Objective To investigate the sanitary condition of drinking water in rural schools in Shaanxi Province, China, in 2018, and to provide a scientific basis for improving the sanitary condition of drinking water in rural schools.

Methods A total of 318 rural schools were selected from the rural districts and counties across the province, and the terminal tap water from the schools was examinated and evaluated according to the Standard Examination Methods for Drinking Water (GB/T 5750-2006) and the Standards for Drinking Water Quality (GB 5749-2006). The chi-square test was used for intergroup comparison of rates.

Results The sources of drinking water for schools in Central and Northern Shaanxi were mainly groundwater, with untreated water as the main product of water supply projects; the sources of drinking water for schools in Southern Shaanxi were mainly surface water, with sedimentation and filtration as the main method of water treatment. The qualified rate of water quality in rural schools was 54.81% in 2018. The qualified rates of water quality were significantly higher in Southern and Central Shaanxi than in Northern Shaanxi (64.29%/58.59% vs 33.53%, χ²=41.48, P < 0.01). The microbial indices for Northern Shaanxi were generally lower, and the toxicological indices with a relatively low qualified rate for Northern and Central Shaanxi were hexavalent chromium (90.59%) and fluoride (91.67%), respectively. Among the sensory indicaters and general chemical indices, the index with a relatively low qualified rate was sulfate for the above two areas (90.00% and 94.70%, respectively).

Conclusion The qualified rate of drinking water quality in rural schools in Shaanxi Province is relatively low. It is recommended to enhance the protection of water supply sources and reinforce routine water quality-related treatment or disinfection measures; meanwhile, monitoring and management should be enhanced to ensure the safety of drinking water for schools.