As is, into an open container, is rainwater safe to drink?

[Anonymous]

Unfiltered, unpurified, exactly as is, is the rain that falls in the District, Fairfax County and Montgomery County, in an open container and not cached from the roof, safe to drink?

If not, what would be necessary to make it safe?

If you have relevant expertise, please say so. If you are citing a source, please name it. Thank you.

[Anonymous]

Even in remote areas, it's not safe to drink.

This article contains cited studies, but is easier to read than a scientific article.

https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/a40859859/rainwater-not-safe-to-drink/

[Anonymous]

No it’s not safe. The rain can contain chemicals. And what are you catching it in? Open water quickly gets other contaminants too like bacteria and insect eggs.

[Anonymous]

Google above ground cistern. This will give you guidance on how to make rainwater potable.

[Anonymous]

You can use a lifestraw

[Anonymous]

Not safe.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn’t drink it every day. Once in a while, no worse than the existing and breathing we do on our polluted planet every day.

[Anonymous]

If you drink it immediately, I'd say yes. This area isn't hugely polluted by factory/industrial fumes
If it's stored out of the light with occasional chlorine pellets for longer term storage, yes
I grew up drinking rainwater from a cistern, and I'd consider it many degrees better than well water

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you drink it immediately, I'd say yes. This area isn't hugely polluted by factory/industrial fumes
If it's stored out of the light with occasional chlorine pellets for longer term storage, yes
I grew up drinking rainwater from a cistern, and I'd consider it many degrees better than well water

+1 We (midwest) had both well water and rain water. I much prefer rain water.

At my suburban VA home, I'd have no problem drinking rainwater if it were collected in a clean cup. However, if it wasn't collected for immediate consumption, I'd want to know more about the cachement system.

[Anonymous]

Plus,in all the "How to Survive" shows, they tell folk to collect rainwater or nelt snow

[Anonymous]

Melt

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Plus,in all the "How to Survive" shows, they tell folk to collect rainwater or nelt snow

7:42 here. Depends on where you are. I'd never drink rain water collected in most cities in China and India. Too much air pollution.

[Anonymous]

No, definitely not. If your kid or pet drank a little, I would not panic, but no it is not safe as regular drinking water.