Potable Rain: Drinking Harvested Rainwater

Abstract

"Clean rainwater is drinkable, cheap, socially acceptable, and has been harvested for centuries. Inappropriate rain collection and storage may contaminate the water and make it unsafe to drink. The Potable Rain Maker is a simple method being developed in an attempt to limit such contamination.

"The rainwater contamination is most likely to occur during the initial period of the rainfall event, colloquially called the 'first flush'. Since the rain is usually collected from the roofs, the first flush carries the debris, dust, and microorganisms accumulated on the roof surfaces. Before the rain hits the roof, the fist flush can also scavenge the particles, microorganisms and soluble gases from the air.

"It is likely that with the first flush discarded, the rainwater collected afterwards will be much cleaner, physically, chemically, and microbiologically, and may become potable again.

"The Potable Rain Maker uses simple, locally-made device which, if properly designed and used, will automatically separate sufficient amount of the first flush and allow cleaner rainwater to be collected. If coupled with the proper water storage and handling, the system may provide a viable source of potable water for the households, especially in places where other sources of drinking water are hard to come by."