ADELAIDE, Australia — A study investigating the health effects of rainwater consumption has concluded that untreated rainwater is safe to drink, Monash University reported in a November 4 news release.

The research was led by Karin Leder, an associate professor in the university’s Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, in conjunction with Water Quality Research Australia (previously the Cooperative Research Centre for Water Quality and Treatment).

Three hundred households in Adelaide participated in the one-year study. All the volunteers in the study were given a filter to treat their rainwater; however, only half the devices were real while the rest were “sham” devices that looked real but did not contain filters.

Participating households did not know whether they had a real filter. Families recorded their health over the 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 with those who consumed the filtered rainwater,” Leder said in the release.

Leder said the study confirms the low risk of illness associated with drinking rainwater, but noted that the results may not be applicable in all situations. Other experts in rainwater catchment say, for example, that rainwater collected off roofs can be assumed to be contaminated by bird droppings, insects and other debris, and they recommend that roof-harvested rainwater intended for drinking receive some kind of disinfection treatment. 

“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. It is scheduled to be presented at the American Public Health Association 137^th Annual Meeting in Philadelphia on November 11.

To read the full release, click here.

For related information, click here.