Many parts of this world suffer from the scarcity of water. In some places, they even collect rainwater, cook foods with it, and even drink it confidently just like the normal potable water we have. But, can you drink rainwater without risking your health?
At some point in your life, you might have experienced relying on rainwater for household needs or survival during a tough situation. While it is the case in several countries, it is paramount for us to learn why we can or can’t consider rainwater safe to our bodies.
What You Will Learn
- When You Should Not Drink Rain Water
- You Can Collect and Drink Rain Water But With These Conditions
Drinking Rainwater and Its Benefits
Despite how many times you ask yourself if you can drink rainwater, the chance of getting an appropriate answer is vague. So, for you to be enlightened, let me give you some helpful information about the safety of drinking rainwater. All these details are derived and collected from reliable sources and simplified for you.
Can you drink rain water? The answer is yes. It can be safe to drink rain water but it depends on some considerations.
1. Collect Rain Water That Has Fallen Directly from the Sky.
Make sure that the rain has never touched buildings, plants or anything except your container. Of course, this container must be well-cleaned and ready to keep the rain you have collected.
You can use a clean bowl or bucket. However, it is advised to disinfect the container first or at least run it through the dishwasher. Wait for about one hour to let the heavy particulates settle at the bottom.
Although it is not necessary, chilled rainwater retards the production of microorganisms the water may contain.
2. Boil and Filter Rainwater.
You can boil and filter rainwater after collecting it as it has fallen directly from the sky. Doing so makes this type of water safer to drink. These are the 2 key steps in improving the overall quality of rainwater you wish to intake.
Rainwater kills off pathogens. On the other hand, filtration can eradicate pollen, dust, chemicals, mold, and contaminants.
3. What Is Acid Rain?
Rainwater is mostly acidic with around 5.6 of the average pH caused by an interaction between carbon dioxide and water in the air. Still, this is never dangerous. The truth is that it is rare to have drinking water with a neutral pH level due to its contents of dissolved minerals. Water consumed by the general public can be basic, acidic or neutral. It depends on the water source.
When Does Rain Water Not Safe To Drink?
Before reaching the ground, rainwater is passing through the atmosphere. This is the reason why it might have picked up air contaminants by then. You cannot drink rain that has been from hot radioactive sites.
According to Thoughtco.com, it is not advisable to drink rain falling near the trails of paper mills and power plants. We cannot either drink one that has already run off buildings or plants. Why? It is simply because we do not want to pick up toxins from such surfaces. Moreover, avoid collecting rain from dirty containers and puddles.
Important Facts You Should Know
Rain is the world’s purest form of water. Unlike the public water supply, it has lower mineral content. Considering it, rain takes part in the public’s water source in many parts of the world. We all know that there are 2 major sources – the surface water (rivers, streams, and lakes) and the groundwater (like wells).
Rainwater is known to have a low level of pollution, pollen, mold, and other contaminants compared with a public water source. Remember that even though rainwater picks up a certain amount of dust, bacteria and some insect parts, it is a must to filter rain before drinking it.
Today, there are water purification tablets that help make rainwater drinkable. Fortunately, these tablets are cheap, lightweight and compact. They serve as a good weapon against water contamination.
You can add 1 tablet per liter and shake it well. Wait for 30 minutes and it is all done. On the other hand, you can boil it to a rolling boil. However, there is one main downside of using these purification tablets. It is when you have to store water. This process can be time-consuming, particularly if you are going to the next method.
Another method to use is the portable filter bottle, This type of water filter bottle comes with several gallons of drinkable water wherever you are and whenever you need one. Needless to say, you may collect rain, but you can use this filter to guarantee its safety and purity without the presence of bacteria, parasites, and viruses.
This bottle is also helpful in filtering bacteria from puddle, river, pond or any source, but except for saltwater. In this method, there are no tablets or no boiling process involve. All you need to do is fill the bottle, filter the water and drink it.
The Benefits of Drinking Rain Water
There are some benefits provided by rainwater to us that we often overlook. So, here are more things you should learn:
Rainwater has an alkaline pH. It carries detoxifying effects and at the same time, it works well in good digestion. There are free radicals and toxic chemicals ingested by our body making our blood more acidic. With alkaline pH in the rain, we can neutralize the pH level of our blood. As a result, it can help our whole body function efficiently.
Rainwater promotes healthy hair and beautiful skin. Rain contains fewer amounts of minerals; it is as mild as natural drinking water. Because of its naturally gentle quality and presence of alkaline pH, it can help your skin maintain its natural moisture. And most importantly, you enjoy healthy and beautiful hair growth.
Concerning the mineral content, rainwater has a sufficient amount in it. In most parts of the globe, the drinking water source is generally cleansed with chlorine and fluoride to kill bacteria and germs in it.
Conclusion
Did you learn something from this discussion? I hope that I was able to answer your questions about drinking rainwater and how it can make or break our health goals. Again, it is possible to drink rainwater, but you must guarantee that it did not touch anything as it falls from the sky. Consider the quick tips provided above to keep you guided accordingly.
If you find this article helpful, please share it with your friends and relatives. This way, you become an instrument in educating them on how to manage rainwater and take good care of their physical health.