from this article on purifying rain water? When I try to print it, only the first 2 pages will print….nothing beyond. Thanks
I modified the two downspouts on the back of my house to install a PVC Ball Valve that allows me to direct rainwater to flow into the tanks or to flow normally. A piece of window screen at the point where the water enters the tank diffuses the water to prevent the sediment in the bottom from being stirred up. I use 6-ounces of Colloidal Silver (I make my own) to kill any bacteria, virus or fungus (mold, mildew) in the water and baking soda to balance the pH. System has worked great for the past 16-years.
I recently learned that several states are prohibiting collecting rain water run-off….what next ?
What the government doesn’t know won’t hurt you. Git ‘er done, disguise it and keep your mouth shut.
I’ve throught about this serval years back Been looking for a tank came across one at tractor supply 1500 gal for around 800 Now I know where to get the filter THank You For the info.
Ok..Here is a question I have not seen address nowhere …so far!
How does one filter acid rain and make it safe foe drinking?
Purchase a pH meter (they’re cheap and available at any store that sells plants or at a pool supplier)
Test the pH and add baking soda to counter the acid and neutralize the acidity.
NOTE: The scale runs from 0 to 10. The lower the number, the higher the acidity. A ph of 6.5 – 7.5 is considered a safe range. The acidity of some drinking water has the potential to cause acidosis in the body. Acidosis can cause irreversible cell damage, lower bone density, and immune body response
Since your on the water subject, would you happen to know how to take calcium and lime out of my well water?? Plz adv Thank you
A water softener is the easiest way.
Yes, use a softener… and then you have salt in your water. How do you get rid of the salt?
Water softeners use salt during the filter cleaning cycle that usually is programmed to take place at 2am. After that cycle is complete, your softener should flush itself. Water softeners don’t put salt in your water. It uses the salt to clean the filter. There should be very little, in any, salt in your water. It is just “softer”.
Very interesting. This kit with a little elbow grease of my own will be a great addition to the things I have already started to put aside to survive. This kit is also is a lot cheaper then the filtering bucket already out on the market.
Correction of website http://www.watersaves.org
An alternate source is a filter used in third world countries. It is available http://www.watersavers.org for under $80.00 and will last decades .
Interesting piece, Frank. We need to be taking advantage of every resource that we can and rainwater cannot be overlooked.
Did you know that in Bolivia a few years ago the government and major corporations passed a law prohibiting the people from drinking rainwater? It was an effort to completely control people and force them to buy bottled, manufactured water.
The documentary film: Even the Rain covers the whole debacle. In the end it was the straw that broke the camels back and the people had to rise up and overthrow the oppression they were facing.
Marjorie if you are concerned about radio activity in the air contaminating rain water you are going to have to stop breathing as well if it is in the air it will eventually get into your lungs. Eat lots of parsley, kelp and cilantro as they will bind with radio activity in your body and take it out.
Black Berkey purification system is a stand alone system. It will take out e-coli, galardia all sorts of bacteria and virus. But not minerals except for heavy metals. There are post filters that will take out arsenic & fluoride. Look it up on line. They are really not that expensive. Most emergency agencies use them in disaster areas. Also you can pre filter by running the water through any kind of a container that has sand on the bottom, then small gravel, then larger gravel.
We have a 2500 gallon rain water tank with it’s own dedicated roof (rain barn) I connected the tank down hill to a faucet. We have a black Berkey water purifier. It seems to me that you folks are wasting your laundry water you should consider using it on your garden. You can run the water through a barrel of different sizes of gravel then sand. If you had composting toilets you would save a great deal more water. All your dish washing, laundry & showers could go into your grey water system. That would also save the expense of having your septic vault pumped. Pour some bleach in there, clean it out and then use it for grey water storage.
if you could filter out 99% of E-coli or botulism from rooftop rainwater, would you still drink from that source ?Collecting rainwater for watering gardens is a great idea, but if you refrain from boiling it for a few minutes, you will still get poisoned !!
Rain has been watering my garden for years, I’m nearly 80 and haven’t been poisoned yet. Do you think it is necessary to collect the rain water, boil it, then apply to garden?
What about radioactive particulates in our air.. would these be filtered out… if not this a compelling reason not to drink rainwater. Every nuclear power plant emits radioactive material on a constant basis whether operating or shut down.. 250 different kinds.
Marjorie is quite confused. The source of airborn radiation is not the nuclear plant, but the coal plant. The nuclear plant only emits steam from the cooling tower. The coal plants emit almost all the combustion products from the coal, including the naturally occurring uranium and mercury from the coal.
Education is a terrible thing to waste.
My wife and I harvest rainwater primarily for our garden. We collect more than 1,000 gallons (in 4 each 250 gallon containers) that gravity feed to the garden that is less than 100 feet away and approximately 16 inches lower. We filter our drinking (and cooking) water 100% of the time despite it being delivered by a “reliable municipal water system”. (Google; “Fracking”) We use ‘Berkey’ filters.
Thanks for the tips Frank,
Your right as rain on this one, and it is time to wake up and smell the economy as it stinks, and things are getting ready to start failing in our entire world. Soon the people that did prepare will be very grateful they made the sacrifices. Joy is correct about the leaching of asphalt from such roofs and the Cistern from Jean is great stuff. This filtering through sand and gravel should give pretty clean water. Our government has spent it’s self into a failing economy and all the paper money bubbles are about to pop, when this does happen we all will need many ways to survive, water, security, food, fuel. Here is a tip for you to look into Frank Butane mixed with methane gas makes liquid fuel I am told by a smart nephew that has successfully done this on his ranch.
Old Hugh
These guys have done some great work in Ohio and really know their stuff. They have YouTube videos as well. http://rainbrothers.com/rainbrothers/index.html
Here is some helpful info for those looking into this. Check Youtube for “Rainwater Harvesting Systems”. Specifically LDSPrepper, I installed a similar system (550 gal.) last year. There are other systems shown.
P.S. Thanks for all the info, Frank
Thanks very much for the very useful info, Frank. God bless you.
Rainwater harvesting can be a good option for some areas. But keep in mind that some states or communities may actually have ordinances or laws that prevent the “taking of rainwater”. It can be a “water rights” issue – especially in some high-plains states or similar semi-arrid areas within a state.
Check first before you start on any rainwater harvesting project.
Simple searching on the web will show you almost everything you need to design, build and maintain a system that will allow you to break from dependency on city water or to supplement a well source.
back on the farm we had a cistern. my dad made it himself. it was close to the kitchen. he dug a round hole about 12 feet deep and 6 feet wide, lined it with cement several inches thick rounding it toward the top so he could put a round barrel lid on it. on the side toward the kitchen just below ground level. maybe 15 inches there was an opening to the side into a square cement box the size of a home made screen filter. the hole into the cistern was at the bottom of the filter box about two inches up. clean course sand was layered in the bottom with a double screen on top of it, then small gravel and another filter with more layers and larger gravel and filters till at the top there was a layer of river rock with a homemade metal lid on it with a hole in it for the downspout from the kitchen roof which was a tin roof. there was another hole in the cistern close to the bottom for a pipe that went under the house to a sink with a pitcher pump which pumped water into the sink the sink ha drain pipe that led downhill to a finger drain system. this was built by dad when he built the house in 1919 when he got married. every year he would take his homemade ladder into the cistern (after pumping all the water out) and clean the cistern before the spring rains we got in indiana. system worked great when we left the farm in 1949.
I have a 30,000 Gallon swimming pool in my backyard which stays full constantly. My brother-in-law lives next door to me and he has a well in his backyard. In an emergency (such as Hurricanes) we use the water in the pool because it’s treated and he fills the pool with his well water. I connected a line off the discharge of the pool and installed a water hose connection to it. Then run the hose to a spigot beside the house for me and another across the way to him. This works great cause we never run out of water.
Considering the deposition of radioactive particles from the jetstream every time it rains I would think some sort of system for the separation of such would be in order.
As some published on another site, my concern is asphalt roofing.
The chemicals in that ….whether they could leach into the water,
and since they do let little pieces come off, would the system
filter all of the chemicals that break off out of that.
And if that’s true, then should we put something else on the
roof over top to prevent this, and if so, WHAT would be OK?
They do sell plastic that isn’t….supposed to…break down…
likely good for several years, so maybe that is an answer,
anyone know?
Joy, I imagine that we need to consider “lasting solutions”. Plastic on a roof is not reasonable, in my opinion, because plastic breaks down on the chemical level, from exposure to the sun. This seems to be a concern with almost every collection system; rubber hoses, metal drains (although better), and durability of slate tiles. I have no preferred system to promote, but consider the durability important.
Thanks Frank for all info you continue to send to prepare for various. Do you know of a site or page where on could learn of a downspout filter. Thanks and all the best.