Assessment of the quality of drinking water in the distribution system (on the example of Primorsky Krai)

Introduction. In view of the accumulated information on the quality of drinking water in the distribution system, its comprehensive assessment seems relevant.

Materials and methods. A sociological survey of the population of the Primorsky Territory was conducted during 2022 to identify the population’s satisfaction with the quality of drinking water in the region. The results of laboratory studies for 2016–2022, carried out by the Center for Hygiene and Epidemiology in the Primorsky Territory as part of the social and hygienic monitoring, are summarized. The descriptive part of the statistical analysis was performed with Microsoft Office Excel, the analytical part – IBM SPSS Statistics. Spatial visualization and data interpolation were performed with ArcGIS 10.8.2.

Results. An analysis of self-assessments of satisfaction at the population of the Primorsky Territory with the quality of drinking water from the distribution network showed that more than half of the population are not satisfied with its quality. Analysis of the water quality in centralized water supply systems from the perspective of hygienic standardization made it possible to determine the pattern of distribution of priority chemical, organoleptic, and microbiological pollutants into 6 clusters. An assessment of the risk to public health caused by the quality of drinking water from centralized water supply systems identified one settlement with an exceeded level of non-carcinogenic risk for trichlorethylene. Using spatial modelling, zones of low mineralization of drinking water were identified. Despite of the low content of total hardness, the ratio of calcium and magnesium ions is considered optimal over a large territory of the Primorsky Territory.

Limitations. The study covers the territory of Primorsky Krai and includes a list of indicators limited by the plan of monitoring activities.

Conclusion. The developed system of drinking water analysis can be useful in drawing up a monitoring research program and planning the modernization of water supply and water treatment systems, as well as in research work by interested persons in improving the quality of drinking water for population from centralized water supply systems.

Compliance with ethical standards. The study does not require submission to a biomedical ethics committee.

Contributions:
Shmeleva V.D. — concept and design of the study, collection of material and data processing, statistical processing, text writing;
Kislitsyna L.V. — collecting material and processing data, writing and editing text;
Romanova O.B. — preparation of the manuscript draft, text editing;
Sukhoveeva A.B. — collection and processing of sociological material, writing text;
Alenitckaia M.V. — analysis, interpretation of results, text editing.
All authors are responsible for the integrity of all parts of the manuscript and approval of the manuscript final version.

Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Acknowledgement. The study had no sponsorship. The team of authors expresses sincere gratitude to the colleagues of the Center of Hygiene and Epidemiology in the Primorsky Territory for their work on collecting water samples at monitoring points, coding and conducting laboratory tests of the quality of drinking water for the final formation of a database of federal and regional information funds, as well as to the specialists of the Office of the Federal Service for Surveillance in the Field of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Well-Being for the competent management of the monitoring observation system in the Primorsky Territory.

Received: May 8, 2024 / Revised: June 17, 2024 / Accepted: October 2, 2024 / Published: March 7, 2025