Collecting rain water?
- Thread starter rubencito
- Start date
I would be hesitant to follow this advice. Volatile compounds condense in a dehumidifier together with water. It is NOT pure water. Ever looked into the catch bucket of a dehumidifier?
The same with rain water. Yeah, if you're in the remote wilderness with limited air pollution you could do it. But anywhere near a street will give you diesel root from trucks and other pollutants.
Tap water is protected by the Clean Water Act in the US. Its standards are pretty high!
I had two rain barrels connected to a gutter, the first (upper) allowed stuff from the roof and other junk to settle out, I used the 2nd barrel to collect rain water for tank use.
I also kept a culture of gammarus shrimp shrimp going in the lower one, and soaked pieces of wood in it.
during heavy rains, they overflowed into my ponds.
I agree with Harley that if you are smack dab in the middle of a city or near a congested highway, you may be getting more than you bargain for.
I was a bit out and near Lake Michigan where breezes and open space helped.
I also kept a culture of gammarus shrimp shrimp going in the lower one, and soaked pieces of wood in it.
during heavy rains, they overflowed into my ponds.
I agree with Harley that if you are smack dab in the middle of a city or near a congested highway, you may be getting more than you bargain for.
I was a bit out and near Lake Michigan where breezes and open space helped.
By the way, you see PVC running out of the left side of the house, those are pipes I sent semi-auto water change water to my garden, or if needed thru the rain barrels to the pond.
I used dehumidifier water for my collection of carnivorous plants. It is very common for plants at least. As for pollution I am in the middle of nowhere so I wouldn't have that problem lol.
I agree about the mosquitos, and have used paradise fish, and high altitude Mexican live bearers that can take large temp drops in the barrels to eat the mosquito larvae.
At the end of summer the barrels are often full of fry.
At the end of summer the barrels are often full of fry.