Mining dust and bird poo: how clean is the rainwater Australians drink?

Australians should not assume the water that falls on their roofs is safe to drink, experts saySign up for the Rural Network email newsletterJoin the Rural Network group on Facebook to be part of the communityAccess to safe and clean drinking water is a human right and, in Australia, it's widely assumed all water from a tap is OK. But as water quality warnings in some regional New South Wales towns have shown, both rain and groundwater can become polluted, and some scientists say it's time to have a rethink.Around 19% of Australian residents use rainwater in their household. It is captured in tanks that are typically fitted with filters - but some researchers warn that is not enough to avoid dangerous pollutants and bacteria. Continue reading...