Rainwater Filtration
Reviews and Recommendations for Best Filter Systems

by Anonymous

USA

QUESTION:

I am installing a rainwater harvesting system and wonder what the best treatment system will be for drinking water.  

I thought R.O. would be the best option, but you have said that is not true.  What is the best option here?

ANSWER:

The best rainwater filtration depends on the type of rainwater harvesting system you are installing.

Does it collect and store rainwater outside in a barrel/container or is it also hooked up to your water system?

If the rainwater harvesting system collects the water in a barrel or other container, then I would recommend filtering the rainwater through a high-quality water filter dispenser, such as those recommended on this page:

Water Filter Dispenser – Reviews and Recommendations

If it connects to your drinking faucet via your water system, then I would recommend a high-quality, multi-stage under sink or counter top water system. 

You can see my reviews for these water filter systems on the following pages:

Under Sink Water Filters – Reviews and Recommendations

Countertop Tap Water Filter – Reviews and Recommendations

Reverse Osmosis for Rainwater Filtration

As you may have read on my site, one of the main reasons I do not recommend drinking reverse osmosis water for long-term use is because the water that is purified by this method is demineralized and acidic.

It is fine to drink purified drinking water on occasion for body cleansing or short-term use. However, I do not recommend it for daily, ongoing use.

Since rainwater contains little or no minerals, as compared to ground-water, some might argue that using a reverse osmosis system as opposed to a multi-stage carbon filter (which I normally recommend for tap water) is not going to make a huge difference.

However, I also believe that a multi-stage carbon filter is more effective at removing waterborne contaminants than reverse osmosis.  

You can read more here (if you haven’t already seen this page): Reverse Osmosis Disadvantages.  

Thus, whether you use a multi-stage carbon filter or reverse osmosis for filtration, I would recommend you add liquid ionic minerals, such as Trace Minerals to your filtered rain water and/or an unrefined natural sea salt, such as Celtic sea salt, to your water or food.

P.S.  If you can give me more specific information about your rainwater harvesting system and how you will collect/use the water, I will try to offer a specific filter recommendation.

Further reading . . .

Drinking Rain Water – Health Advantages and Disadvantages

Drinking Rainwater – An Effective Way to Conserve Water

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