Please note that rainwater is not drinkable!

Attention, the recovery of rainwater for domestic use inside the habitat requires several precautions because this water is not drinkable. A recent study conducted by scientists from Stockholm University confirms this because rainwater on Earth contains toxic chemicals. The General Directorate of Health had thus wished to recall the precautionary measures not to be neglected.

The Directorate General for Health emphasizes that, for the use of rainwater inside the home, strict hygiene rules must be respected in order to avoid any health risk. Rainwater is not drinkable because it has microbiological and chemical contamination above the quality limits set for drinking water distributed by the public network.

The use of rainwater inside buildings therefore involves the creation of a specific network of pipes. The coexistence of a rainwater network, by nature non-potable, with the public distribution network implies being very attentive to the separation of these networks from the design stage and during subsequent works. Indeed, in the event of a connection, the risk would then be double: the risk that a person could drink rainwater and, more seriously, that the public drinking water network would be contaminated by rainwater at the occasion of a drop in pressure. This is why, in order to limit these risks, the indoor uses of rainwater are limited to supplying flushing toilets, washing floors and, on an experimental basis and under certain conditions, washing clothes.

The decree published on August 21, 2008 sets technical requirements, including the total separation between the drinking water and rainwater networks, as well as the visible and explicit signage of the rainwater network and points of use.

Source : Directorate General for Health – October 13, 2008