Objectives To learn the current hygienic situation of drinking water in catering units of Henan province and to provide corresponding basis for supervision departments.

Methods Drinking water samples were collected randomly from hotels, small and medium sized restaurants, school and kindergarten canteens all over the province, and the counts of total bacteria, coliforms, thermo-tolerant coliforms and E.coli were examined in 278 samples according to the Standard Examination Methods for Drinking Water (GB/T 5750-2006).

Results The comprehensive qualification rate of 278 samples was 68.3%, the qualification rates for total bacterial counts, coliforms, thermo-tolerant coliforms and E. coli in these samples were 73.7%, 76.6%, 82.4% and 92.1%, respectively. Qualification rates of the drinking water in catering units in cities and counties were 74.6% and 50.7%, (χ²=14.27, P < 0.01);qualification rates of centralized, secondary and de-centralized water supplies were 71.1%, 88.7% and 10.7%, respectively (χ²=53.79, P < 0.01);qualification rates of water supplies in hotels, small and medium sized restaurants, school and kindergarten canteens were 88.9%, 57.8%, 62.5% and 65.4%, respectively (χ²=19.91, P < 0.01).

Conclusions The major problem of drinking water in catering units of Henan province was microbial contamination. The contamination was particularly serious in de-centralized water supplies.