This is a very depressing question but, can one use fresh melted snow (leave clean bucket out for clean snow) as you would rain water? Living in the Chicago area, and knowing what is to come, that thought popped into my mind yesterday.

EDIT:
Sorry for the intrusion, I should have done a search on the topic prior to asking the question. Forums are sort of new for me. I have always been challenged by the small things in life (and now computers).