A Diary Study of Gastoenteritis and Tank Rainwater Consumption in Young Children in South Australia

Tank rainwater is an important source of drinking water in South Australia. More households (42%) use tank rainwater as their main source of drinking water than use public mains (40%) (Heyworth et al.1998). The community preference for consumption of this untreated water supply has highlighted the need for policy on its safe use. The longitudinal study reported here, the tank rainwater diary study, was undertaken to provide epidemiological data in support of a risk assessment of tank rainwater consumption.