Rain water

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I was wondering, if I save rain water for the garden, can I use the same water to cook with and drink?

-- Bob Farrell "Farmer Bob" (farmerbob48@hotmail.com), August 12, 2000

Answers

Bob, you would need to boil the water before comsuming it. Of course, if you were boiling potatoes or something, the water would be cleaned that way. You might also buy a water filter. Some of them are relatively inexpensive if you shop around. The reason you would need to purify the water before drinking it is that I presume you are catching the water as it runs off a roof. If so, there could be bird droppings on the roof and it could make you sick.

-- Green (ratdogs10@yahoo.com), August 13, 2000.

I agree with Green. If you are going to store it, such as in plastic milk jugs, be sure to add a couple of drops of either bleach or iodine. Isn't there someplace you can get cooking/drinking water, such as at a friend's house or public park? But then, my water comes directly out of a spring which isn't covered.

-- Ken S. in TN (scharabo@aol.com), August 13, 2000.

Another point about rainwater. Just as homesteading has changed in the last 100 years, the atmosphere has also, pollutants and acid rain. Something to consider.

-- Jay Blair (jayblair678@yahoo.com), August 14, 2000.

We catch rainwaret in a 425 gallon plastic tank (the kind used on a pick-up truck to haul water). We use it for everything except drinking. The tank is on the front pourch, up on a stand supported by six steel drums. About 3and one half feet from the floor, with a hose hookup. Right next to the wringer washer. we also have a spring for drinking water.

-- Ed Copp (edcopp@yahoo.com), August 18, 2000.

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