Contents:
- Medical Video: Meet The Girl Who Is Allergic To Water
- So, is rainwater safe for consumption?
- How do you make rainwater to be more safe for consumption?
- When is rainwater not safe for consumption?
Medical Video: Meet The Girl Who Is Allergic To Water
Have you ever wondered if drinking rain water is harmful to the body? Or maybe until now you still haven't found the answer? Researchers from Monash University in Melbourne, Australia conducted research related to this. This study was motivated by concerns about environmental damage due to bottled water (gallons or bottles), which are often transported over long distances and packed in plastic that clogs up landfills.
Researchers monitored 300 homes using rainwater as the main source of drinking water collected in water tanks. The families noted their health conditions for more than a year and researchers found that the rates of gastroenteritis or stomach flu caused by certain viruses or bacteria recorded by this group were very similar to those of people who drank well-maintained tap water. The results of the study confirm that consuming rainwater directly is fairly safe from the risk of disease.
Karin Leder, head of the infectious disease unit in Monash University's epidemiology department, stated that people who drink rainwater directly do not show an increased risk of disease compared to those who drink filtered rainwater.
So, is rainwater safe for consumption?
Rainwater is naturally acidic with an average pH of around 5.6. Fortunately, this is not dangerous. Drinking water itself rarely even has a neutral pH because it contains various dissolved minerals. Then most rainwater is safe to drink.
However, it cannot be denied, rain water is not completely clean. There are bacteria and maybe dust and other substances. While the level of pollution, mold, and other contaminants is usually low.
How do you make rainwater to be more safe for consumption?
Rainwater can be collected by accommodating it directly in a bucket or tub. The important thing is to make sure that the container you are using is clean of dirt. After you hold it, leave it for at least one hour so that the heavy particles inside it stick to the bottom of the bucket. This method will also inhibit the growth of most of the microorganisms they contain.
However, there are two important steps you can take to improve the quality of rainwater, namely by boil and filter it.
Boiling rainwater that has been collected until boiling will kill the bacteria. So even though rainwater is basically safe for consumption, boiling it makes you feel much more calm consuming it. In addition, the second way is to use a water filter in a rainwater reservoir. Through this filter tool chemicals, dust, mold, and other contaminants can be filtered properly.
When is rainwater not safe for consumption?
- Drinking rainwater that falls in the factory area or industrial area. You are not recommended to drink rain water that falls in the factory area. This is because rain is affected by the transfer of water in the Earth's atmosphere and the ocean. When it rains, water on the earth including sea water, waste, river water, etc. will experience evaporation due to the help of heat from the sun. The water then becomes steam drifting into the air and finally continues to move towards the high sky with other water vapor. This will be dangerous if you drink rainwater that falls in the vicinity of industrial areas where there are many factories. Because the air around it usually has been contaminated with dangerous radioactive substances.
- Water has been flooded in a place or found in plants. This is because the water is mixed with the dirt on the surface of the plant or object.
- If rainwater stored with dirty storage containers.
If there are still other sources of clean water around your house, it's a good idea not to use rainwater as your main water source. This is also done as an effort to reduce the negative risks that might result from drinking rainwater. You can use it for other purposes such as watering plants or washing vehicles.
Especially if you have a problem with the immune system, then you need to consult your doctor first in consuming rainwater.
