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swattley
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# Posted: 29 Feb 2012 09:49pm
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my name is steve and i am new to the this and just got the keys to my cabin in ny state last week, i am totally off grid and trying to design water system for showers, washing hands etc. is it safe to use water collected off the roof for showers? so far the shingle roof is very old and i will replace this summer but not sure if i can go with a metal or shingle roof, i was told by some water site ion the net it is not healthy to shower from roof collected water, yet i see such systems on the net, this will only be a weekend type cabin. i have many ideas for a water system once i know what is safe use either bring the water with us or collect from roof and pump with a DC pump to a holding tank above cabin ceiling
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Rob_O
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# Posted: 29 Feb 2012 09:58pm
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Welcome Steve.
Rainwater is perfectly safe, type "bleach" into the search box and you will find a lot of threads related to rainwater collection and storage.
Metal roofs are better for rainwater collection
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rayyy
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# Posted: 1 Mar 2012 06:49pm
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Hi steve.The problem with shingles is they are rough surfaced and cetch a lot of dust,dirt,grit,grime,bird poop.All gets washed down into your water barrel.If you can go with metal that would be great.Nothing wrong with rain water for showering and washing.
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DirtBikeMomRN
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# Posted: 1 Mar 2012 07:29pm
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Hi Steve,
a really great resource that you can download for free is the Texas Rainwater Harvesting guide. just google it. Rainwater can actually be safer than tapwater. you will need to filter it. I definitely agree with Rob: metal roofs are much much better for rainwater collection. We have had our PA cabin for over 10 years and are just now beginning to install our own catchment system. It will be very nice to have an indoor shower/toilet instead of hanging a jug from a tree and using the outhouse 
Good luck and have fun!
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swattley
Member
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# Posted: 1 Mar 2012 10:24pm
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i have been hoping to afford the metal roof, i need to replace it this year, i am sure it would be better as far as keeping clean for water collection. any concern of bacteria issues?
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TomChum
Member
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# Posted: 2 Mar 2012 12:44pm
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Thousands of houses in Hawaii today use rainwater catchment as their sole source for full-time living. They use rainwater for everything, not just washing. There will be birdpoop, bugpoop, maybe pollution. Some filter it, lots don't.
Seems like you could get use a 5 stage osmosis filter for your drinking water but you have to get the pressure up I bet.
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jeffgreef
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# Posted: 3 Mar 2012 06:40pm
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Water collected off an asphalt shingle roof will probably have some petroleum in it- certainly not drinkable- not sure I'd want to shower with it or wash my dishes. Only people with Exxon stock won't mind the funny odor.....
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