Objective To investigate the basic status of rural drinking water in Inner Mongolia autonomous region, China, in 2018, and to provide a scientific basis for related departments to further improve the quality of rural drinking water.

Methods Related data were collected from the data of rural drinking water reported by the surveillance sites in the banners, counties, and districts of Inner Mongolia autonomous region in the National Drinking Water Sanitation Monitoring Information System. Related indices were measured in both dry season and wet season, including microbiological indicators, toxicological indices, sensory properties, chemical indices, and radioactivity indices.

Results A total of 3 391 rural drinking water samples were monitored in Inner Mongolia autonomous region in 2018 and the qualified rate was 65.2%. There was a significant difference in water qualified rate among different areas (χ² = 13.10, P < 0.05), and the eastern region had a significantly higher water qualified rate than the central region and the western region. Surveillance showed that 24 indicators were disqualified, and there was a significant difference in the qualified rate among the indicators (χ² = 5 169.66, P < 0.05). Fluoride had the highest qualified rate (20.20%), and lead and anionic synthetic detergent had the lowest qualified rate (0.03%). Chemical indices, sensory properties, and microbiological indicators in the dry season were significantly higher than those in the wet season (χ² were 11.10, 5.89, and 5.37, respectively, P < 0.05).

Conclusion There was a relatively low qualification rate of rural drinking water in Inner Mongolia autonomous region in 2018, especially in the central and western regions, and for the toxicological indices and chemical indices, particularly fluoride, nitrate nitrogen, and total coliform, the relevant departments should strengthen the management and supervision of water supply and adopt effective measures to ensure the hygiene of drinking water.