Madeeha Syed

Did you know that rainwater is beneficial in multiple ways? Yet, it is not recommended to save rainwater. Check the pros and cons of preserving rainwater by experts.

Should You Be Preserving Rainwater?

This article or video has been recorded by a subject / domain specialists with a proven track record of excellence in their area. 

Overview

We know that <a href="https://merisehat.pk/article/dancing-in-the-rain-how-healthy-is-rainwater">rainwater </a>is a great way to water your garden or wash your car. But do you know that it can also be used for other things? Like drinking? In this article, we&rsquo;ll look at how to preserve rainwater, how much you should be using, and where to draw the line with its consumption and conservation.

&nbsp;

Benefits

Rainwater is naturally soft, which can be good for washing clothes: 
Rainwater is naturally soft, and this can be good for washing clothes. If you&rsquo;re going to use rainwater to wash your clothes, you should still fill up your washing machine with detergent and let it soak for about 30 minutes before starting up the machine. This will help dissolve any soap scum that has built up in your machine, which could otherwise ruin your clothes.

The benefits of using rainwater are clear - it&rsquo;s free and natural, so you don&rsquo;t have to worry about chemicals or additives affecting either how clean your clothes get or how they look afterward. Rainwater is also safe enough that most people wouldn&rsquo;t need to worry about their health if they got their hands wet while using it; though, we still recommend wearing gloves. 
&nbsp;

Rainwater doesn&rsquo;t have the chlorine that municipal water does: 
Chlorine is added to the water supply to kill bacteria, but it isn&rsquo;t particularly healthy for humans. It can cause breathing problems in people with asthma or other lung conditions. It&rsquo;s also harmful to fish and other aquatic life, so if you are an avid fisherman or enjoy gardening outdoors, rainwater collection could be a great option for you to give to your fishes or plants.

&nbsp;

Rainwater helps reduce runoff from your property and prevent local flooding: 
Rainwater harvesting is an important component of sustainable water use. It can help reduce runoff from your property, prevent local flooding and also reduce water pollution. Rainwater harvesting can also help you save money on your water bill!

Unfortunately, there are some downsides. 
&nbsp;

Paying for a rainwater collection system can be expensive: 
Unfortunately, the initial costs of installing a rainwater collection system are high. You might be able to save money by building your own rainwater collection system or buying used parts, but it&rsquo;s likely that there&rsquo;s still going to be a hefty price tag attached. If you&rsquo;re looking for ways to save money on the project, consider purchasing smaller or less expensive systems or one with a lower capacity. 
&nbsp;

Collected rainwater&nbsp;will lead to mosquitoes breeding in your yard:

You may be surprised to learn that mosquitoes can breed in standing water. When you collect rainwater, it&rsquo;s important to make sure that you don&rsquo;t have any standing water in your yard. If there is a small pool of water where it collects after a storm, this could be a breeding ground for mosquitoes.

It&rsquo;s also worth noting that mosquitoes spread diseases like West Nile Virus, Zika fever and more. Additionally, if you have children or pets who are often outdoors when the weather is nice, then you may want to think twice before collecting rainwater since these pests can also be a nuisance for them, as well as adults. 
&nbsp;

You need to take precautions to keep the water safe: 
Now that you&rsquo;ve got your rainwater, what should you do with it? The Center for Disease Control recommends storing rainwater in a closed container and keeping it in a cool, dark place. It can be stored for up to six months if you keep the temperature below 26C or 80F.&nbsp;

You might think about storing your water in some kind of tank or container that can hold more than 50 gallons. Discarded two-liter soda bottles are also an option. Just make sure to screw on their tops tightly so that there&#39;s no leakage.&nbsp;

However, keep in mind that due to environmental exposure of the rainwater you just collected, it will serve as a perfect breeding ground for the growth and development of microorganisms and harmful pathogens. 
&nbsp;

You might have to go through a regulatory process with your state or local government to get approval for a rainwater collection system: 
You may also need to get a permit or approval from your state or local government to install your rainwater collection system. You should check with them before you start installing on your own, as they might have different regulations depending on where you live. Some states require that the system be installed by an approved contractor and inspected periodically after that.

In some places, there are restrictions about where a rainwater collection system can be installed and what types of materials can be used for its construction. For example, if your property is located within 100 feet (30 meters) from a body of water like a lake or stream, it might be illegal for you to collect any water coming from the roof because it could contaminate the surface water source. 
&nbsp;

If you want to install a rainwater collection system, do it right so you don&rsquo;t run into problems: 
To start with, make sure that you get the right equipment. You&rsquo;ll need a well-maintained water tank and an appropriate pump for moving the water from the tank where it&#39;s stored to where it will be used (such as your garden). This can be a complicated process. If possible, consult with an experienced mechanic or engineer who specializes in this type of setup.

Next, check local regulations. Many municipalities require individuals who build their own water tanks &mdash; even those that hold less than 100 gallons &mdash; to register them with public health agencies and municipalities. This can be done online or by phone at any time during construction. Finally, make sure that if you live in an area prone to drought conditions (like most parts of California), consider adding extra storage capacity so that your family won&rsquo;t face shortages during times when rainfall is scarce; many households have had to ration their stored supply during recent years due to extreme weather conditions like El Ni&ntilde;o storms or extended dry spells between rainy seasons. 
&nbsp;

Bottom Line

So, should you be preserving rainwater?

No. While there are attractive aspects of the water being natural and untreated there is no clear benefit that makes it superior to your normal everyday water. In fact, while rainwater in its original form may be full of minerals and key constituents that you may consider healthy for you, by the time it reaches to us the water tends to absorb all the pollutants and different gases in the air, making it harmful for consumption. Why would you feed your pets or plants the water that would make you sick? This is why the risk that rainwater preservation comes with is not worth it.

&nbsp;