Stormwater is generally not used for drinking without significant treatment. As it flows over surfaces like roads, rooftops, and landscapes, stormwater can pick up pollutants such as oil, heavy metals, bacteria, and other contaminants that make it unsafe for direct human consumption. To be suitable for drinking, stormwater would need to go through a thorough purification process that includes filtration, disinfection, and possibly advanced treatment methods like reverse osmosis or ultraviolet light.
While this level of treatment is technically possible, it is often costly and complex, making it less common than using stormwater for non-potable purposes such as irrigation, toilet flushing, or industrial use. In most cases, stormwater harvesting systems are designed with non-drinking applications in mind to reduce the demand on potable water supplies while still making use of a valuable resource.
