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Keeping water butt water safe for drinking?
What is the best way of keeping rainwater-butt-water clean and unpolluted
so that it remains safely drinkable? The rainwater will be collected from the roof of my house via the guttering downpipe. Thanks... Al |
Keeping water butt water safe for drinking?
"AL_n" wrote in message ... What is the best way of keeping rainwater-butt-water clean and unpolluted so that it remains safely drinkable? The rainwater will be collected from the roof of my house via the guttering downpipe. Thanks... Al ""The rainwater will be collected from the roof of my house via the guttering downpipe"" So is mine :-(( No way would I want to drink from my butt. Have you seen the wrigglies in it? And the moss which comes off the roof? I have tried filtering the water as it goes INTO the butt ............................ failed Mike -- .................................... I'm an Angel, honest ! The horns are there just to keep the halo straight. .................................... |
Keeping water butt water safe for drinking?
On 2 Mar 2012 18:12:51 GMT, "AL_n" wrote:
What is the best way of keeping rainwater-butt-water clean and unpolluted so that it remains safely drinkable? The rainwater will be collected from the roof of my house via the guttering downpipe. Thanks... Al Keeping.....? What ends up in your water butt will include crud that has collected on your roof since the last rainfall. Dust and the like and probably some bird crap that washes down with the water. You will need to install a water purification system at the outlet point. This is why we occasionally empty out and clean our water butts, even though the water in them is only used to water plants and fill ponds. Cheers, Jake ======================================= Urgling happily from the dryer end of Swansea Bay. |
Keeping water butt water safe for drinking?
Jake wrote in
: You will need to install a water purification system at the outlet point. Thanks for the good suggestion. I guess that would be the answer. Al |
Keeping water butt water safe for drinking?
"'Mike'" wrote in
: No way would I want to drink from my butt. Have you seen the wrigglies in it? And the moss which comes off the roof? I have tried filtering the water as it goes INTO the butt ........................... failed Yes, I'm aware of the wrigglies etc. That's exactly what I'm concerned about. I guess Jake's suggestion of filtering at the outlet is the answer. I think one can make an effective filtration system out of sand and charcoal, IIRC. Al |
Keeping water butt water safe for drinking?
On 2 Mar 2012 19:28:06 GMT, "AL_n" wrote:
Jake wrote in : You will need to install a water purification system at the outlet point. Thanks for the good suggestion. I guess that would be the answer. Al Just remember that I said "water purification" not "water filtration". If you want to drink the stuff, you will need not only a filter but at least a UV system to make the water safe to drink. You need to take out the miniscule bacteria that will pass through a filter bed. And that filter bed will not just be a box of sand - the composition and size of the filtration materials/particals (plurals) will be a critical factor. Rainwater harvesting setups for in-home use will usually comprise something substantially larger than a water butt - incorporating underground storage tank(s) and pumping, filtration and purification systems. For that matter, how will you keep the tap sterile if it's in the open air (or even if it's not). If you check a bottled water label it will usually say consume within a period after opening even if kept in the fridge indoors. Once the air gets to it, it starts to deteriorate. Cheers, Jake ======================================= Urgling happily from the dryer end of Swansea Bay. |
Keeping water butt water safe for drinking?
In article ,
AL_n wrote: "'Mike'" wrote in : No way would I want to drink from my butt. Have you seen the wrigglies in it? And the moss which comes off the roof? I have tried filtering the water as it goes INTO the butt ........................... failed Yes, I'm aware of the wrigglies etc. That's exactly what I'm concerned about. I guess Jake's suggestion of filtering at the outlet is the answer. The wrigglies are not a problem - they are just good protein. It's the invisible nasties in the bird crap that is the issue. Even if you are someone who regards salmonella as an acceptable part of your diet (yes, there are plenty of us who do), birds can carry worse things. I think one can make an effective filtration system out of sand and charcoal, IIRC. You can. But you need more of them than most people want to allocate the space for. Regards, Nick Maclaren. |
Keeping water butt water safe for drinking?
On Fri, 02 Mar 2012 20:01:54 +0000, Jake
wrote: On 2 Mar 2012 19:28:06 GMT, "AL_n" wrote: Jake wrote in m: You will need to install a water purification system at the outlet point. Thanks for the good suggestion. I guess that would be the answer. Al Just remember that I said "water purification" not "water filtration". If you want to drink the stuff, you will need not only a filter but at least a UV system to make the water safe to drink. You need to take out the miniscule bacteria that will pass through a filter bed. And that filter bed will not just be a box of sand - the composition and size of the filtration materials/particals (plurals) will be a critical factor. Rainwater harvesting setups for in-home use will usually comprise something substantially larger than a water butt - incorporating underground storage tank(s) and pumping, filtration and purification systems. For that matter, how will you keep the tap sterile if it's in the open air (or even if it's not). If you check a bottled water label it will usually say consume within a period after opening even if kept in the fridge indoors. Once the air gets to it, it starts to deteriorate. Cheers, Jake ======================================= Urgling happily from the dryer end of Swansea Bay. For example: http://www.clean-fresh-water.co.uk/r...er-rainpc.html I'll stick with 'Tap' plus a supplementary filter, thanks. Anyway, in West London, the supply of rainwater is pretty variable and best saved for the garden. Regards JonH |
Keeping water butt water safe for drinking?
Jake wrote in
: Just remember that I said "water purification" not "water filtration". If you want to drink the stuff, you will need not only a filter but at least a UV system to make the water safe to drink Bio sand filters are effectively used for purifying dirty water for drinking. I guess there is also the option of adding a tiny amount of bleach! Al |
Keeping water butt water safe for drinking?
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Keeping water butt water safe for drinking?
In article ,
AL_n wrote: You can. But you need more of them than most people want to allocate the space for. Why? Because they aren't continuous, so that water can get through between the particles. Effectively, that means that they reduce the bacteria (exponentially with thickness). Regards, Nick Maclaren. |
Keeping water butt water safe for drinking?
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Keeping water butt water safe for drinking?
Janet wrote in news:MPG.29bb4eed56b7306c98b1c9
@news.eternal-september.org: Roof water isn't drinkable quality imo (take a look at what collects inside inside your gutters and what's wriggling in the bottom of the waterbutt). You'll still need to filter and boil it. Yes, boiling is an option. Al |
Keeping water butt water safe for drinking?
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Keeping water butt water safe for drinking?
On Mar 2, 9:41*pm, Janet wrote:
In article , says... What is the best way of keeping rainwater-butt-water clean and unpolluted so that it remains safely drinkable? The rainwater will be collected from the roof of my house via the guttering downpipe. * Roof water isn't drinkable quality imo (take a look at what collects inside inside your gutters and what's wriggling in the bottom of the waterbutt). You'll still need to filter and boil it. * *We used to use it just for washing, and flushing lavs. * * Janet What a lot of fuss. When I was little, around 5 years old (1947)we lived right out on the Llyn peninsula in North Wales, we had a galvanised rainwater tank, with a tight fitting lid and a pump to get water from a well which we shared with 2 other houses for when the tank was low. Then in the 50's we lived outside Hastings and had a borehole and a large concrete tank under the garage that stored our rainwater and the water we pumped up from the borehole, though we mostly used the rain water as the borehole water was very rich in iron so turned rust red within hours of pumping up so had to be left to settle before you could use it; though it tasted great fresh; It was pumped into a pool that had newts and dragonfly lava in it, then through gravel filters and down to the tank. From the tank we pumped it into a tank in the roof and from there to the taps. We drank water straight from the tap and never had any problems, but then we hadn't been pampered with a streile world. David@ the wet end of Swansea Bay |
Keeping water butt water safe for drinking?
On Mar 2, 10:11*pm, "AL_n" wrote:
wrote : Because they aren't continuous, so that water can get through between the particles. *Effectively, that means that they reduce the bacteria (exponentially with thickness). Sorry; I'm not following. What do you mean when you say sand & charcoal filters are not continuous? And thickness of what? Al |
Keeping water butt water safe for drinking?
"AL_n" wrote in news:XnsA00AD7F098B2Bzzzzzz@
130.133.4.11: Bio sand filters are effectively used for purifying dirty water for drinking. I guess there is also the option of adding a tiny amount of bleach! PS.. boiling is pretty reliable, I gather. |
Keeping water butt water safe for drinking?
In article ,
AL_n wrote: Because they aren't continuous, so that water can get through between the particles. Effectively, that means that they reduce the bacteria (exponentially with thickness). Sorry; I'm not following. What do you mean when you say sand & charcoal filters are not continuous? And thickness of what? They are particulate. And thickness of the bed. Sorry, I don't have time to translate and explain just now, but you will be able to find a complete description of the mechanism if you search the Web for how the water treatment plants that supply our drinking water work. Regards, Nick Maclaren. |
Keeping water butt water safe for drinking?
On Fri, 2 Mar 2012 21:41:36 -0000, Janet wrote:
Roof water isn't drinkable quality imo (take a look at what collects inside inside your gutters and what's wriggling in the bottom of the waterbutt). TBH I'd be happier drinking natural water that had things wriggling in the bottom than water that didn't... You'll still need to filter and boil it. Filter maybe but a take off a few inches above the bottom should ensure that it's pretty free of suspended particles/sediment. How much muck gets in also depends on how the rain water is fed into the butt. One of those downspout take off thigs and horizontal or slight fall pipe will deposit more muck into the butt than a pipe that is U shaped. I'm sort of divided over boiling/UV treatment, the vast majority of the worlds population don't have that luxury and although there is a lot of water borne disease the population levels are still high. It's not that long ago that many places in this country would have been using water straight from a well or spring. Indeed I think the farm below us is on spring water, don't know how much treatment it gets. Sisters house was also on pumped well water, they did have filters to start with then tests showed rather a high bug content so they added UV treatment. -- Cheers Dave. |
Keeping water butt water safe for drinking?
On 02/03/2012 23:35, Martin wrote:
On Fri, 02 Mar 2012 23:12:54 +0000 (GMT), "Dave Liquorice" wrote: On Fri, 2 Mar 2012 21:41:36 -0000, Janet wrote: Roof water isn't drinkable quality imo (take a look at what collects inside inside your gutters and what's wriggling in the bottom of the waterbutt). TBH I'd be happier drinking natural water that had things wriggling in the bottom than water that didn't... You'll still need to filter and boil it. Filter maybe but a take off a few inches above the bottom should ensure that it's pretty free of suspended particles/sediment. How much muck gets in also depends on how the rain water is fed into the butt. One of those downspout take off thigs and horizontal or slight fall pipe will deposit more muck into the butt than a pipe that is U shaped. I'm sort of divided over boiling/UV treatment, the vast majority of the worlds population don't have that luxury and although there is a lot of water borne disease the population levels are still high. So is hepatitis. It's not that long ago that many places in this country would have been using water straight from a well or spring. Indeed I think the farm below us is on spring water, don't know how much treatment it gets. Sisters house was also on pumped well water, they did have filters to start with then tests showed rather a high bug content so they added UV treatment. In the late 1950's I worked on an outstation in the RAF. The only water we had was that collected off the roof, which we had to boil before drinking. However we had a new M.O. posted to the main station, one of his first tasks was to analyse the water we were drinking. He soon arranged for a regular delivery of water to us, for, amongst other impurities, he found there was a fair amount of arsenic the water garnered off the roof, so I would not drink yours without careful analysis by a professional. -- Residing on low ground in North Staffordshire |
Keeping water butt water safe for drinking?
"AL_n" wrote in message ... What is the best way of keeping rainwater-butt-water clean and unpolluted so that it remains safely drinkable? The rainwater will be collected from the roof of my house via the guttering downpipe. Thanks... Al You need something along the lines of the big filter systems used for keeping Koi carp, preferably one with a UV element, as Nick has tried to explain, sand/gravel/charcoal filters are more effective the longer the water has to pass through them so the need to very large to be effective, if you have the space fine otherwise you will need to treat the water and UV is the easiest method to set up. After you have done all this you also need to get the resulting water tested to confirm its doing its job. It may be cheaper to have a well/borehole and pump (as we do) -- Charlie, Gardening in Cornwall Holders of National Collections of Clematis viticella and Lapageria rosea cvs http://www.roselandhouse.co.uk |
Keeping water butt water safe for drinking?
In article ,
Martin wrote: On Fri, 02 Mar 2012 23:12:54 +0000 (GMT), "Dave Liquorice" wrote: On Fri, 2 Mar 2012 21:41:36 -0000, Janet wrote: Roof water isn't drinkable quality imo (take a look at what collects inside inside your gutters and what's wriggling in the bottom of the waterbutt). TBH I'd be happier drinking natural water that had things wriggling in the bottom than water that didn't... You'll still need to filter and boil it. Filter maybe but a take off a few inches above the bottom should ensure that it's pretty free of suspended particles/sediment. How much muck gets in also depends on how the rain water is fed into the butt. One of those downspout take off thigs and horizontal or slight fall pipe will deposit more muck into the butt than a pipe that is U shaped. I'm sort of divided over boiling/UV treatment, the vast majority of the worlds population don't have that luxury and although there is a lot of water borne disease the population levels are still high. So is hepatitis. You will not get hepatitis by drinking water from a butt that has collected rainwater from a roof. Regards, Nick Maclaren. |
Keeping water butt water safe for drinking?
On Mar 2, 6:12*pm, "AL_n" wrote:
What is the best way of keeping rainwater-butt-water clean and unpolluted so that it remains safely drinkable? The rainwater will be collected from the roof of my house via the guttering downpipe. Thanks... Al I have an underground tank that collects water off the driveway. Used for garden at the moment.. I am going to extend use to toilet & then get in a water meter. However the thought has crossed my mind just to buy bottled water for drinking and tell the water people to F off when I'm set up. I already have a septic tank. If you have the space, that's something to consider. Water/sewage round here is around £400. Water alone is around £200. Needs emptying around every four years, cost is £200ish, save=£600. |
Keeping water butt water safe for drinking?
On Mar 3, 9:22*am, wrote:
In article , Martin wrote: On Fri, 02 Mar 2012 23:12:54 +0000 (GMT), "Dave Liquorice" wrote: On Fri, 2 Mar 2012 21:41:36 -0000, Janet wrote: Roof water isn't drinkable quality imo (take a look at what collects inside inside your gutters and what's wriggling in the bottom of the waterbutt). TBH I'd be happier drinking natural water that had things wriggling in the bottom than water that didn't... You'll still need to filter and boil it. Filter maybe but a take off a few inches above the bottom should ensure that it's pretty free of suspended particles/sediment. How much muck gets in also depends on how the rain water is fed into the butt. One of those downspout take off thigs and horizontal or slight fall pipe will deposit more muck into the butt than a pipe that is U shaped. I'm sort of divided over boiling/UV treatment, the vast majority of the worlds population don't have that luxury and although there is a lot of water borne disease the population levels are still high. So is hepatitis. You will not get hepatitis by drinking water from a butt that has collected rainwater from a roof. Regards, Nick Maclaren.- Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text - You might get salmonella. (birdshit) |
Keeping water butt water safe for drinking?
In article ,
harry wrote: I'm sort of divided over boiling/UV treatment, the vast majority of the worlds population don't have that luxury and although there is a lot of water borne disease the population levels are still high. So is hepatitis. You will not get hepatitis by drinking water from a butt that has collected rainwater from a roof. You might get salmonella. (birdshit) Aw, gee! More seriously, as I posted, many people aren't going to be affected by that. It is very rarely serious, and the only reason that most of the people who get affected do so is because they consume an unnaturally sterile diet. Regards, Nick Maclaren. |
Keeping water butt water safe for drinking?
In article ,
Martin wrote: I'm sort of divided over boiling/UV treatment, the vast majority of the worlds population don't have that luxury and although there is a lot of water borne disease the population levels are still high. So is hepatitis. You will not get hepatitis by drinking water from a butt that has collected rainwater from a roof. I referred to the vast majority of "the worlds population". People do get hepatitis from drinking spring water sometimes and water that has been collected in tanks. It was common in tap water on the Greek Islands at one time You are Edwin Poots and I claim my bent farthing! Hepatitis A comes from the faeces of infected humans - NOWHERE else. It is not transmitted by birds. Think about it. Regards, Nick Maclaren. |
Keeping water butt water safe for drinking?
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Keeping water butt water safe for drinking?
On Sat, 3 Mar 2012 01:30:31 -0800 (PST), harry wrote:
However the thought has crossed my mind just to buy bottled water for drinking and tell the water people to F off when I'm set up. With mains water at around 0.003p/l (£3/1000l or cubic metre) I doubt that is economic. The big water cooler type bottles cost about £5/20l ish, so about 20p/l. I wouldn't be surprised if we use 10l/day just for drinking and food prep, that's about £1000/year at 20p/l... -- Cheers Dave. |
Keeping water butt water safe for drinking?
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Keeping water butt water safe for drinking?
"AL_n" wrote in
: What is the best way of keeping rainwater-butt-water clean and unpolluted so that it remains safely drinkable? The rainwater will be collected from the roof of my house via the guttering downpipe. Thanks... Al I know that the British Forces use "Puritabs". They would not use them if they were not very effective. The only problem is that I would think that treating your water butt would be more expensive than metered water from your supplier. Your guttering will be full of harmful bacteria. I would rather drink a lepers pi** than drink from a water butt. Treated or not. Baz |
Keeping water butt water safe for drinking?
"'Mike'" wrote in
: No way would I want to drink from my butt. Mike Well you always talk out of it! Baz |
Keeping water butt water safe for drinking?
In article ,
Martin wrote: You will not get hepatitis by drinking water from a butt that has collected rainwater from a roof. I referred to the vast majority of "the worlds population". People do get hepatitis from drinking spring water sometimes and water that has been collected in tanks. It was common in tap water on the Greek Islands at one time You are Edwin Poots and I claim my bent farthing! Hepatitis A comes from the faeces of infected humans - NOWHERE else. It is not transmitted by birds. Think about it. Did you think about it? Faeces of infected humans can get into tap water. Sigh. This thread is about drinking rainwater collected off a roof in the UK into a waterbutt. Your wittering is no more relevant than warning of the risk of giardia would be. Anyway, I am not going to respond to any more of this Pootery. Regards, Nick Maclaren. |
Keeping water butt water safe for drinking?
On Mar 3, 10:45*am, Janet wrote:
In article f937b0d9-a67e-4809-b0aa-4ff907fd73f6 @w19g2000vbe.googlegroups.com, says... I have an underground tank that collects water off the driveway. Used for garden at the moment.. *I *am going to extend use to toilet & then get in a water meter. However the thought has crossed my mind just to buy bottled water for drinking and tell the water people to F off when I'm set up. * What's the capacity of your underground tank? * It's unlikely to supply enough for showers and an automatic washing machine, especially in summer. *I've *lived doing handlaundry for an entire family outdoors in a tin tub with cold water; bathing in a washing up bowl etc, only flushing the lav once a day... I suggest you and your household *try them all out for a week before *telling the water people to eff off. * * Janet About 5000 litres. |
Quote:
We have all eaten a spider or similar during our sleep. However when it comes to water butts it is the flying rat better known as the pigeon which is the most dangerous. They like nothing better than to perch on guttering, they poo where they perch and are carriers of many diseases. I would never think of using that water for anything other than the garden!!! uriel13 The mind is like a parachute its totally useless unless open |
Keeping water butt water safe for drinking?
In article ,
uriel13 wrote: We have all eaten a spider or similar during our sleep. However when it comes to water butts it is the flying rat better known as the pigeon which is the most dangerous. They like nothing better than to perch on guttering, they poo where they perch and are carriers of many diseases. I would never think of using that water for anything other than the garden!!! While that is true, you are being a little too extreme. Pigeons may carry a huge number of diseases, but are not at all rat-like (except compared with a tree, for example) and the vast majority of the diseases they carry are ubiquitous in the environment and normally dealt with by our immune system. Excessive numbers of pigeons ARE a health hazard, many of those diseases are potentially serious, and not drinking untreated butt water for that reason is a good idea, but it is important not to get hysterical about the issue. A far more serious cause of premature death is a nasty mammal, often called the motorhead, Clarksonia insana, for example. Regards, Nick Maclaren. |
Keeping water butt water safe for drinking?
I just wonder how Homo sapiens ever managed to develop to where we are today without the aid of Health and Safety |
Keeping water butt water safe for drinking?
In article ,
Dave Hill wrote: I just wonder how Homo sapiens ever managed to develop to where we are today without the aid of Health and Safety Well, most didn't survive childhood and, in places without clean water, many don't today. However, the water-borne diseases that do almost all of the killing are NOT those that are likely to get into a waterbutt in the UK. Most people completely lack any understanding of sane risk assessment, regrettably. Regards, Nick Maclaren. |
Keeping water butt water safe for drinking?
On Sun, 4 Mar 2012 06:47:16 -0800 (PST), Dave Hill
wrote: I just wonder how Homo sapiens ever managed to develop to where we are today without the aid of Health and Safety I think that evolution has quite a bit chunk of 'Health and Safety' built in. Steve -- Neural Network Software. http://www.npsl1.com EasyNN-plus. Neural Networks plus. http://www.easynn.com SwingNN. Forecast with Neural Networks. http://www.swingnn.com JustNN. Just Neural Networks. http://www.justnn.com |
Keeping water butt water safe for drinking?
On Sun, 4 Mar 2012 06:47:16 -0800 (PST), Dave Hill wrote:
I just wonder how Homo sapiens ever managed to develop to where we are today without the aid of Health and Safety Quite, as a species we seem to survive quite well without "pure mains water". I reckon that 50 years ago most rural places would have been using water straight from a well or borehole without any treatment at all. Our paddock still has the trough that was the water supply up until about 30 years ago when an unreliable supply pumped up from a farm further down arrived. Mains water arrived only just over 20 years ago. -- Cheers Dave. |
Keeping water butt water safe for drinking?
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