A world first study by Monash University researchers into the
health of families who drink rainwater has found that it is safe to
drink.
The research was led by Associate Professor Karin Leder from the
Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine in conjunction
with Water Quality Research Australia (previously the Cooperative
Research Centre for Water Quality and Treatment).
"This is the first study of its kind. Until now, there has been
no prospective randomised study to investigate the health effects of
rainwater consumption, either in Australia or internationally,"
Associate Professor Leder said.
The study involved three hundred volunteer households in Adelaide
that were given a filter to treat their rainwater. Only half of the
filters were real while the rest were 'sham' filters that looked
real but did not contain filters.
The householders did not know whether they had a real filter.
Families recorded their health over a 12-month period, after which
time the health outcomes of the two groups were compared.
"The results showed that rates of gastroenteritis between both
groups were very similar. People who drank untreated rainwater
displayed no measurable increase in illness compared to those that
consumed the filtered rainwater," Associate Professor Leder said.
Adelaide was the location chosen for the study as it the city
with the highest use of rainwater tanks in Australia.
Associate Professor Leder said some health authorities had doubts
about drinking rainwater due to safety concerns, particularly in
cities where good quality mains-water is available.
"This study confirms there is a low risk of illness. The results
may not be applicable in all situations; nevertheless these findings
about the low risk of illness from drinking rainwater certainly
imply that it can be used for activities such as showering/bathing
where inadvertent or accidental ingestion of small quantities may
occur.
"Expanded use of rainwater for many household purposes can be
considered and in current times of drought, we want to encourage
people to use rainwater as a resource," she said.
The study was funded by the National Health and Medical Research
Council and Water Quality Research Australia.
SOURCE: Monash University