If water supply is a big problem in the States, can’t we effectively store stormwater in some way and replenish our supply?

Question

If water supply is a big problem in the States, can’t we effectively store stormwater in some way and replenish our supply?

In: 1

Answer 1

I work in water treatment, water supply & water quality.

The reason that storm water isn’t harvested is because it is very low quality water. It is concentrated with the nastiest of nasties that are incredibly difficult to remove.

Without exaggeration, it is easier to treat sewage water than storm water… there is too high of a concentration of industrial and synthetic chemicals coming off the road. At least literal shit is biological and can easily be broken down.

Edit: Bugger, didn’t realise this was ELI5, so here goes:

Cars and factories make things that we can’t drink, and can’t make drinkable. So instead we get our water from rivers and other natural things.