treating and storing rainwater

[harleymc]

I'm not exactly sure what you you are hoping to treat in the rain water.
There are ways of reducing the collection of nasties that gather on collection surfaces. The primary line of defence against particulates, bird borne pathogens etc is a first flush diverter, with proper design these can allow collection of rainwater of drinking quality in even heavily polluted areas so I'm sure orchids are going to not have any issues.

Here's one link to collecting rainwater including details of a first flush diverter, but a google search brought up heaps.
http://www.twdb.state.tx.us/publicat...3rdedition.pdf

[lightseeker01]

Since the accidents in Japan, and the discovery of radiation in cow's milk in Vermont, are any of you now hesitant to use rain water to water your orchids?

[Gin]

I catch mine in a stock tank it is moved to covered trash cans with lids no algae , the sun can not get to it .
I use mosquito dunks in the stock tank.
I use a lot of water it does not hang around for a long time . No concerns regarding radiation in it ..

[Hedge]

Radiation will at least kill bacteria......?

I have rainwater collected from down pipes and usually have no problems but an African violet plug plant that I have had for three months has just developed crown rot. However its travelling companion is fine and healthy so probably not the water that caused the problem.

[Dante1709]

I usually just add a bit of hydrogen peroxide into my rain barrels to kill off mosquito larvae and algae..I also used to strain and nuke the water in the microwave, but that become a bit too much work.

I usually bottle the water in a gallon jug before leaves,insects,minerals..etc can get to it.Never had a problem, except for the time my stepmom drank it (and she didn't taste a difference or get sick, so I suppose I have good rainwater).

[syspila]

Hi all, I don't treat the water, I just collect it in 5 gal buckets and transfer it to clean plastic milk jugs...in the light it gets a bit green, but I use it so fast!

[Jayfar]

Originally Posted by harleymc

http://www.twdb.state.tx.us/publicat...3rdedition.pdf

That link yields a "page not found," but I used that site's search function to find a working link:

http://www.twdb.texas.gov/innovative...3rdedition.pdf

[syspila]

Hi all, I don't treat the water, I just collect it in 5 gal buckets and transfer it to clean plastic milk jugs...in the light it gets a bit green, but I use it so fast!

[euplusia]

I store rainwater in big underground cistern, which is 3-5 meters below the ground. This keeps the water at a constant temperature of about 10°C, and in complete darkness.
The water runs in from the roof and brings some diluted dirt from air pollution in a city and industrial area, and mainly from heating oil in wintertime.
But thanks to huge efforts air pollution has drastically decreased within the last decades. And there is enough rain to flush the cistern repeatedly.
Before use I store the water in a covered rainwater barrel to warm up. As long as kept dark, growth of germs is slow.
For uncovered water I used a small aquarium aerator. But now it is not needed anymore.
A friend uses a small watergate with ultraviolet light in order to kill biological germs.
Other people use hydrogen peroxide.
After all I can say that small amounts of dirt and sulphuric acid are not harmful. Think of air pollution by volcanic activities.
Bacterial and fungal germs are much more a problem.
Nurseries use to water in the morning (only at hot summer days in the evening) and then provide a thorough ventilation. This is the first step to keep infection rates low.

[Cactuseed]

I recently installed a rain barrel and I second the mosquito dunk. The bacteria put in the water also cuts down on fungus gnat population.
A diverter is useful to dispose of the early 'dirty' roof runoff and collect the cleaner water after the roof has washed off. My 65 gallon will fill up on 3/16" of rain, so if the water is old or stagnant, it can be completely drained before a relatively light rain.