Is Tank Water Safe To Drink?

The answer to this is actually quite complex and is both yes, and no, depending on the circumstances. Factors such as the material your roof is made out of, where you’re located, the system you’re using and more will impact whether you can safely drink your tank water, so a clear-cut answer isn’t possible. Luckily, there are ways to make tank water safe to drink, so let’s explore the subject more:

What’s The Official Advice On Whether Tank Water Is Safe To Drink?

While most government organisations say it is safe to drink tank water, many experts disagree. Data regarding whether drinking tank water can make you sick is hard to find as it’s often difficult to pin down the culprit when someone falls ill, but what many studies do show is that bacteria, metals and other contaminants like to hang out in tank water, and the health consequences can be serious. This doesn’t mean that you can’t drink tank water, but it does mean you need to take steps to make it safe before doing so.

What Are The Risks Of Drinking Tank Water?

The most prominent risk from drinking tank water is the presence of bacteria, cysts and other microorganisms that can make you quite ill if consumed. These contaminants come from birds and other animals doing their business on your roof and aren’t avoidable regardless of how well you design your rainwater catchment system.

Other concerns can arise from the type of roof you have, with materials such as timber or lead paint making the roof unsuitable for the collection of rainwater from. Additionally, those living in urban areas need to be mindful of build up from traffic and the more industrial surroundings. 

How Can Tank Water Be Made Safe To Drink?

Although tank water fresh off the roof isn’t safe to drink, there are steps you can take to make it consumable.

Careful Collection

The first thing you want to do is collect your rainwater carefully. This means keeping your gutters clean, preventing animals and physical contaminants from being able to enter the tank and having mesh to stop bugs from finding their way into your system.

This means a properly sealed tank with adequate protection such as a first flush diverter, leaf guards and screens that are formed from fine mesh. You should also ensure that pipes for any appliances that discharge onto the roof are not able to contaminate your rainwater.

Monitoring And Maintenance

Even the most careful collection does not guarantee that no contaminants or sediment will find their way into your tank. For this reason, regular monitoring and maintenance are key to keeping your rainwater safe to drink. The below steps will make keeping things running smoothly a whole lot easier:

Water Testing

Your local Irrigear Independent Expert can test your tank water so you know exactly what’s going on in there. This makes selecting the right filtration easier and provides an early warning if something is starting to go wrong. Your location and environment will impact how often your tank water needs to be tested so discuss this with the team while you’re there.

Light Prevention

If light is able to enter your tank this will encourage algae to grow. In addition to changing the physical attributes of your tank water (look, taste, etc.) algal blooms can present a health hazard, so steps should always be taken to prevent them.

Pipe Selection

The pipes, valves and fittings you select for your tank system play a key role in how your new setup operates. Specifying them correctly is crucial if you want things to run smoothly. Additionally, unless you’re deliberately configuring a wet system, you’ll want to ensure that they’re self-draining, as this helps prevent the pipes from corroding or becoming a breeding ground for contaminants.

Tank Inspections

Regularly inspecting your system will help ensure your tank water stays free from physical contaminants that can slip through if things aren’t functioning optimally. Mesh and other inlet protection should be checked on every few months, gutters should be cleared regularly, and the tank itself needs to be inspected every six months. Additionally, your tank will need to be cleaned out every two to three years, as no matter how vigilant you are sediment will form at the bottom and require clearing. This should only ever be performed by a professional.

Filtration And Sterilisation

Finally, in order to be able to safely drink your tank water, you’ll need to filter it prior to consumption. This can be done via either a whole house filtration system, or with smaller filtration units fitted to any tap that water being used for drinking or cooking will come from.

It is highly recommended that after your water has been filtered it also goes through a UV sterilisation process prior to consumption. Your local Irrigear Independent Expert can help you define the right system for your needs.