Objectives  To study the hygienic condition of drinking water in Yantai City in recent years, and provide a scientific basis for effectively supervising the safety of drinking water.

Methods  Drinking water samples were treated water from municipal waterworks, tap water and water from secondary water supplies. Water samples were collected and preserved according to standard examination Methods (GB/T 5750-2006) and the Results were evaluated according to the Standards for Drinking Water Quality (GB 5749-2006).

Results  The qualified rate of 1032 drinking water samples collected in 2011-2013 was 82.46%, and no significant difference among years (P < 0.05). The qualified rate of treated water from municipal drinking water supplies was 100% in line with sanitary standards, and the qualified rate of peripheral water was 82.36%. The unqualified items in tap water were mainly total bacteria counts, free residual chlorine, turbidity and coli form bacteria. The qualified rates of drinking water from secondary water supplies were 77.50%, and the unqualified detected items were primarily total bacteria counts, soluble total solid, total hardness and free residual chlorine.

Conclusions  The quality of drinking water in Yantai City was conformed to the national standard on the whole, but the quality of some items was still lower than the national standard, therefore, a further supervision on the quality of drinking water, especially the water from secondary water supplies, must be enhanced to deal with the potential hygienic risks.