Water in the city

Okay, yes-it would be great to have a clean spring out back that I could just go grab water when I want it, but I live in a city in the Midwest. We get water issues on the news at least once a year. So, no, I don't think the ground water is so great. In fact, with everything continuously cycled to and from the lake, I can't imagine the chemicals being ingested. We are also down wind from manufacturing. What to do? Ideas any one? We are thinking ro plus remineralization, but that is imperfect. Maybe we should just drink ro tea? Thanks!

Hey Amit,

Have you considered collecting rain water?

Yes- I have. I will, but for "agricultural use". I have thought of also using the collected rain, and still might, but there are significant issues thus far:

1. biological factors: we have a fair amount of biology associated with the roof and gutters (mature adjacent windbreak) which would require filtration of the water.
2. Upwind factories. Yeah, those raindrops are probably binding to particulate from steal factories etc. etc. This is probably better than drinking unfiltered from the lake, but I'm not sure we are talking "healthy"
3. Quantity after garden use. The garage + half the roof is going to one pond + raised bed. The other 1/2 is going to go to front yard watering. The back porch will be hitting another raised bed. That leaves me with nothing!

Though, now that I'm thinking about it, half the year at least I wonder if I can't make a chamber in the backyard lawn since it is both the low spot and surrounded by healthy grasses. That might be enough bioinfiltration in a few years when I'm 100% chemical free to provide clean water with minimal filtration. Thoughts?

Back to RO, I wonder if I can't go on a nature walk or two, pick up a few nice rocks, sterilize them, and then stick them on the bottom of my water urn. Maybe I can find some dolomitic limestone online and drop that in there too? The minerals might just leach into the water as necessary. Thoughts?