With water scarcity tied to drought and usage restrictions, you may have asked yourself the question when you saw the torrents of rain that fell during recent storms: is rainwater a solution and can it be consumed?
Indeed, for financial savings or ecological considerations, rainwater harvesting may have the wind in its sails. But if its role is preponderant in the water cycle, that does not make rain drinking water.
“Strictly prohibited”
For health reasons, drinking rainwater is prohibited in France. “It is strictly forbidden to collect rainwater for consumption, because it is contaminated”, can be read on the public service site.
“Therefore you should not drink it, or use it for cooking or washing dishes,” continues the French administration site.
Sanitary authorities consider that rainwater does not have sufficient quality to be considered potable since it has chemical, bacterial or parasitic contamination, particularly due to runoff on the roof or storage in a tank.
“It’s raining PFAS”
Beyond that, rainwater itself is also not drinkable. At issue: PFAS (perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances), nicknamed the “everlasting chemicals” because they break down extremely slowly. They are present in many products such as packaging, cosmetics or even household products.
However, these PFAS have spread in the environment, particularly in water. Therefore, according to a recent study by scientists at Stockholm University, rainwater is now not drinkable everywhere on Earth.
“It’s raining PFAS,” the study writes.
The team of researchers studied data compiled since 2010 and showed that “even in Antarctica or on the Tibetan plateau, the levels present in rainwater are above the recommendations proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)”, Ian Cousins, lead author of the study, told AFP.
Human health hazards
Exposure that may be detrimental to human health. PFAS accumulate in the body and can have negative effects on fertility and fetal development. Furthermore, these substances lead to increases in cholesterol levels, increased risks of obesity and certain types of cancer.
They are also suspected of interfering with the endocrine and immune systems. In fact, a recent study shows that PFAS could have an impact on the immune response to vaccines in children.
The use of rainwater is strictly controlled
Consequently, a decree, which entered into force on August 21, 2008, only authorizes the use of rainwater outside the home, for example, to water the garden. Indoors, rainwater can be used for some restricted uses, such as flushing toilets or washing floors.
The use of rainwater for washing clothes is also authorized, but in a highly regulated manner. Given the risk of water contamination, ANSES recommends that it not be used for washing clothes for the most vulnerable populations.
Source: BFM TV
