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Rain Water as an Alternative Source of Drinking Water

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Rain Water as an Alternative Source of Drinking Water

Typically, most individuals heavily rely on drinking water they buy from water vendors,

retail stores, and supermarkets. Here, the water sold in these establishments has undergone

multiple filtering and purification such that it is safe for drinking. Moreover, these water vendors

obtain their water from existing natural resources; some have drilled underground to the water

table, while others practice desalination. However, these water vendors should consider other

alternatives to drinking water. In addition, individuals can also engage in this practice, harvesting

rainwater.

Rainwater is a naturally occurring resource that can be found worldwide. When

compared to other water sources like rivers, lakes, and reservoirs, rainwater is typically thought

to be more dependable. The rationale behind this is that rainwater is more plentiful and purer

than water from other sources. This makes it an ideal choice for drinking water. The benefits of

rain water as a source of drinking water are well documented. Rain water is naturally free from

pollutants and has a much lower risk of contamination.

Fortunately, one can easily collect rainwater as it pours from their roof and store it

appropriately in clean tanks. Once collected, one can use filtration and purification approaches to

ensure the rainwater is free of impurities. Some of the benefits derived from using rainwater as

an alternative source of drinking water are that it reduces the strain on natural resources and

satisfies water deficiency. Despite these pros, there are some challenges, for instance, poor

quality of water collected and the high cost associated with filtering and purifying rainwater.

This paper will examine water as an alternative source of drinking water while elaborating its

pros and cons.

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Before one can utilize rainwater as an alternative source of drinking water, one needs to

undertake collection and storage practices in rainwater harvesting. Most structures such as

houses have roofs designed to effectively drain rainwater to preclude the water seeping into the

house. As such, one can have structures to collect the water and channel it to one collection

point, preferably a water tank (Jamali et al., 2020). Later, one can use the water for various

purposes, including drinking. However, the water should be checked if it is fit for drinking and

preferably subjected to further treatment to make it appropriate for drinking.

Rainwater is a good source of alternative source of drinking water primarily due to being

part of the water cycle which reduces strain on natural resources. Ideally, rain formation is a

product of condensation of evaporated moisture from the ground (Allan et al., 2020). Here, when

the sun heats the ground, water evaporates. When it reaches the atmosphere, due to cold

temperatures, it condenses forming rain. Other sources such as desalination and groundwater

pumping utilize existing natural sources of water. Constantly relying on these natural sources

will ultimately culminate in the depletion of natural water resources thus disrupting the balance

of the ecosystem.

An overreliance on water sources such as desalination and groundwater can lead to

unreliability as the levels may decline in some periods. During this period, some locations will

not have access to water for some days as rationing will occur (Szabó et al., 2023). Fortunately,

rainwater will remedy this solution as it provides a solution to this periodic conundrum. When it

rains, individuals can collect and store water which they will use during this period.

In addition, one will have an alternative cheaper source of water. It is common

knowledge that one of the most significant sources of renewable energy is rainwater. Many

countries are now using this type of water as a dependable source of drinking water as the globe
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continues to feel the effects of climate change. The use of rainwater is becoming more and more

crucial in the global effort to lessen the demand for clean drinking water.

Rainwater is safe to drink and is much better for human health. In addition, rain water is

free from chlorine and other added chemicals that are commonly found in other sources of

drinking water. This makes it much easier to purify and filter, making it an ideal choice for those

who are concerned about their water quality. Another great benefit of rain water is its cost

effectiveness. Rain water is extremely affordable and often free. For those trying to cut costs on

their drinking water, this makes it an excellent option. Rainwater can also be gathered and kept

for later use in a variety of containers. This implies that it doesn't need a constant supply of water

and can be used whenever needed.

Most water vendors and government initiatives come with a cost, especially for water

vendors. Some drinking water labels mention that their water has healthy minerals ideal for one’s

health such as calcium, thus the increased price. Interestingly, rainwater also has minerals

essential for the human body they include magnesium, calcium, and zinc. As such, rainwater is

an ideal source of drinking water.

Rainwater harvesting should be embraced in urban centers and utilized in drinking as

reduces stormwater runoff in some regions. Since most structures are designed to channel water

away from structures and into the ground, when heavy rains occur, some regions are prone to

flooding (Torres et al., 2020). In addition to the rainwater, the accumulated water originating

from rooftops increases water presence in an urban area thus leading to floods. Fortunately,

harvesting the rainwater and storing it in reservoirs. Here, the reservoirs will reduce the amount

of water during the rainy season thus impeding floods. At the same time, people will have an

alternative source of drinking water.

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Similarly, harvesting rainwater and utilizing it for drinking prepares an individual for an

emergency in the event that typical drinking water sources fail. Typical water sources such as

municipal and water vendors can fail at times, and this can cause serious shortages and even

chaos as people struggle to find water (Alwan et al., 2020). For instance, during the COVID-19

period, the government restricted movements such that when water is depleted, people will not

get clean water for drinking. However, when one collects water and stores it for their use, when

such events occur, they will have their water which they can use for drinking and other uses.

Rainwater is favorable for drinking water since it has fewer impurities compared to

underground water. This is primarily due to less exposure to pollutants which ground water

invariably mixes with. Rainwater is considered pure since it is a product of condensation, when it

rains, the water does not come into contact with any impurities (Anabtawi et al., 2022). In

addition, rainwater does not incorporate chemicals used in water treatment such as chlorine; this

further enhances rainwater purity. Therefore, rain water is an ideal alternative to drinking water

due to fewer impurities which can be costly to remove.

Despite the benefits derived from using rainwater as an alternative source of drinking

water, there are some challenges, for instance, it can contain impurities during collection, and

changes in rainfall patterns. For instance, metal roofs with coatings contain chemicals that

rainwater can wash off. These chemicals will introduce impurities to the water making it not

ideal for drinking.

Furthermore, rainwater needs appropriate treatment solutions to make it drinkable. Some

approaches to make the water pure include filtration. Chlorination and ozonation. Here, filtration

involves separating large particles present in the water using sediment filters and mesh filters.

Chlorination involves adding chlorine to water purposely to kill germs, however, the amounts are
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varied such that it effectively destroys disease-causing organisms. Moreover, ozonation mentions

using oxidizers to disinfect water. The mechanism behind this approach is that Ozone is passed

through the water where it will effectively eradicate the germs, thus making the water safe for

consumption (Ghernaout et al., 2020). These approaches are expensive to construct and develop;

this makes it expensive to use rainwater as an alternative source of drinking water.

In addition, rainfall patterns have constantly changed over time; this will impede rainfall

harvesting approaches. Furthermore, climate changes have caused more changes in the patterns

making it hard to distinctively know when the rain will fall. In some countries in Europe, the

rains predominantly fall from December to February. When this time nears, the locals usually

prepare themselves to collect water for their consumption. Irregular rain patterns make it harder

to know when to prepare as rain can fall and the tanks and storage facilities are not cleaned and

prepared.

Similarly, the quality of rainwater is varied and inconsistent. The inconsistency in water

quality occurs majorly from elements such as seasonal changes and roofing materials affecting

the quality of rainwater making it not ideal for consumption at times (Norman et al., 2019).

Fortunately, the changes in weather conditions such as constant dry seasons followed by rainy

season can make the water combine with substances such as pollen and dust. These materials

contribute to the reduction of water quality as they introduce pollutants into the water.

In light of the above challenges, it is also important to note that rainwater can be used for

other activities apart from drinking; this will make available more clean water for consumption.

One can use the rainwater for other activities such as doing their laundry, cleaning the house, and

washing their cars. When rainwater is used to relieve the strain of using water from the
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municipalities, there are multiple advantages to an individual. For instance, one`s water bill will

drastically decline and water conservation is maintained.

Additionally, for the individuals who want to lessen their environmental effect, rainwater

is an excellent option. The collection and treatment of rainwater don't require a lot of energy. It is

therefore far more environmentally friendly than other drinking water sources. To sum up,

efforts worldwide to lessen the demand for clean drinking water are increasingly relying on

rainwater. Compared to other sources of drinking water, the risk of contamination is significantly

lower because it occurs naturally. It is a great option for people who want to cut costs and lessen

their environmental effect because it is also economical and environmentally friendly.

All in all, rainwater is an essential alternative to drinking water as it has an array of

benefits. One such trait is that it reduces the dependency on sources of water from the municipal

and county providers. The benefit of reduced reliance is that one will not incur more charges

resulting from the water bill. Additionally, it enhances one's preparedness for instances where a

catastrophe occurs and cripples water distribution systems. Nonetheless, there are some

challenges associated with collecting rainwater such as inconsistent rainwater quality, and

constant dynamic weather changes.

Also, the roofing materials have chemicals that can combine with water making it unfit

for human consumption. Here, one can engage in endeavors aimed at cleaning the water, they

include chlorination, ozonation, and filtering. The challenge with these elements is that they are

expensive to implement. Essentially it is prudent to encourage individuals to embrace water

harvesting methods. The people stand to gain a lot from preserving water and ensuring water

resources are not strained and depleted.

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References

Allan, R. P. (2020). Advances in understanding large‐scale responses of the water cycle to

climate change. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 49-75. Retrieved from

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/gcb.14875

Alwan, I. A. (2020). Potential water harvesting site identification using spatial multi-criteria

evaluation in Maysan Province, Iraq. ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information.

Retrieved from https://www.mdpi.com/2220-9964/9/4/235/pdf

Anabtawi, F. N.-K.-T. (2022). Heavy metals in harvested rainwater used for domestic purposes

in rural areas: Yatta Area, Palestine as a case study. International Journal of

Environmental Research and Public Health. Retrieved from

https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/5/2683

Ghernaout, D. S. (2020). Controlling disinfection by-products formation in rainwater:

Technologies and trends. Open Access Library Journal. Retrieved from

https://www.scirp.org/html/99025_99025.htm

Jamali, B. P. (2020). Rainwater harvesting for urban flood management–An integrated modeling

framework. Water research. Retrieved from https://www.mdpi.com/2073-

4441/12/9/2347/pdf

Norman, M. H. (2019). Review of remote sensing and geospatial technologies in estimating

rooftop rainwater harvesting (RRWH) quality. International soil and water conservation

research, 266-274.
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Szabó, Z. D.-S. (2023). Rooftop rainwater harvesting by a shallow well–Impacts and potential

from a field experiment in the Danube-Tisza Interfluve, Hungary. Groundwater for

Sustainable Development. Retrieved from

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352801X22001618

Torres, M. N. (2020). A participatory approach based on stochastic optimization for the spatial

allocation of Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems for rainwater harvesting.

Environmental Modelling & Software. Retrieved from

https://www.academia.edu/download/82689029/2a3bc5_0dc0f077bb5d4e9c9de386c8882

3cfce.pdf