Is Rainwater Safe to Drink Without Filtration?

[PrepperLinda65]

Collected rainwater in barrels for the garden for years now, but I keep seeing conflicting info about whether it's actually safe to drink it straight, especially in an emergency. I know rain itself is generally clean, but once it hits the roof or even sits in a plastic barrel, I figure it’s picking up all kinds of dust, bird droppings, maybe

 

[CeruleanScribe]

Definitely wouldn’t trust rainwater straight from a barrel for drinking, especially if it’s been sitting for a while. Even if the rain starts off clean, the roof and barrel can add all kinds of contaminants—bacteria, mold, bits of debris. Filtration and boiling are really your best bet before using it as drinking water, even in emergencies. Has anyone tried simple DIY filters, like sand or charcoal setups, for backup in a pinch?