I have good luck melting down snow personally. I notice a sizeable difference personally when I use melted snow compared to the tap water here, then again I do not live in a large city where polutians are a concern. The benefits are you will get some natural elemts that will may not be in tap water due to the cholirine and other filtering process. I heave hear somewhere on here (alothough not seen it myself) where somtimes even the filtered water may clean those out somr of the natural elemts as well. Having said that I am by no means an expert and relativley new to the site here. I am speaking of what I have noticed personally. I would say try it once, you will not regret it (depending where you live of course). Others who disagree may have valid concerns depending on the arear and the conidtions of the weather.