Rainwater

[charleybambino]

Just wondering if rainwater can be used for axolotls.....my water butts are overflowing and it seems a shame if I could use it rather than my water-metered tap water, any thoughts would be appreciated.

 

[SuburbanGirl]

As far as I know rain water is fine as long as the device you use to collect it is clean. I don't know the laws there, but in most of the U.S. if you collect rainwater it is illegal because that water is needed to go to the whole system, and you might collect more than you use. So you should be fine, as long as you aren't getting in trouble with local law enforcement. (I keep my daphnia outside in uncovered buckets, so they get some water when it rains. I'm hoping that's not enough to get me in trouble. I doubt it is.)

 

[auntiejude]

Rainwater is too soft and doesn't contain enough dissolved salts, and there is the . If you did want to use it you'd have to filter it and boil it/sterilise it, then add some kind of hardening salts - probably more expensive than metered water.

(and collection of rainwater is comepltely legal in the UK - in fact it is encouraged for watering gardens and even for some non-potable systems like loo flushing etc)

 

[Xtophr]

State Rainwater | Graywater Harvesting Laws and Legislation

 

[charleybambino]

Ok........can't be doing with all that water treatment........will stick with my nice hard tap water then. Thanks

 

[auntiejude]

State Rainwater | Graywater Harvesting Laws and Legislation

Interesting. But we're in the UK!

 

[Xtophr]

Posted for SuburbanGirl and anyone else in the U.S. reading this who might be concerned about rainwater laws; they don't seem to be a widespread issue.