Using Snow

[Ftero]

I gave up on making a rain-water collection system. Too much of a hassle to set up on this rented apartment.

However, nature has dumped a ton a snow on us lately, and I thought that I could shovel some up, and dump it in a 55 gallon, plastic drum that I have.
I couldn't find anything specific about using water from snow to ferment, other than a comment about it's being high in Nitrogen.
Is it worth the effort?

[dixiedrifter]

IMO your better off using a 1, 2, or even three stage "chloramine buster" carbon filters than to dick with snow.

However, snow would be good to use in your coolant sump.

[Tater]

IMO your better off using a 1, 2, or even three stage "chloramine buster" carbon filters than to dick with snow.

However, snow would be good to use in your coolant sump.

Why?

[Dnderhead]

I never tried but I whould thank it whould be about the same as rain water

[Barney Fife]

Anyone who's ever melted a gallon or more of snow will tell you that's it's terribly dirty. Even fresh fallen snow. Everything it touches on the way to the ground(smoke, pollution, acid, etc...), as well as everything that gets blown around, will be in your water.

Melt some and you'll see. Yuck!

[Tater]

Was all way told as a kid not to eat first falling of snow cause pollution.How much ya reckin would have to fall before it was clean?Wouldn't think it would be any dirtier then rain water.However I use well/spring water.

[Barney Fife]

Your folks were right; it's dirty! Everything it can touch on the way down, it scrubs, like power lines, tree branches, everything. And since it's usually fluffy, don't count on the open field to be cleaner, since snow blows all over the place, in even the slightest breeze.

But don't take my word for it; melt you some.

[minime]

It takes a hell of a pile of snow to make a gallon of water. You fill a 55 gallon drum with snow I don't think you'd get much more than a couple of gallons of meltwater and it would definitely be filthy. Then there's the yellow snow LOL

[Ftero]

Thanks for the responses!

I think I have allowed myself to be talked out of it! I am getting a bit bored, being snowed in and all.

[rad14701]

Simply because the snow is dirty doesn't mean that it can't be used... A good filtering will do what the earth does naturally... But it is true that it takes a lot of snow to get any amount of water... When I was growing up the figure was 10 inches of snow equals 1 inch of water... Never checked to see if that is an accurate measure...

One thing to remember, however, is that snow will have a lot of particulates in it that might not be good to have in your wash, like wild yeasts and bacteria that can survive cold temperatures... They may not have any bearing on final product but they have an effect on your wash... Boiling the water might help but would almost defeat the purpose...

All that said, while I might use snow, there's too much work involved for guaranteed results - for me, at least...

[BW Redneck]

Someone posted about using snow in their cooling supply earlier. They halfway filled their cooling reservoir with water, then added snow on top of it to make a slurry. I'm not sure, but I think that the coolant that actually ran through the still ran through a heat exchanger that was immersed within the slurry to avoid contamination.

EDIT: Found the thread. http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... hilit=snow

[Hack]

I am getting a bit bored, being snowed in and all.

Maybe go make some snow angels?

Here in the Pacific North Wet, as you call it, snow is quite the novelty, but the novelty is wearing thin.

[draco]

Since the clean air act went into effect the snow is actually cleaner than it was 30 years ago. I still would not use it but Scientist at the south poll can show you the layer of ice where the law went into effect. Still I would not use it. If you do you have to watch out where the huskies go...