Rainwater here in Thailand

[David48]

I've been drinking rainwater here for over 15 years with nary a stomach bug.

There is no pathogen in rainwater itself. However, in the process of flowing off your roof it can pick up some.

For which reason I use a simple countertop charcoal filter for it. Works fine.

When I'm in Bangkok, I live at a Farm just on it's outskirts.

Have drunk the rainwater here for best part of 5 years ... never sick from it.

Stored in earthenware jars at the side of the house.

During the rainy season, the Farm Family let's the roof get washed 3 or 4 times then simply diverts the hose connected to gutter to the large storage pots.

Then, as described above, we simply run it through a charcoal filter.

Spot-on every time.

[David48]

How much does evaporation loss affect the storage of rainwater in a) underground storage (cement tank type) or huge earthenware jars. How long can stored water be kept and still be usable? I would appreciate some info, maybe a link to somewhere about doing this in Thailand.

We use the huge earthenware jars ... but they are concrete (so not pottery) and a have a heavy cement lid.

t

The Farm Family simply refresh the Jar every year. So, the water remains viable for 12 months, and probably longer.

Crystal clear also.

As for tips ... good timing as I was requested to start using another Jar this morning as the water level had dropped to 25% in the one I was using and there is an issue that they might crack as they are in the direct afternoon sun.

[Dancealot]

How much does evaporation loss affect the storage of rainwater in a) underground storage (cement tank type) or huge earthenware jars. How long can stored water be kept and still be usable? I would appreciate some info, maybe a link to somewhere about doing this in Thailand.

We use the huge earthenware jars ... but they are concrete (so not pottery) and a have a heavy cement lid.

t

The Farm Family simply refresh the Jar every year. So, the water remains viable for 12 months, and probably longer.

Crystal clear also.

As for tips ... good timing as I was requested to start using another Jar this morning as the water level had dropped to 25% in the one I was using and there is an issue that they might crack as they are in the direct afternoon sun.

It's amazing to see the water is still crystal clear and drinkable after 12 months of "standing still".

Aside from a coupe of cases of diarrhea I have never experienced problems drinking rain water.

[speedtripler]

How much does evaporation loss affect the storage of rainwater in a) underground storage (cement tank type) or huge earthenware jars. How long can stored water be kept and still be usable? I would appreciate some info, maybe a link to somewhere about doing this in Thailand.

We use the huge earthenware jars ... but they are concrete (so not pottery) and a have a heavy cement lid.

t

The Farm Family simply refresh the Jar every year. So, the water remains viable for 12 months, and probably longer.

Crystal clear also.

As for tips ... good timing as I was requested to start using another Jar this morning as the water level had dropped to 25% in the one I was using and there is an issue that they might crack as they are in the direct afternoon sun.

It's amazing to see the water is still crystal clear and drinkable after 12 months of "standing still".

Aside from a coupe of cases of diarrhea I have never experienced problems drinking rain water.

expensive mineral water is advertised as being underground in rock for thousands of years

and it doesnt expire or become undrinkable

as long as you keep mosquitos and other parasites out of it it could last maye longer than

your lifetime

[canman]

I've been drinking rainwater here for over 15 years with nary a stomach bug.

There is no pathogen in rainwater itself. However, in the process of flowing off your roof it can pick up some.

For which reason I use a simple countertop charcoal filter for it. Works fine.

Charcoal does not kill pathogens, it only adsorbs organics. Since the charcoal builds up organics in its pores, bacteria will also feed on the organics and form large colonies that could give you stomach problems. Make sure it is silver impregnated carbon which supresses the build up of bacteria. Unless you invest in an R.O. system with small pump, the easiest way to kill pathogens is to boil your water that you want to use for drinking (a minimum of 72C with 15 seconds is enough to kill all the pathogens).

you cant "boil" water at 72degrees

you could heat it to 72 but thats well

before it boils

You can actually but you would need to be at an elevation of around 9000m. At the highest peak of everest for example the boiling point of water would be around 72C.

Sorry, in a pedantic mood this morning.

Edited February 7, 2014 by canman

[Jimbob1]

I drink rainwater here in Oz from a corrugated iron tank and my house in Korat we have the cement vessels that I also drink from with no filtering ...

You can also get from Bunnings Oz a first flush unit to allow the first rain from your roof to be directed away and after it has washed the roof and gutters out a ball rises to shut a valve to allow clean to be collected ... easy enough to make if you like to fiddle about ...

[chrisinth]

Its been raining drinking water since time began...................

[speedtripler]

I've been drinking rainwater here for over 15 years with nary a stomach bug.

There is no pathogen in rainwater itself. However, in the process of flowing off your roof it can pick up some.

For which reason I use a simple countertop charcoal filter for it. Works fine.

Charcoal does not kill pathogens, it only adsorbs organics. Since the charcoal builds up organics in its pores, bacteria will also feed on the organics and form large colonies that could give you stomach problems. Make sure it is silver impregnated carbon which supresses the build up of bacteria. Unless you invest in an R.O. system with small pump, the easiest way to kill pathogens is to boil your water that you want to use for drinking (a minimum of 72C with 15 seconds is enough to kill all the pathogens).

you cant "boil" water at 72degrees

you could heat it to 72 but thats well

before it boils

You can actually but you would need to be at an elevation of around 9000m. At the highest peak of everest for example the boiling point of water would be around 72C.

Sorry, in a pedantic mood this morning.

Where would you do this at ?

http://geography.about.com/library/faq/blqzhighestpoint.htm

[Showbags]

I drink rainwater here in Oz from a corrugated iron tank and my house in Korat we have the cement vessels that I also drink from with no filtering ...

You can also get from Bunnings Oz a first flush unit to allow the first rain from your roof to be directed away and after it has washed the roof and gutters out a ball rises to shut a valve to allow clean to be collected ... easy enough to make if you like to fiddle about ...

How does it know when the roof is clean.

[Jimbob1]

I drink rainwater here in Oz from a corrugated iron tank and my house in Korat we have the cement vessels that I also drink from with no filtering ...

You can also get from Bunnings Oz a first flush unit to allow the first rain from your roof to be directed away and after it has washed the roof and gutters out a ball rises to shut a valve to allow clean to be collected ... easy enough to make if you like to fiddle about ...

How does it know when the roof is clean.

CLICK HERE FOR IMAGES

It depends on the storage that you want to make the first flush .... it doesn't actually know when the roof is clean ... larger areas need larger initial storage pipes before the ball rises to shut off valve...

Edited February 7, 2014 by Jimbob1

[recycler]

My in-laws drink rainwater that runs from the roof and they store in big stone pots, I don't see any cleaning or filtering and they don't seem to have much problems with it.

When I visit I always get some beer (the medieval European version of drinking water), but the in-laws seem to have more problems with the beer than with the rainwater

[jackflash]

> Drinking distilled water is very bad for you as it will leach the minerals from your body.

Sorry, but this is utter crap also. Can you give a scientific reference for this?

[jackflash]

> Drinking distilled water is very bad for you as it will leach the minerals from your body.

Sorry, but this is utter crap also. Can you give a scientific reference for this?

[jackflash]

dup

Edited February 7, 2014 by jackflash

[canman]

Where would you do this at ?

http://geography.about.com/library/faq/blqzhighestpoint.htm

From your reference: The highest and tallest elevation on the earth's surface is the top of Mount Everest on the border of Nepal and China at 29,035 feet (8,850 meters).

Boiling point of water at 8850m is slightly less than 72C

[mick220675]

We have been drinking rain water collected from our roof for year's. We have never had a problem but I clean out all the guttering before we fill the containers, you get a hell of a lot of bird crap in them. I all so get inside the containers and give them a good clean before they are filled.

[khunPer]

Heating water up to 72+ centigrade (not boiling) kills bacteria after a short while (a poster said 15 seconds). Normal advice is to boil water, as it then exceeds the 72-centigrade temperature.

Read a post with a question about how long time water will be fresh at a Danish scientific site, and the answer was, that as long it is clean (no harmful bacteria and/or other pollution) it could keep fresh forever.

Minerals from various sources in water can cause a health problem, depending of the kind of minerals and the volume, for example fluoride. A lot of minerals are essential and some water considered healthier because of the amount of natural minerals; we for example gladly visit health spas with pure natural mineral water and/or buy expensive French mineral spring water in bottles (I’m not arguing about if it is better or just a hi-so lifestyle).

[khrab]

Every Saturday the waterboys come to my house and deliver the drinking water right in front of my house. It's 30 baht for 20 bottles (950ml). I only need two cases per month. So why should I bother ???

The tap water comes out of the local river. No lime, no chlorine. Tasts a little bit "earthy" and the waste water goes into the roadside ditch.

But for drinking (coffee!) cooking (rice, spagetthi) and brushing teeths I prefer the bottled water.

Here is the telly:

Drinking water (bottled) per month cost 60 bath. Last water bill 25 baht.

So 85 baht/month for water should be very much ok.

Am I a snob????

[Dancealot]

expensive mineral water is advertised as being underground in rock for thousands of years

and it doesnt expire or become undrinkable

as long as you keep mosquitos and other parasites out of it it could last maye longer than

your lifetime

How about rain water stored in big jars outside in the heat of the sun at farms in Thailand, what are the pro's/cons when you drink it uncooked?

Edited February 7, 2014 by Dancealot

[Dancealot]

Am I a snob????

Up country I do everything with rainwater.. Everything from the morning coffee to dental floss rinsing.

Am I a cowboy or what..

[sirineou]

Only worry about chemicals, pathogens are good for you, at least if they don't kill you they make you stronger.

Certainly not all pathogens are bad for you, but the vast majority of them are.

I understand what you are trying to say , low level exposure to some pathogens, create resistance and thus make you stronger against them ,

But,, Pathogens are not good for you!!. There are many, many pathogens that will not kill you but would certainly not make you stronger,in any way.All you have to do is to look at the high levels of liver and kidney damage in Thailand due to infectious pathogens.

I would be very careful drinking untreated water in subtropical environment such as Thailand .

There is a fine line between chemistry and Biology, biological agents can contaminate chemically , hence the term Toxins.

You always hear anecdotal statements such as , my FIL wad drinking this water and lived to be 90.

Well what's wrong with that statement?

A least three things.

One the threats in that water were different when he was drinking it

Two, he might have lived to be 90 but if he was not drinking that water, he might have being healthier, smarter, stronger and had a better quality of life during those 90 years

Three, he might have lived 90 years, but if he did not drink that water, he might have lived to be 100.

PS: have you noticed the hi incidence of flu like symptoms in Thailand? I am willing to bet that 90% is not the flu but salmonella poisoning, or other similar infestations.

Edited February 7, 2014 by sirineou

[wym]

I'm saying "building your resistance" = "makes you stronger"

bit of bangkok belly every once in a while goes with the territory

in fifteen years of playing it MUCH riskier than most would think safe, I only had one intestinal infection that lasted more than three days, and that turned out to be something not found in Thailand, picked up from a trip to Cambodia.

Highly recommend BNH's specialist "tropical diseases and gastro" unit. . .

[sirineou]

I'm saying "building your resistance" = "makes you stronger"

bit of bangkok belly every once in a while goes with the territory

in fifteen years of playing it MUCH riskier than most would think safe, I only had one intestinal infection that lasted more than three days, and that turned out to be something not found in Thailand, picked up from a trip to Cambodia.

Highly recommend BNH's specialist "tropical diseases and gastro" unit. . .

Yea I hear you Wym

the only problem is that the resistance is only for that particular strain of Pathogen.

I also have being on the wrong end of an intestinal infestation not fun

My mother in law, a wonderful lady, was complaining of flu like symptoms, and running low grade fevers, kept going to the clinic, where they gave her Tylenol for the fever.

Now she is in renal failure

the combination of the infestation and Tylenol killed her kidneys

Now she has to do dialysis every day and the long term prognosis is not good.

I know I might it sounds like a a hypochondriac, and a bit paranoid, but every time I return to the US, I have my doctor run blood work on my self and wife.

[roamer]

> Drinking distilled water is very bad for you as it will leach the minerals from your body.

Sorry, but this is utter crap also. Can you give a scientific reference for this?

Not sure you will get an answer any time soon, not till he removes the aluminium hat that protects against VUUHF waves.

[fifthcolumn]

Rainwater in larger cities is not considered safe nor even fit to water vegetables. Air pollution.

[wym]

every time I return to the US, I have my doctor run blood work on my self and wife.

Blood tests here work just fine. . .

[Showbags]

Every Saturday the waterboys come to my house and deliver the drinking water right in front of my house. It's 30 baht for 20 bottles (950ml). I only need two cases per month. So why should I bother ???

The tap water comes out of the local river. No lime, no chlorine. Tasts a little bit "earthy" and the waste water goes into the roadside ditch.

But for drinking (coffee!) cooking (rice, spagetthi) and brushing teeths I prefer the bottled water.

Here is the telly:

Drinking water (bottled) per month cost 60 bath. Last water bill 25 baht.

So 85 baht/month for water should be very much ok.

Am I a snob????

But you never know what goes into that bottled water or how it is filtered exactly..

[Showbags]

How much does evaporation loss affect the storage of rainwater in a) underground storage (cement tank type) or huge earthenware jars. How long can stored water be kept and still be usable? I would appreciate some info, maybe a link to somewhere about doing this in Thailand.

We use the huge earthenware jars ... but they are concrete (so not pottery) and a have a heavy cement lid.

t

The Farm Family simply refresh the Jar every year. So, the water remains viable for 12 months, and probably longer.

Crystal clear also.

As for tips ... good timing as I was requested to start using another Jar this morning as the water level had dropped to 25% in the one I was using and there is an issue that they might crack as they are in the direct afternoon sun.

It's amazing to see the water is still crystal clear and drinkable after 12 months of "standing still".

Aside from a coupe of cases of diarrhea I have never experienced problems drinking rain water.

expensive mineral water is advertised as being underground in rock for thousands of years

and it doesnt expire or become undrinkable

as long as you keep mosquitos and other parasites out of it it could last maye longer than

your lifetime

Is that the stuff that is 120b a bottle and more ?

Like Perrier and that other one...not the normal 10b bottled water as that stuff does go off if left around too long.

[willyumiii]

Yes!

It is the same bug or gremlin that Thai people believe makes them sick if they get wet in the rain.

Seriously, I have been drinking collected rain water, unfiltered for over two years and have had no problems.

I have never gotten sick from getting wet in the rain either.

I live in pretty remote area with no polluting factories or dangerous chemical use.

You should consider that.

Also people in my area do not collect water to drink if they live close to the Wat where bodies are cremated.

Guess you wouldn't want to drink anyone's ash.

[thaimite]

> Drinking distilled water is very bad for you as it will leach the minerals from your body.

Sorry, but this is utter crap also. Can you give a scientific reference for this?

Not sure you will get an answer any time soon, not till he removes the aluminium hat that protects against VUUHF waves.

There are lots of sites that claim that distilled water will leach minerals from the body, and if you look at most bottles of mineral water, you will see that often minerals are added.

Granted others say different. Just as some say fluoride is good for you and others say it is bad.

Do the research and make up your own mind.