Converting Rain Water to Drinking Water

kleetus · Jan 29, 2016

Can I ask what brand UV filter system you use? I saw a Viqua one, but I like to find the best solution.

alchemysa · Jan 29, 2016

TomSeller said:
The UV light sterilizes the water. Even though larger particulates are removed, the water can still be contaminated. From Wikipedia:

Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) is a disinfection method that uses short-wavelength ultraviolet (UV-C) light to kill or inactivate microorganisms

Yes I get that. But 'microorganisms' are as big as 'particles' so a good two stage 1 micron filter will remove them before they even get to the UV filter. So I'm not sure what a UV 'post sterilizer' actually contributes other than a bit of extra confidence, but for the small extra expense its probably worth it.

Wagtail · Jan 30, 2016

alchemysa said:
Never had it tested but we are still here and the water has never made us sick so I guess its working. The cartridges do most of the work. They remove bacteria and organisms from bird droppings for example. These nasties are actually quite large (relatively) as far I know, so a fine cartridge will actually take them out. I'm not actually sure what the UV does, considering that its 'after' the cartridges.

Hmmmm... I might look into something like this for under the kitchen sink, which is where I typically drink from.

As I've said, I, and my tenants before I moved here, have never had a problem from any 'nasties'. The water tastes wonderful.

Eagleview · Jan 30, 2016

Pretty sad state of affairs if you cannot drink the water straight off the roof , I could bottle and sell the water from our house tanks .

bigtiller · Jan 30, 2016

A guy on the tv show Survivor once said all he had to do was strain it through 5 t-shirts and it was good to drink.

TnAndy · Jan 30, 2016

bigtiller said:
A guy on the tv show Survivor once said all he had to do was strain it through 5 t-shirts and it was good to drink.

What they didn't show was him crapping his guts out off screen.

TomSeller · Jan 30, 2016

My dog drinks out of mud puddles

alchemysa · Feb 1, 2016

Eagleview said:
Pretty sad state of affairs if you cannot drink the water straight off the roof , I could bottle and sell the water from our house tanks .

No birds in your area then?

Wagtail · Feb 1, 2016

alchemysa said:
No birds in your area then?

Of course there are Mate. Possums too. (and why they need to rattle around on the roof at midnight is a mystery... there's nothing to eat up there!)

As I've said, I, and my tenants, have used and drunk straight roof-supplied rainwater since '98 with no problems. If I ever think there's a problem I'll simply run drinking water through a Brita or put the kettle on.

TomSeller · Feb 1, 2016

Wagtail said:
Of course there are Mate. Possums too. (and why they need to rattle around on the roof at midnight is a mystery... there's nothing to eat up there!)

As I've said, I, and my tenants, have used and drunk straight roof-supplied rainwater since '98 with no problems. If I ever think there's a problem I'll simply run drinking water through a Brita or put the kettle on.

I'll take my hat off to you and your cast iron stomach.

.

You people are tough down under !