Drink rain water flowing on. Scheme of the device of the system with an underground reservoir

It turns out that the owner of a country house can get at least something for free. It's about rainwater.

A catchment system can help harvest this valuable resource. Of course, the drains, tanks, pipes and installation will have to be paid for, but the “extra infusion”, that is, the water itself, will not cost his homeowner a dime.

Will the investment in rainwater harvesting equipment pay off? Judge for yourself. As you know, a family of four spends an average of 130-150 liters per day. water. And that's without taking into account the garden! But even a small sloping roof can give the homeowner about 2500 liters per season, and they obviously will not be superfluous. Of course, you should not drink such water, but it is suitable for a summer shower, watering, cleaning, washing, washing a car and other household needs.

What is better than rain water? It is believed that rain water is softer and cleaner than tap water, but if the house is located near a city or an industrial enterprise, it is better not to risk it and order a chemical analysis. Experts will tell you why it is possible and why it is impossible to use the moisture collected from the roof.

You can’t drink rainwater (at least without multi-stage purification), but it can be used for washing, a boiler, a drain barrel and much more.

On what roof can such a system be installed? Obviously not flat. And not on a roof with an angle of less than 10°. There is a simple rule: the steeper the slope, the faster the drain. And the faster the drain, the less likely it is that the water will become contaminated "on the way."

The type of roof also matters. Some coatings contain substances hazardous to human health. Water must not be collected from roofs sheathed with copper tiles, asbestos-cement slabs and materials containing lead. But with ceramic and flexible tiles, roofing iron and metal tiles - it is possible and necessary.

What to consider when choosing a drainage system?

Gutters and pipes. The most durable, durable, but also the most expensive are gutters made of aluminum and titanium-zinc components. PVC gutters are cheaper, but "weaker": under the pressure of frozen or stagnant water, the plastic starts to crack quite quickly. Designs containing copper or lead are excluded for the reasons we discussed above. Galvanized steel pipes are optimal in terms of price-quality-safety ratio.

The diameter of the pipes is chosen based on the size of the roof. If the slope area is less than 30 m2, pipes with a diameter of 80 mm will do, if more - 90 mm. In regions where there is a lot of precipitation, it is better to install square or rectangular drainage systems: their throughput is greater than that of oval ones.

Rainwater can and even needs to be watered by plants - they absorb it much better than tap water.

Mounting. The distance between the wall of the building and the downpipe should be at least 5 cm, but not more than 7 cm. If the pipe is too close, the facade will get wet, if too close, the fastening systems will not withstand.

In order for the drain to be effective, the gutters are placed with a slope of 2-3 cm per 1 lin. m. At the same time, every 10 m it is necessary to install a receiving funnel and a downpipe, otherwise the system will not be able to cope with the flow of rainwater.

Obviously, the rainwater used in the home must be clean. Many gutter structures are equipped with devices for retaining large debris: small-mesh nets that are located along the gutters and at the junctions with pipes. Also, to remove large debris, filters are installed: one at the inlet to the tank and one or two more at the outlet of it.

Collection containers

Any container made of a safe and non-corrosive material can serve as a water collection tank: concrete, polyethylene, polypropylene, galvanized steel. The volume can vary from 800 to 3000 liters, depending on the size of the house and the number of residents. As for the design, the tank should have a lid, a hole for the drainpipe and a pipe through which excess water will flow, a foliage filter and, of course, a faucet. Everything is pretty simple here.

Where and how to install? The easiest way is to put a container for collecting rainwater on the ground. But then, firstly, it will take away precious square meters from the site, and secondly, in hot weather, the water will overheat and “bloom”. So it is better to drown the container in the ground. To do this, they dig a pit a little larger than the tank itself, and arrange a sand cushion 20 cm thick at the bottom. Then they put the tank, fill the voids with sand, connect the pump and pipes and close the neck with a lid. At the top of the tank, a drain is made through which excess water flows into the sewer. To connect the tank to the water supply system at home and outside, standard PVC pipes are usually used.

Instead of one large rainwater collection tank, you can bury several in the ground and connect them with pipes.

The underground system requires seasonal maintenance. With the onset of cold weather, the pump must be removed and stored in a warm place, and the tank closed and covered with a thick layer of sand on top to protect it from freezing. But these minor efforts pay off, because water, which is the most valuable natural resource, will not cost the homeowner a dime.

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In the context of the growing shortage of water resources, alternative sources of fresh water suitable for domestic and drinking purposes are becoming increasingly valuable. These are springs and precipitation. And in the realities of our lives, where man-made disasters and terrorist attacks occur with depressing frequency, they can become the only source of safe fresh water.

Fresh water reserves

Today, the world's water reserves are at the level of 1.4 billion km 3, of which only 3% is fresh water - 35 million km 3. Of this volume, 24 million km 3 practically inaccessible for use, because they exist in the form of glaciers and ice sheets. According to experts, only 0.77% of the world's water reserves are underground, surface (lakes, rivers, swamps, etc.) water, contained in plants and the atmosphere. Like fossil fuels, these planetary water resources accumulate slowly and are not renewable. As a renewable fresh water resource, only atmospheric precipitation can be considered, the volume of which is estimated at 110,300 km 3/G. Of which 69,600 km 3/G. returned to the atmosphere through evaporation and transpiration. The total global water runoff reaches 40,700 km 3/G. Taking into account the geographical location and periodically occurring natural disasters, the available volume of runoff is reduced to 12,500 km 3/G.

Fresh water reserves on our planet are distributed very unevenly.. Moreover, their volumes are subject to noticeable seasonal fluctuations. The renewable part of fresh water reserves, represented mainly by surface water, is also unevenly distributed. According to experts, with the volume of fresh water resources per capita at the level of 1700 m 3/G. there is a periodic or regional water shortage in the country. In countries where this figure does not exceed 1000 m 3/g., water scarcity becomes an obstacle to economic development and causes degradation of the natural environment. In "prosperous" countries, the volume of fresh water resources per capita has the following values: 87,255 m 3/G. - Canada, 42,866 m 3/G. - Brazil, 31,833 m 3/G. - Russia. In "unfavorable" countries, the indicators are as follows: 58 m 3/G. - UAE, 59 m 3/G. - Saudi Arabia, 330 m 3/G. - Israel, 723 m 3/G. - Egypt, 1293 m 3/G. - Iran, 1411 m 3/G. - India, 1912 m 3/G. - China.

So, the amount of available fresh water on the planet is limited, and in many countries its volume is alarmingly small. At the same time, water from surface sources is characterized by varying degrees of pollution due to the discharge of untreated and insufficiently treated wastewater, as well as the impact of various anthropogenic factors. The use of such water without proper purification for household and drinking needs is associated with certain risks and in many cases is unacceptable. Water from underground sources is cleaner. Until now, artesian, well and spring water is used without any treatment. However, the pollution of these resources is constantly increasing. In addition, excessive water withdrawal is observed everywhere, leading to the depletion of groundwater reserves.

In the context of a growing shortage of fresh water, it is not surprising that society desires to involve in the processing of truly inexhaustible reserves of salt and brackish water, as well as large volumes of wastewater.. Seawater desalination technology has already become widespread. The level of modern technical developments has allowed the commissioning of numerous desalination plants, the productivity of some of which is enormous. In a number of countries in the Middle East, desalinated water is a significant part of the total water consumption. But, of course, there are also disadvantages.

Desalinated water production- the process is quite energy-intensive and, in addition, gives rise to problems of anthropogenic impact on the environment. Also, in the process of desalination, not only excess salt content is removed from salt water, but also many useful trace elements. Therefore, before using for household and drinking needs, the composition of desalinated water has to be adjusted. At the same time, there are no data based on the results of long-term studies of the potential risks associated with the consumption of such, in fact, "engineered" water.

A similar situation is typical for treated wastewater. There are technologies that make it possible to obtain water of any required purity from this source. However, one has to reckon with the costs and secondary pollution of the environment in wastewater treatment. It is also obvious that as a result we get not natural water, but a product of industrial production.

Thus, at present, surface water (river and lake), underground water (artesian, well and spring), desalinated water (mainly from sea water) and regenerated from wastewater can be used for drinking purposes. At the same time, without prior preparation, with certain precautions, you can drink, perhaps, only water from underground sources.

Table 1. Drinking water consumption in the world

Source	Rural population, million people	Urban population, million people	Total, million people
Centralized water supply for households
Public columns, wells, etc.
wells
Rainwater
mine wells
Delivery by tanks
Surface water

Rainwater

Until a few decades ago, the collection of rainwater for various purposes was quite common. However, rainwater use has declined markedly in recent decades. The exception is dry regions.

Rains allows you to replenish water supplies directly in the household and use it for drinking and other purposes. The World Health Organization (WHO) characterizes precipitation as a source of improved drinking water, which is now used by millions of people. At the same time, their number, according to WHO and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), has doubled since 1990. In addition, rainwater is widely used for irrigation in household plots and is considered an important factor in ensuring the food security of various population groups.

However, there are risks associated with using rainwater for drinking purposes, with the elderly, children and people with weakened immune systems being most at risk. chemical pollution and bacterial contamination of rainwater to some extent is observed in almost all cases. This is usually due to the movement of raindrops through polluted air, as well as the condition of the collection surface and storage containers. The quality of rainwater depends on the following factors:

• geometric parameters of the roof of the building (shape, dimensions, slope);
• condition of roofing materials (chemical composition, roughness, protective coating, age);
• location of the building (proximity of industrial enterprises);
• meteorological factors;
• the level of air pollution in the region.

The content of inorganic cations and anions in rainwater is mainly associated with air pollution from automobile exhausts and emissions from industrial enterprises and is more of a local nature. Table 2 provides information on the chemical composition of rainwater sampled in countries such as Australia, South Korea, China, Thailand, Mexico, South Africa, Greece, and Turkey.

Table 2. Chemical composition of rainwater

Substance		Substance		Substance
Fe, iron	up to 0.08 mg/l	Sb, antimony	up to 0.1 µg/l	Cu, copper	up to 0.05 mg/l
Pb, lead	up to 0.04 mg/l	Sr, strontium	up to 0.03 mg/l	Zn, zinc	up to 0.6 mg/l
Cr, chrome	up to 0.01 mg/l	V, vanadium	up to 0.002 mg/l	Ca, calcium	up to 15.0 mg/l
Al, aluminum	up to 0.3 mg/l	Mn, manganese	up to 0.01 mg/l	Na, sodium	up to 11.2 mg/l
Ba, barium	up to 0.01 mg/l	CD, cadmium	up to 0.9 µg/l	K, potassium	up to 8.5 mg/l
co, cobalt	up to 0.7 µg/l	B, boron	up to 0.05 mg/l	mg, magnesium	up to 1.1 mg/l
NH 4+, ammonium	up to 0.06 mg/l		up to 1.2 mg/l		up to 0.27 mg/l
	up to 70.0 mg/l	sulfates	up to 15.6 mg/l		up to 14.1 mg/l

By the way

An analysis of rainwater samples taken in Istanbul (Turkey) made it possible to conclude that the heavy metals found in it (Cr, Co, Ni, V, Pb) originated at enterprises in Western Europe and Russia.

The level of contamination of rainwater depends on the intensity of precipitation and the intervals between precipitation. A number of researchers note an increased content of heavy metals in rainwater after the end of long dry periods. Organic pollutants are transported by air currents over much longer distances. However, data on any significant concentrations of, for example, herbicides and pesticides in rainwater are not available. At concentrations below the maximum allowable, the presence of such herbicides as 4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid, atrazine, simazine and diuron is noted.

Building roofs, downspouts and holding tanks can also be a source of rainwater pollution. If the roof is covered with protective lead-containing or acrylic paints, it is not recommended to use rainwater for drinking. Rainwater running off a galvanized roof can contain between 0.14 and 3.16 mg/L of zinc. In water flowing from asbestos-cement coatings, its content is in the range of 0.001–0.025 mg/l. There is also evidence of less pollution from rainwater runoff from galvanized sheeting than from porous ceramic tiles or wood flooring. Water flowing from roofs is collected in ground or buried containers, which are usually made of brick, plastic, wood, metal or concrete. Due to the leaching of calcium carbonate, a higher pH value is observed in rainwater collected in concrete tanks (up to 7.6). In steel containers, the pH level ranges from 5.9–7.2.

source bacterial infection rainwater is served by the excrement of squirrels, cats, rats, birds and other animals located on the roof. Together with various organic substances and the pathogenic microorganisms contained in them, they are washed away by rains into collection containers. In most cases, rainwater that has not gone through the preparation stage is undrinkable. One study found similar biochemical and phenotypic strain profiles in rainwater and bird and cat feces collected from rooftops. Escherichia coli. According to the analysis of samples taken in New Zealand, Nigeria, USA, Australia, Denmark, the following pathogenic bacteria were identified in rainwater: Aeromonas spp., Salmonella spp., Cryptosporidium spp., Cryptosporidium parvum, Pseudomonas spp., Shigella spp., Vibrio spp., Giardia spp., Legionella spp., Campylobacter spp., Mycobacterium spp.

There are a number of episodes associated with diseases caused by drinking rainwater. Most often in the scientific literature there is a description of cases of gastroenteritis. Several cases of campylobacteriosis have also been reported, with bird nests on rooftops considered to be the main cause. It is known about a severe case of tourists in the Virgin Islands (USA) with the so-called Legionnaires' disease. The symptoms are similar to pneumonia. It was this disease that caused the death in a very short time of 29 delegates to the convention of the American Legion in Pennsylvania in 1976. Later, several more cases were reported that were in the nature of an epidemic. Some time later, the bacteria that cause this form of pneumonia were identified - Legionella pneumophila. Air conditioning and ventilation systems were considered the ideal environment for their existence and reproduction. In the Virgin Islands, tourists stayed at a hotel that used water from a rainwater harvesting system for drinking. Legionella premophilia bacteria were isolated in the course of an epidemiological investigation in the bodies of patients, in rainwater collection tanks, and in hot and cold water taps. After this incident, water in the drinking water supply system began to be chlorinated. Cases of people who drank rainwater with salmonellosis have also been registered. At the same time, as some researchers note, the true scale of the risks associated with the consumption of rainwater can hardly be imagined today, since not everyone who drank rainwater and suffered from intestinal infections sought medical help. In addition, in epidemiological investigations, rainwater is often not taken into account as a potential source of infections.

Rain water treatment and disinfection

Leading international and national public organizations warn against the ill-conceived use of rainwater. For example, WHO categorically recommends against the use of untreated rainwater for drinking, and, according to the American Water and Sanitation Association, in some cases, outbreaks of water-borne infectious diseases are explained by the use of rainwater for domestic and drinking purposes.

However The initial rainwater compares favorably with water extracted from surface sources in many respects.. It is only necessary to take into account that there are no natural resources left that are suitable for consumption without preliminary processing. Since the volumes of rainwater use are relatively small, various kinds of studies to which it is subjected are episodic, and there is no legislative framework regulating its consumption. The systematic use of rainwater for household and drinking needs is typical only for regions with a clear shortage of water supply. True, the shortage of high-quality drinking water is gradually becoming widespread. In addition, in today's realities, when man-made disasters and terrorist attacks occur with depressing frequency, there is a high probability of situations where precipitation may be the only available and relatively safe source of fresh water.

Obviously, this source of water supply should by no means be neglected: rainwater is available to almost everyone and almost everywhere. In such a situation, methods for its efficient and economical processing become of paramount importance. Conventionally, they can be divided into two groups:

1) processing in a collection tank;

2) withdrawal from the collection tank for processing according to a special scheme.

The simplest approach is boiling. Among the more complex and, of course, costly methods, chlorination, slow sand filtration and disinfection by sunlight have become widespread.

To obtain purified rainwater, the first step is to equip the collection tank with a grate for separating debris and a fine filter that protects against mechanical impurities. In addition, measures must be taken to prevent the first batch of water after the onset of rain from entering the collection tank, since it is with it that the accumulated dirt is washed off the roof. Installation of automatic diversion partitions to remove the first 1–2 mm of sediment is not a big technical problem. In this way, the level of contamination of the collected rainwater can be significantly reduced. When removing the first 5 mm of sediment, the water will meet the hygienic standards for turbidity and lead content. You can also turn to a very simple technique that does not require technical solutions: collect rainwater 5-10 minutes after the start of rain.

The use of rainwater in the hot water system has become widespread in Australia. It is believed that temperatures above 60 °C are sufficient for thermal inactivation of bacteria. In domestic conditions, as a result of boiling, it is possible to obtain rainwater that is safe in relation to bacterial contamination. However, if we are talking about large volumes of water, this method is costly.

Chlorination allows to inactivate most pathogenic microorganisms, with the exception of oocysts, Cryptosporidium parvum and mycobacteria. Rainwater should be chlorinated in a special container, since chlorine can interact with its structural materials. The recommended consumption of chlorine is 0.4–0.5 mg/l with a treatment time of at least 15 minutes. In Greece, the practice is chlorination in tank trucks, in which rainwater is delivered to the consumer. For long-term storage of chlorinated water, the possibility of re-contamination must be taken into account.

For slow sand filtration filters are used, the reactor of which consists of two parts. In the lower part there are large fractions of sand, in the upper part - finer ones. A biofilm is formed on the grains of sand in the upper part, which, along with physical filtration, provides biological water treatment. Therefore, such filters are called sand biofilters. The filter operates in continuous mode, it inactivates from 81 to 100% of bacteria and almost 100% of protozoa. However, this method does not kill viruses. Sometimes filters use sand, the particles of which are coated with oxides of manganese and iron. In this case, removal of 96% of zinc and inactivation of 99% of bacteria are achieved.

Technology is considered promising in terms of the optimal combination of costs and quality. solar rainwater disinfection. The essence of this method is quite simple: polyethylene terephthalate bottles filled with rainwater with a capacity of up to 2 liters or glass bottles are laid out on a horizontal surface illuminated by the sun. For effective disinfection, the intensity of solar radiation for at least 6 hours should be more than 500 W/m2. Under such conditions, inactivation of all coliform bacteria occurs while maintaining heterotrophic ones. The simplicity and low cost make the solar disinfection method ideal for regions with appropriate weather conditions. In an improved version of this rainwater treatment method, a rectangular solar collector with reflective side surfaces is used - the disinfection efficiency is significantly increased even with moderate solar radiation. An even greater effect can be achieved by lowering the pH of the water to 5. At home, lemon juice or vinegar is suitable for this purpose. Today, more than 5 million people use the solar disinfection method in more than 50 countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America.

There are more complex disinfection schemes that include inactivation with silver ions, ozonation, ultraviolet irradiation, filtration through granular activated carbon and membrane filtration. They are designed to produce high quality water in large volumes.

Spring water

Springs are outlets of groundwater and groundwater to the earth's surface under the influence of natural conditions. They often serve as sources of surface water bodies, play an important role in maintaining the water balance and maintaining the stability of the biocenosis. Aquifers feeding springs can be located at a depth of several tens of meters, which, under favorable conditions, should exclude their pollution. Spring water can be fresh or mineralized. In the second case, we are talking about a source of mineral waters. Passing through layers of sand and gravel, spring water undergoes natural purification before it reaches the surface of the earth, therefore it retains its natural qualities, structure and properties.

However, in the conditions of modern realities, springs can also be subject to significant pollution due to emissions from industrial enterprises, seepage of leachate from landfills for the storage of municipal solid waste, and other anthropogenic factors. Toxic substances in the contaminated soil in the area of ​​the outlet of the spring are washed out by atmospheric precipitation, and then enter the spring water. Therefore, its chemical and bacteriological indicators are unstable. During the year, the MPC of nitrates (sometimes 20 times), the level of permanganate oxidizability, the standards for turbidity, hardness, and bacterial contamination are often exceeded. The quality of spring water is especially deteriorating in the spring during the flood period. At this time, it may contain pesticides, phosphates, petroleum products, heavy metals, dioxins. Many springs feed on the upper layers of the water, where pollutants easily seep.

It is for this reason that, without an appropriate conclusion from the sanitary and epidemiological service, it is not recommended to use spring water from any sources, primarily from sources located in areas of agricultural work, near large settlements, industrial enterprises and highways. You should also pay attention to the sanitary condition of the area around the spring. It should not contain household garbage and unauthorized sewer drains. In many springs, one can expect the presence of Escherichia coli, pathogenic microbes that cause dysentery, salmonellosis, typhoid fever and even cholera. With a few exceptions, water from springs located within the city limits is not suitable for drinking.

Springs in Moscow According to the o8ode.ru website, out of several hundred springs available in Moscow, only three meet the requirements of GOST R 51232-98 "Drinking water": "Saint" in Krylatskoye (hydrocarbonate, magnesium-calcium water), "Sergius of Radonezh" in Teply Stan (water chloride-sulfate, magnesium-calcium), "Tsarevna-Swan" in Pokrovsky-Streshnev (water chloride-hydrocarbonate, sulfate, is considered curative). However, if construction work begins near these springs, the quality of the water in them will immediately change. As for the rest of the springs, the water from them should be boiled or filtered before drinking. At the same time, its natural properties will be lost to one degree or another.

findings

The volumes of rainwater consumption for household and drinking needs are completely incomparable with the volumes of water consumption from surface or underground sources. To date, only in some developed (for example, Australia) and developing (African countries) countries with an acute shortage of water resources, there is a practice of collecting rainwater and bringing it to the proper state. In the conditions of the abundance of water resources that we can observe in most regions of Russia, it is difficult to imagine that more advanced devices will replace the barrel for collecting rainwater standing on the corner of the house and not being used for its intended purpose. However, modern realities are such that it is impossible to exclude the possibility of the occurrence of circumstances - man-made disasters, terrorist attacks, when the role of rainwater increases to an emergency. If the centralized water supply system fails, measures will be taken to restore it and provide the population with bottled water.

In more severe cases, the victims should be provided with means for self-filtration and disinfection of water taken from available sources. In a number of countries, drills are held during which the population is explained what to do in situations where the water supply system does not function due to an emergency. However, if the circumstances do not allow the use of proven schemes, you will have to turn to improvised means to obtain safe water. In a situation where there is no water from surface sources, wells and springs within walking distance, the hour of rainwater comes. That is why it is important to know what rainwater is and how, using simple tricks, you can make it drinkable.

Note!

Unused for a long time, rainwater containers placed in household plots are an excellent environment for removing mosquitoes and breeding pathogens.

Spring water can be very clean and even healing. May contain chemical contaminants and pathogens. At the same time, one should not trust too much the location of the spring in a territory remote from settlements with a seemingly untouched natural environment. We live on a planet where water, bypassing the borders of countries, flows through communicating vessels, evaporates, is transported by atmospheric flows to any distance and falls in the form of precipitation. Everywhere. This means that pollutants, together with water and atmospheric flows, tend to be evenly distributed over the planet. Therefore, before using spring water, it is necessary to make sure that it is safe, and to do this, involve specialists from relevant organizations.. Moreover, quality control should be periodically repeated.

Kofman V. Ya., Senior Researcher, All-Russian Institute of Scientific and Technical Information of the Russian Academy of Sciences

Some time ago, scientists were still arguing about the benefits of rainwater for humans, their opinions were sometimes directly opposite.

So can you drink rain water? There can be only one answer - if you are dying of thirst, and there are no other drinks, drink! Many researchers managed to fill cones on practical tests of the properties of rainwater and agreed on a common opinion, which was also proven by folk wisdom - rain is good for washing clothes or watering plants, but by no means for drinking.

At one time, Avicenna, known to everyone from the Middle Ages, recommended rain water, which you are going to drink, bring to a boil, despite the fact that in those times far from us, no one knew and did not talk about ecology or air pollution and all nature. The ancient scientist argued that only water taken from natural sources can bring benefits, it is filled with natural power, and only it can quench thirst.

Why is it not recommended to use rainwater for drinking or cooking, even if it is boiled? Do modern scientists have answers? Rain is formed due to strong evaporation from the earth's surface, which in turn in our time is significantly polluted by effluents and harmful emissions from modern industrial enterprises and by man himself - his waste products. Therefore, all natural reservoirs of water have turned into settling tanks of various compounds and elements harmful to all living things. The air atmosphere, in which rain clouds form, is also polluted. Multi-ton volumes of toxic substances are emitted into the air by various industrial facilities, air and road transport. For this reason, water, evaporating, is not purified, but rather replenished with harmful chemical compounds of carbon disulfide, ammonia, and at the same time pesticides and pesticides. This leads to the appearance of rains known to everyone as "acid".

In addition, rainwater does not receive enough trace elements and salts useful for humans that remain on the ground during its evaporation. Spring water has many differences in composition compared to rain water. The human body has adapted - it compensatory increases the amount of chlorine, sodium and potassium ions in the blood, then removes them with urine through the kidneys. Not suitable for quenching thirst and has a bad taste, except for rain - desalinated and distilled water.

It should be noted the results of other tests and hypotheses about the question - can you drink rain water.

So, scientists from Australia working at Monash University and Water Quality Research Australia expressed an opinion about the absolute safety of rainwater for the human body, after analyzing some data on the consequences after using it for drinking.

The city of Adelaide was taken as a sample, where the most cases of using such water in containers were noted. 300 volunteers were selected, who were given filters that purify water, and only 50% were real, but the volunteers were not informed about this. The scientists found that the appearance of gastroenteritis in both cases proceeded at the same rate, other diseases did not occur.

The opinion of the experts was joined by experts who confirmed their position in the absence of specific harm to human health from the use of rainwater, but still the results of the tests can not be applied in some other cases. Doctors, in turn, say that in large cities it is possible to take a shower with rainwater without compromising health. During dry periods, rainwater can be used as a resource for the necessary moisture, environmentalists say, thus encouraging Australians to use reserves after past rains.

The comfort of country life largely depends on communications, including an autonomous water supply system. Usually, water intake comes from a well or a well located on the territory of a suburban area, but sometimes this water is not enough, and additional, backup sources have to be found. One of them is the collection of rainwater from the roof of a house, bathhouse or utility room.

Benefits of using rainwater

If a country house is a permanent place of residence of a person, then about 130-160 liters of clean water are needed every day to serve his needs. A large amount of liquid is spent on watering flower beds, beds, lawns. It becomes clear why rainwater will never be superfluous.

Recall summer souls in the country. In a large container raised above the ground, water accumulates. Under the sun, it heats up and becomes comfortable for use on a hot day. If you slightly modify the primitive water supply system, then you can get water supply not only for the soul, but for the entire country house.

Rainwater collection systems: 1 - water level sensor; 2 - float filter; 3 - water level control; 4 - centrifugal pump; 5 - container made of polyethylene; 6 - siphon; 7 - filter

Is water collected after rain good for washing or even taking a shower? Undoubtedly! In terms of its chemical composition, it is much softer and safer than city tap water. A sufficient amount of oxygen in the composition makes it ideal for watering plants. Only in one case can precipitation be harmful - if there is an industrial enterprise or a large city nearby.

Attention! Water collected after rain cannot be used for drinking or cooking. It is suitable only for technical needs - washing, cleaning, watering, washing the car. Or it needs to be passed through a serious cleaning system.

One of the advantages of rain collection is that it requires almost no investment: you only need to invest once in installing a tank and laying pipes. The only negative is the dependence on the amount of precipitation. In a dry summer, you do not have to rely on an additional source.

When installing a storage tank, do not forget about insurance against excess water. In the upper part of the tank, a branch is made leading to the sewer, through which the excess flows

Choosing the right roof for the system

Not every building or house is suitable for collecting water, as roof configuration and roofing material affect the quality of the liquid. Flat roofs are recommended to be immediately excluded for two reasons:

• rainwater runoff is devoid of natural drainage;

water stagnates on the surface of the roof in the form of puddles, which are a breeding ground for bacteria.

Any sloping roof can be equipped with a water collection system using a structure assembled from gutters, downpipes, connectors and fasteners

Thus, the rainwater collection system is installed on buildings with a shed or gable roof with a certain slope, the best option is from 10 ° or more. On a steep roof, water flows much faster, therefore, it does not have time to get dirty.

Attention! Some roofing materials contain substances that are harmful to human health - copper, lead, asbestos. Do not collect water from roofs covered with asbestos slates or copper tiles. Gutters and drains containing copper or lead are also excluded.

Modern modular plastic gutter structures are absolutely safe, moreover, they not only serve to collect water, but are also a decorative element of the building.

Clay tiles, galvanized metal and modified plastic, from which modern gutter structures are made, will keep rainwater clean. Relatively safe and bituminous coatings.

Installing a water collection system

In order for water from the roof to get into the pipes, and from them to the points of analysis in the house and outside it, it is necessary to think over a system that provides for initial accumulation and subsequent wiring. The main components of the system are storage and water supply.

Storage tank installation

A water collection tank is needed to maintain the correct level of liquid in the system. As a rainwater storage tank, you can use any tank made of safe material: concrete, polyethylene, galvanized steel. The main property of the material for the production of the drive is stability, it should not dissolve in water and change its chemical composition.

Installing a storage tank on the ground near the house has two advantages: you do not need to dig a special pit and you can use water for irrigation without using a pump

A rainwater tank installed in the ground is the best option from an aesthetic point of view. In addition, the water in the cold earth will never "bloom"

There are several ways to mount the storage tank:

• install directly under downpipes on the surface of the earth;
• bury in the ground near the house;
• place in the basement or utility room.

The preferred option is to place the tank in the ground, as the coolness prevents the development of microorganisms. But two points must be taken into account: the level of soil freezing and the level of groundwater location. If all conditions are satisfactory, it is necessary to choose a container. It is better to stop at a large volume (2-3 thousand liters), so that there is always a supply.

The drive is installed according to the following algorithm:

• We dig out the pit. Its dimensions should be slightly larger than the dimensions of the drive.
• At the bottom of the pit we arrange a sand cushion 20 cm thick.
• Lower the water tank.
• We fill the voids on all sides of the container with sand.
• Install pipes and pump.
• We close the neck of the tank with a lid.

When the cold comes, you should take care of the safety of the system until the next season. The pump should be removed, cleaned and stored in a warm room, and the container lid should be tightly sealed and covered with a thick layer of sand on top, thereby protecting it from freezing.

Instead of one large reservoir, several containers can be placed in the ground, connected by pipes. Having thought over the water filtration system, it is possible to arrange additional purification

Water supply device

In order for water to get from the drain into the tank, and from it into the house, it is necessary to lay a pipeline. Standard PVC products for outdoor installation are excellent. From the roof, water enters the reservoir naturally, since it is lower, but the supply to the house is carried out forcibly, that is, with the help of a pump. If a centrifugal pump is used, then its installation location should be near the storage tank - as low as possible.

A small submersible pump will also work.

Attention! Installing the pump on the surface of the water ensures its purity, as sediment accumulates at the bottom of the tank over time.

Proper maintenance of equipment

In order to use rainwater in the home, it must be at least clean, so infrequent but mandatory supervision of the system is required. For example, it is necessary to protect against debris and dust that accumulate on the roof, rainwater that enters the storage tank. The first rain after a long drought serves as a kind of "wash" for the roof and gutters. Dirt, along with the first streams of water, rushes from the roof into the gutters and pipes, so the water intake leading to the tank just needs to be disconnected for a while. After about an hour, clean water will flow - the pipe can be returned to its place.

Many modern gutter structures are initially equipped with devices for retaining large debris: fine-mesh nets that are located along the gutters and at the junctions with pipes

Also, to purify water from large debris and leaves, coarse filters in the form of gratings and mesh baskets are installed throughout the system. Filters need to be cleaned as they become clogged.

By installing a rainwater collection system in a country house, you will receive an additional source of water, and this is another step towards a comfortable life.

Here is a VIDEO to clarify the benefits and harms of rainwater.

Many people have a very wrong idea about ecology and they think that if they are far from cities and industrial centers, then they are protected from pollution.

It is a myth!
In fact, atmospheric pollution extends hundreds of thousands of kilometers!

Check out the material for a better understanding:

Main sources and types of air pollution

The most important characteristic of the air basin is its quality, since the normal life of people requires not only the presence of air, but also its certain purity. The health of people, the state of flora and fauna, the strength and durability of any structures of buildings and structures depend on air quality. In the process of anthropogenic activity, the atmosphere is subjected to the removal of gas elements, pollution with gaseous impurities and harmful substances, heating and self-purification. The introduction into the air of any new substances that are not characteristic of it is called pollution.

The problem of atmospheric pollution became especially acute in the second half of the 20th century; during the period of the scientific and technological revolution, characterized by extremely high growth rates of industrial production, the generation and consumption of electricity, the production and use of a large number of vehicles. As a result, there is a change in the gas composition of the atmosphere: an increase in the concentration of some of its components (carbon dioxide - by 0.4%, methane - by 1%, nitrous oxide - by 0.2%, etc.) and the emergence of new pollutants.

Air pollution can be local, regional and global. The scale of pollution is related to the power of the emission and the nature of the air currents. Local pollution is caused by one or more sources of emissions, the zone of influence of which is determined mainly by the variable speed and direction of the wind. Regional pollution refers to atmospheric air pollution over a territory of hundreds of kilometers, which is affected by emissions from large industrial complexes. Global pollution extends thousands of kilometers from the source of pollution and often converges within the entire globe, this applies primarily to the northern hemisphere of the planet.

The main sources of air pollution are natural, industrial and domestic processes. Natural, or natural, pollution occurs due to natural factors: dust storms, volcanic eruptions, soil blowing, forest fires, various products of plant, animal or microbiological origin.

Industrial pollution is formed as a result of the activities of industrial, agricultural, construction enterprises and during the operation of various types of transport. On the territory of Belarus, the main emissions of pollutants into the atmospheric air are associated with the operation of road transport (three quarters of all emissions), industrial enterprises and the construction complex. For the period 1990 - 1998. there was a decrease in emissions from stationary sources by 2.8 times (strengthening control over emissions, an increase in the share of natural gas in the country's fuel and energy balance, a decline in production in a number of industries). The dynamics of emissions of harmful substances into the atmospheric air is shown in Table 5.1.

Industrial sources of pollution are analyzed by industry, as well as by ingredients (composition of pollutants). On a global scale, the largest polluters are thermal power engineering, ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy, chemistry and petrochemistry, and the building materials industry.

Thermal power plants, combined heat and power plants and heating boilers consume more than one third of the world's produced fuel and occupy a leading position among other industries in terms of air pollution with sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides and dust. As a result of technogenic human activity, the concentration of carbon monoxide and dioxide in the atmosphere is increasing. In the form of fuel combustion products, 7⋅1010 tons of CO2 are annually introduced into the atmosphere of the planet. The five countries that pollute the atmosphere with dangerous carbon mixtures to the greatest extent, which account for more than half of all emissions in the world, are: the USA - 23%, China - 13.9%, Russia - 7.2%, Japan - 5%, Germany - 3.8%. If the consumption of mineral fuels increases, this may lead to undesirable consequences in the Earth's climate, in particular, an increase in temperature by 1.5-2°C.

Other industrial enterprises emit their own specific impurities into the air. Thus, the formation in the atmosphere of a huge amount of dust, carbon monoxide, nitrogen and sulfur oxides, phenol, formaldehyde and many other harmful substances is associated with ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy. The rapid development of the chemical and petrochemical industry leads to the formation of a large amount of persistent toxic acids in the atmosphere and on the Earth's surface. Mechanical engineering is characterized by emissions of carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, phenol, formaldehyde, alkalis and other harmful substances, mainly associated with foundry, electroplating and paint production. In the building materials industry, the most powerful emissions of harmful dust into the surrounding area are distinguished by cement production enterprises.

Gaseous emissions from industrial enterprises form aerodisperse systems in the atmospheric air and, as a result of turbulent motion and other processes, are kept in the air for a long time. The range of propagation of pollutants depends on the time of existence of a particular pollutant in the air and meteorological conditions, the speed and direction of flows in the atmosphere, precipitation and other processes. The residence time in the atmosphere of carbon dioxide is from one to five years, sulfur dioxide - up to several days, solid particles - from several seconds to several months and even years, depending on their size and the height of the source. As a result of the release of a huge amount of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides into the atmosphere, the acidity of precipitation: rain, snow, fog, has sharply increased. Acid precipitation reduces crops, destroys vegetation, destroys life in fresh water. Winds that know no boundaries carry acid rain over great distances. According to some reports, 20% of acid rain in Europe is caused by industrial emissions from North America.

Among the industries of Belarus at the end of the 20th century, the energy industry stands out, it accounts for 30-36% of the total industrial emissions, the fuel industry (mainly oil refining) - 16, the chemical and petrochemical industry - 6, mechanical engineering - 10, the construction industry materials - about 9%. The emissions are dominated by sulfur dioxide (43%), carbon oxides (20%), nitrogen oxides (11%), solid emissions (10%).

An assessment of the intensity of emissions (the ratio of the mass of emissions to the value of GDP), carried out in the early 90s, showed that, compared with most industrialized countries, Belarusian enterprises emitted 1.5 - 2.0 times more pollutants into the atmosphere (especially SO2), but significantly less than other Central and Eastern European countries. These environmental results, which are higher than those of its neighbors, are due to the following factors: the importance of natural gas in the country's fuel and energy balance; the almost complete absence of coal-fired power plants; relatively low share of coal in residential fuel consumption.

The pollution of the Earth's air basin is also affected by human agricultural activities. Agrochemicals introduced into the soil are distributed into the environment due to weathering and soil moisture. Pollutants are most often pesticides used to protect crops and forests from pests and diseases. The influence of animal husbandry is especially growing in connection with the construction of large livestock complexes. As a result, ammonia, hydrogen sulfide and other gases with a pungent odor enter the atmosphere and spread over considerable distances.

Various modes of transport are becoming more and more powerful pollutants of the air basin. The rapid growth of road transport in many countries of the world provided him with the first place in environmental pollution. Motor transport is a mobile source of pollution, but its greatest negative impact is in cities. Automobile exhaust gases are a mixture of approximately 200 substances. The main harmful impurities are: oxides of carbon, nitrogen, hydrocarbons, aldehydes, sulfur dioxide. Due to incomplete combustion of fuel in the engine, part of the hydrocarbons turns into soot containing tarry substances. A very dangerous component of car exhaust gases are compounds formed during combustion in the engine of tetraethyl lead, which is added to gasoline. Emissions of carbon monoxide (CO), as well as other pollutants, in Belarus, Russia, and other CIS countries are largely due to the low environmental parameters of cars.

Air pollution occurs by rail transport when using diesel locomotives, carrying out loading and unloading operations. Aviation poses a serious danger, since the operation of jet engines is associated with the expenditure of a huge amount of oxygen. The launch of super-powerful rockets violates the integrity of the ozone layer of the atmosphere and opens access to the Earth to the destructive ultraviolet radiation of the Sun. The near-Earth layers of the atmosphere are clogged with already non-functioning spacecraft.

Many household processes also lead to air pollution, primarily the accumulation, burning and processing of household waste. Sewer systems, kitchens, garbage chutes, landfills are sources of air pollution in cities and other populated areas. In a large city, air pollution by its population is noticeably manifested. Each person daily exhales about 10 m3 of air saturated with water vapor and containing about 4% carbon dioxide, and also releases 600 - 900 g of sweat. Therefore, in a city with a population of five million, people daily release into the atmosphere about 2 million m3 of carbon dioxide, 600 m3 of water vapor and the secretion of sweat glands.

One of the results of human activities in the twentieth century was the contamination of the atmosphere and other components of nature with radioactive elements. Radioactive contamination of the environment is an increase in the natural radiation background as a result of human use of natural and artificial radioactive substances.

The sources of radioactive contamination of the environment were, first of all, experimental explosions during the testing of atomic and hydrogen bombs, as well as various industries associated with the manufacture of nuclear weapons, as well as nuclear reactors and nuclear power plants, waste from nuclear enterprises and installations. Various kinds of damage and accidents of nuclear reactors in England, France, Bulgaria, Germany, the USA and in a number of other countries of the world led to emissions into the environment. The largest catastrophe was the explosion of a nuclear reactor at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in 1986. Radioactive contamination of the air with volatile elements such as cesium-137, strontium-90, and plutonium spread throughout Europe. The largest spot of very strong pollution (more than 40 Ci per 1 km2) is in Belarus - 2.6 km2, followed by Ukraine - 0.56 km2 and Russia - 0.46 km2. In other European countries, pollution does not exceed 2 - 5 Ci per 1 km2, such spots have been found in Finland, Austria, Sweden and France. According to individual scientists, at the turn of the new millennium, the world's population receives additional exposure, twice as much as the dose of natural background radiation.