| Archive for Downsizer For an ethical approach to consumption |
| ken69 |
water savingDid wonder if filtered rainwater (boiled) is suitable for cooking, have tried it already to make a pot of tea, tasted different, but perhaps because am used to what comes out of the tap.Also use it for washing the dishes and personal washing.Would you think ity was safe to drink? |
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| Behemoth |
Theoretically yes but depends on what it's collected on, what it's stored in, temperature and how long it's stored. Keep the collection surface clean and treat it as a perishable product.
In an urban environemnt you may have to consider possible 'contamination' from metals and other pollutants but I'm not sure a couple of cups of tea a day will make any difference as you step outside and breathe the very same air. There's no problem using it for washing/toilet etc. |
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| Jonnyboy |
I would echo what Behemoth said above, but if you really want to be sure then get one of these | ||
| tawny owl |
Should be fine if it's boiled and filtered, though, shouldn't it? The first should kill of any bugs and the second remove any metals. | ||
| Behemoth |
Depends on the metals and/or the filter - best check manufacturers spec. Also after bolining and filtering it will be recolonised by bacteria and other pathogens, this is why mains water is chlorinated. It should be covered aand preferably kept in the fridge if its going to be drunk. Obviously tea involves boiling so you shouldn't need to do it twice. | ||
| Jonnyboy |
Yep, but for nasties like hepatitus you need to fully boil for at least one minute to kill them off. | ||
| Behemoth |
That would, I hope, involve secondary contamination. Can it rain hepatitus? 
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| Jonnyboy |
er  fair point, got involved in the generalities rather than the specifics.
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| Bernie66 |
I am happy to drink boiled water out of streams whilst walking in the Welsh countryside and am still alive. I would think twice if i felt that alot of pestcides were nearby or was close to a big ugly factory pouring out muck. wether i would be happy to set it up intp the water system used all the time is debatable without proper research. I am more wuilling to do that kind of thing myself than expose my kids to any dangers without proper understanding of them. Anyway i only drink stream water on an irregular basis rather than daily. | ||
| Cathryn |
Used to drink it straight from welsh streams in my yuff until the day I had a drink from a remote stream carried on up and round the bend to discover the rotting sheep carcase...  not sure I could even drink it after well boiled now!
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| Mr Solar |
Having installed a rain water harvesting system some 6 years ago at our home in Dorset, now in our sixties, we are still alive after using tons of free water off our roof top, passing it through 2 filters and into our loft holding tank, which is backed up by the mains when rain fall is low.
This water is used across the whole house, toilets, baths, showers and wash basins, with kitchen hot water also, but cold water in kitchen always mains. Whet very few people know, is when you bypass the water meter, you also pay less in sewage costs. Here in Dorset we get 2 bills, one for water and one for sewage, the sewage is calulated by the amount of water passing through your meter, less 5% they allow for car washing (they love drinking water, also the garden 
So with 70% of our yearly water needs flowing off our roof, front and back, and next doors roof, we only pay 30% sewage cost, but in an about way, reduce the amount of water going into the drain system, which leads to flooding. Even when our tanks are overflowing, all our roof water is diverted across our garden and back into the water table, not into storm drains. The UK has some of the worlds best tax free resources, yet we ignore them becouse of our life styles and expectations. |