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Tuesday, Jul. 2, 2024

Is it safer to drink rainwater than Fort Worth tap water?


no

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns that rainwater must be filtered before it is safe to drink, but some risks remain.

Dust and particles may pollute rainwater as it falls, while gutters and pipes may introduce other harmful substances, like lead, asbestos and copper.

Water treatment options for rainwater include filtration, boiling and chemical disinfection. These treatment options, however, still won’t remove all harmful chemicals, according to the CDC.

Fort Worth’s tap water contains “forever chemicals,” but the city says that the water is safe to drink. While the city’s treated water meets Environmental Protection Agency safety regulations, recent test results indicate that Fort Worth must take action to reduce the chemicals at two water treatment plants. The city must meet EPA regulations by 2029. 

The CDC advises that rainwater be regularly tested and maintained after it’s collected.

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Fact briefs are bite-sized, well-sourced explanations that offer clear "yes" or "no" answers to questions, confusions, and unsupported claims circulating online. They rely on publicly available data and documents, often from the original source. Fact briefs are written and published by Gigafact contributor publications.

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