Fumes from industry and traffic.
Rainwater collection shingle roof.
According to a local rainwater catchment group that water should be used only at base of trees shrubs and not in the veggie garden.
A steep sloped roof will shed water more quickly than a low sloped roof along with better removing debris or other foreign materials.
Tar asphalt shingles yup they make the water nasty.
Asphalt shingles contain zinc hydrocarbons and other chemicals as well as moss and algae preventatives.
And chemical contaminants but even after the first flush water contained more turbidity total coliform fecal coliform iron and aluminum than is recommended by the epa for drinking water.
Rain can wash different types of contaminants into the water you collect for example bird poop on your roof could end up in your water barrel or tank.
Rainwater can carry bacteria parasites viruses and chemicals that could make you sick and it has been linked to disease outbreaks 3 4.
The study also showed that rainwater from asphalt fiberglass shingle roofs and increasingly popular green roofs contain high levels of dissolved organic carbon doc.
Rainwater runoff from your roof contains a mix of materials deposited by pollution and animals as well as chemicals used in the manufacture of the shingles.
I was about to install a catchment garden watering system for some clients and then realized they had the wrong roof.
The best roof slope for rainwater collection the angle of your roof or slope will determine the speed and rate at which water will leave your catchment area.
The consensus on the internet about the safest roofing material for rainwater collection is there is no consensus.
The roof area to be used as the collection surface is usually predetermined by the size of the existing house or other outbuilding roofs.
Asphalt shingles are the most common material used on roofs and luckily they are also a very good option when it comes to rainwater harvesting.
But hey that s still something.
One of the main reasons is their uneven surface it makes it harder for soot and other pollutants and dirt to gather on top of it.