Is Drinking Rainwater Safe?

Rainwater by itself is naturally pure, however by the time it has passed through the atmosphere and come in contact with any open air surface on its way to a water storage container... well, that’s a different story. Contamination from dirt, pollen, animal feces, dead insects, car exhaust, lead paint and many other substances are a health hazard when it comes to drinking rainwater.

Preparing a Rainwater Treatment System

A great result starts with a great beginning…Start with preparing the rain catchment area. The most common catchment area is a home roof. You will eliminate alot of hassle down the line, by removing any overhanging branches and debris from the roof and gutters. Not only does this reduce leaves, and twigs from the equation, it also discourages animals and birds from hanging out and soiling your catchment area. This maintenance should be done yearly to ensure that the cleanest possible rainwater is entering your cistern.

The First Flush

When a rain event occurs, the first water off of your roof will contain all of the dirt, pollen, leaves, bird poo and other contaminants that have accumulated since the previous rain event. This water should be diverted away from your cistern to lighten the load on the secondary treatment systems and the process is called "first flush".

This is accomplished by installing a downspout diverter with a pre-filter and first-flush system. Van Isle Water carries two types of downspout filters with first flush capability – the downspout diverter pre-filter style and the Wisy Vortex Filter. Once the first flush is complete, the cleaner water will be allowed to enter the cistern. At this point, the water may be considered suitable for gardening, car washing and other non-potable uses. If you plan to be drinking rainwater, then you will need to do further treatment.

If you plan to be drinking rainwater, then a water treatment system is essential.

For rainwater treatment, we strongly suggest a sediment filter minimum 5 micron combined with Ultraviolet radiation. A sediment cartridge is necessary to remove any particulates from the water before it travels through the UV disinfection chamber.

Ultraviolet (UV) Radiation is an environmentally friendly technology. It will never overdose or affect the taste and odor of your water. UV water disinfection is considered effective against cryptosporidium and giardia, pathogens which are almost completely resistant to chlorine. UV water disinfection systems have low operating costs and no tools are required for maintenance or lamp replacement.

Fore More Info, check out these links:

If you have any questions about rainwater treatment or UV dynamics, contact us at 1-888-444-8497 or sales@vanislewater.com

Potable Rainwater Use Regulations

Toilet flushing and outdoor irrigation using untreated rainwater is permitted under the Canadian national plumbing code. Other applications (such as potable uses) may or may not be permitted in your local jurisdiction so be sure to check with local authorities (often building services/plumbing department in your municipality) to determine what rainwater uses are permitted in your area.

Ask the right questions:

What rainwater applications are permitted?
Are there site restrictions (zoning, setbacks, etc)?
Are there special system designer/installer requirements?
What permits are needed? Any special permit requirements?

Once you understand which applications are permitted, determine what you’ll use the rainwater for.

Ask yourself these questions:

Have you experienced a water shortage? Do you want to reduce your water bill? What is your motivation for getting a rainwater harvesting system? Having a goal set in place will help you choose what rainwater use will fit your needs. For example, you could choose seasonal system for outdoor-only water use or a year-round indoor system to flush toilets, do laundry, etc.