[jaxmike]

Today I am using ~750 gallons of “low tech” rain collection capacity. Set up to leverage gravity by putting Intermediate Bulk Containers (IBC) and 55 gallon barrels on concrete blocks for easy access to spigots and to create a little head pressure. All containers are blacked out to inhibit algae. “Leaf Eaters” sit atop the IBCs to filter out large debris and threaded adapters convert the built-in plastic valves to brass which are threaded for garden hose. Should I need it, I have separate filters and use other techniques to make captured rainwater potable.

[Constitutionalhomestead]

Sounds like u have a pretty good system. Check and make sure that u can’t shine a flashlight thru whatever ur using to black out your tanks. I thought I had mine good and come to find out there was a tiny bit of light coming through and that tiny bit turned my tanks green, had to tear down , clean and sanitize , reassemble and reline the room the ibc totes are in with a thicker material. Lesson learned the hard way…lol

[jaxmike]

Like you, I’ve also learned from this mistake. Protecting against sunlight is a good thing to emphasize.

[Hippocrates_Garden]

Why do you feel you need a uv system? Do you know exactly what it does and can verify that the problem it addresses (supposedly) you currently have? Millions of people in Australia live completely off of rainwater catchment, without half the gadgets and contraptions some feel necessary in parts of the US, even within the U.S. there are places where it’s pretty much doing what you want, somewhere a level of rain harvesting is required in new construction (at least for new roads in parts of Arizona) or it’s completely illegal.

Biology doesn’t change at the state or national borders, so, unless you know there is a problem that needs mitigation, why add costly gadgets? Actually today, the most likely danger in rainwater, is ubiquitous microdosing of chemicals such as Glyphosphate, which no filter or uv will address. (at least at a homeowner scale)

[jaxmike]

Maybe I missed a thread? What role does Ultra Violet (UV) play in rainwater collection? Is UV a method to prevent freezing?

Agree with keeping systems simple; less complexity = less points of failure.

Folks should consider researching their region to determine their specific water risks so they can take the precautions they need to achieve peace of mind.

Microdoses of Glyphosate (and other chemicals) are worthy concerns for study; especially for long-term effects on humans, animals, plants, and soil.

However, if city or well water isn’t available and drinking rainwater will prevent dehydration, there are multiple readily-available methods to ensure one can safely drink rainwater.

Dehydration is a bad way to go. Within days, dehydration can cause seizures, low blood volume (hypovolemic) shock, and kidney failure. Even for someone at peak health, severe dehydration can cause coma and death. Deprivation of water will kill most humans in less than 10 days.

Bottom line, better to understand and monitor ACTUAL conditions to inform and prepare effective mitigations.

[JeffL]

UV is marketed at killing ~isms, but I thought those were only a concern in standing/surface water. Agree, a test is recommended. Anyone know of any good ones?

[MaBear]

We had one for our well water due to contamination.

[Constitutionalhomestead]

I’m in zone 7a as well. What are your plans to keep your chicken waterers from freezing this winter? I haven’t come up with a good viable solution yet. My waterers froze last yr. I ended up watering out of rubber feed pans to deal with the ice better.

[HoneysGarden]

I don’t know if this is viable – but I have a heated pet water bowl. I think it operates on a thermostat, the bottom heat comes on if temp drops below 40 or something . . . it would need to be filled and perhaps cleaned, and probably wouldn’t work for little chicks who might fall in and drown, but it will keep the water from freezing and I think would work for adult birds . We have outdoor cats, and maintain water for them throughout the winter with this.

[Raymond]

An idea for preventing chickens water from freezing is using an aquarium heater in the water bowl.

[LoneWolf]

if they had black container of sorts, south facing, with nipple waterers, would they not be okay a coupla hours, if they frosted up a bit? Mirrors or mylar to enhance the passive solar thermal mass effect? In a grid down, it could be nice. But what do I know. Carry on………