Single
households
From
a regulatory perspective, the Texas Commission on Environmental
Quality (TCEQ) has rules that only apply to a rainwater system
that supplies potable water for a public water system or for any
business that manufactures food or beverages. TCEQ does not set
minimum treatment requirements for rainwater that will be used
as a drinking water source for a single household nor do they regulate
nonpotable uses of rainwater. The TCEQ does, however, offer guidelines
in its publication Harvesting,
Storing and Treating Rainwater for Domestic Use.
Public
Water Systems
To
assure that the water produced by a public water system is chemically
and biologically safe to drink, the TCEQ has adopted regulations
regarding the design, operation, and maintenance of public water
systems and the quality of the water they produce. A public water
system is defined as any system that serves at least 25 people
per day for at least 60 days each year or that serves at least
15 service connections.
NSF-Approved
Components
NSF
International has developed a test protocol that provides independent
verification of the safety of the materials
used in the production of rainwater harvesting systems. This
protocol evaluates materials used in rainwater catchment systems,
such as roofing materials, coatings, paints, liners and gutters.
Testing
involves exposing catchment system product samples to extensive
accelerated outdoor weathering. The
systems and system materials that have successfully been tested
by NSF under P151 are listed in the NSF
Product and Service Listing.
Related
Resources
Drinking
Water Standards
This
publication explains the federal safety standards for drinking
water provided by public water supply systems.
Drinking
Water Problems: Arsenic
High
levels of arsenic in drinking water can poison and even kill people.
This publication explains the symptoms of arsenic poisoning and
common treatment methods for removing arsenic from your water supply.
Drinking
Water Problems: Nitrates
This
publication explains the federal safety standards for drinking
water provided by public water supply systems.
Drinking
Water Problems: Perchlorate
Perchlorate
is a potential contaminate of well water that can have harmful
effects on human health. Methods of removing perchlorate from water
are described and illustrated.
Harvesting,
Storing and Treating Rainwater for Domestic Use
This
publication will help you design and operate a roof-based rainwater
harvesting system to supply drinking water for you and your household.
It focuses on the information you need to make sure that your system
will produce water that is chemically and biologically safe to
drink.
Rainwater
Harvesting: Guidance for Public Water Systems
This
is a guide for public water systems that collect and treat rainwater
and distribute it as potable water. It offers a general overview
of the TCEQ rules that apply to public water systems that use rainwater
as a drinking water source and to systems that use it as a source
for a commercial bottling operation.
Shock
Chlorination of Stored Water Supplies
Treatment
of drinking water to improve its sanitary or bacteriological quality
is referred to as disinfection. Shock chlorination is one disinfection
method employed by public suppliers to reduce bacterial contamination
of water.