StillSmart

yeah that's what I use - great. Well actually not quite - I managed to buy one even cheaper than that. Was a right tricky little bastard to stop leaking. My inner Scotsman has a lot to answer for !!

In my experience of using translucent HDPE water buts for drinking water algae actually keeps the water fresh and oxygenated. It scours impurities as nutrients and respires oxygen. Algae is one of natures water purifiers along with all the other green stuff you get in streams and rivers. Or at least that's how it seems to me. Assuming the green film I get on the bottom and sides is algae. Pretty sure it is. Of course I never just left a 25lt butt for months. It would only last for a week or two then get refilled with fresh. Maybe that makes a difference. Algae needs light though so opaque containers should be fine in any case.

All my ferments improved when I started using rainwater. Getting plenty of it for free right now!

Bugger. Might have to give it a go.

Are you boiling it first?

Do a bit of a search first. I have seen reported (maybe on Home Distiller) of rain containing a lot of pollutants and picking up more as it runs over your roof and down the pipes. I think that would largely depend on where you live, industrial areas might not be a good choice. I can see this being not good for beer, I have not idea what would carry over in the distillate.

Chuck

You have posted what I was thinking.
Been considering a clean collector.

I live in a rural part of Ireland surrounded by green fields and forrests. There's no manufacturing industry within 100Km and the air here is sweet and clean. I already have two rainwater butts collecting from the roof gutters at each end of the house but it's only for the garden, washing the car, washing the windows, using with the power washer etc. I've never considered using it for brewing.

All that bird shit and dead insects it washes off my roof would put me off using it without boiling first. And, believe it or not, we've had pitiable amounts of rainfall in these parts since last year. Used to be you could rely on rain at least every second day in Ireland but not where I am

I have to say bird poop and dead insects must add a certain something to your brews, I am just not sure its something I have been missing.

Happy Summer Solatice to all.

Insects are high in protien and a staple in many parts of the world

Bird poop high in ammonia so really not good

I should have mentioned that I live in a very rural area and I do indeed boil the water before use. It's also not collected from the house gutters. I do collect some from the gutters, but that's only used for watering plants, etc., as I don't like the look of the crap that settles at the bottom of those barrels. I see very few insects in there though, considering how many bugs are chewing away at my plants.

Most insects are clever enough not to drown themselves in any kind of puddle or pond. Even they have the occasional Darwin Award winner; despite the fact they are older and have been evolving for much longer than we have. At a species level they are incredibly evolved. Hard to always avoid rain though. Even the insect nation is not impervious to a force of nature. Though the majority do survive. Getting off topic but it is summer solstice so nature is an intrinsic part of the day.

They are also way smart enough to just focus on the easy access food source while a few scouts range around as long range sensors.

Where I am,it seems to rain so often that we could probably win the "cleanest roofs in Scotland " competition.
And if we didn't,so what? If the water is used to brew/mash and then distilled twice,what is there to fear?
No industry for miles,so as long as bugs don't affect the ferment,seems good to me.

Robert.

Very true Robert. Fermentation alone is a 'cleaning up' process.

Mashy wrote:Very true Robert. Fermentation alone is a 'cleaning up' process.

The main reason I don't use the water that runs off the roof, is that it is covered with asphalt shingles, as is typical for houses in this neck of the woods. I have concerns that the various resins, solvents, petroleum compounds and whatever else could carry over during distillation. To be honest, I sometimes wonder if I should even be watering the plants with this stuff, although for the last couple of weeks nature has been taking care of that for me.

I certainly can see your point I suppose the big question is does there come a point when they get washed clean.

A bit like cleaning a new still or breaking in new shoes etc etc