How to Collect Rain Water for Drinking

Water is a fundamental need for most life forms on earth. The contaminants found in much of our water supply makes it difficult to be sure that what we are drinking is safe for us. The water that falls when it rains is pure. However, once it passes through the smog in our air and to pollutants on the ground, it becomes no better than drinking from a river or out of the tap. It is possible to collect and filter rain water to make it fit to drink.

Things You'll Need

• Two clean containers
• Vinyl hose
• Large water bottle (such as for a water cooler)
• Small table; tall enough to fit the bottle under
• 15 to 20 pounds of granulated activated charcoal
• Polyester quilt batting

Instructions

1. Take two large containers -- such as empty and cleaned out paint buckets -- and cut out the bottom of the first container.

2. Cut a hole in the second container big enough to fit the end of your vinyl hose through. Then stack the two containers on top of each other, with one just barely inside the other. The bucket with the small hole goes on the bottom. Use glue or adhesive to fasten them together.

3. Put the polyester quilt batting in the bottom of the buckets and put the granulated charcoal on top of it. This combination will filter the rainwater for you.

4. Cut a hole in the table to match the one in the bottom of your buckets. Place the buckets on top of the table, with the vinyl hose poking through the hole. Slide the water bottle under the table and insert the hose into it. This is where your filtered rainwater will collect.

Tips & Warnings

• The charcoal must be changed periodically. This is generally necessary once a month if used constantly. If it is being used less often, then once every five to six months will suffice.

• Add 10 drops of bleach to each gallon of filtered water to kill any bacteria and prevent the growth of bacteria while the water is stored.

• Rinse the charcoal thoroughly before using it and be sure that it contains no chemical additives.

References

• BA Products: Basic Survival Rain Water Filter System