Objectives To investigate the relationship between the trend of water quality in rural drinking water safety projects and the incidence of intestinal infectious diseases in Nanchang in 2008-2013.

Methods A number of rural drinking water safety projects were selected each year in 2008-2013 by a stratified cluster random sampling method; and the water samples collected in dry seasons (February-May) and wet seasons (June-November) were examined and the data were statistically analyzed.

Results A total of 2 224 samples were collected in six years in 2008-2013; and the qualification rates of drinking water were 31.57%, 36.63%, 39.38%, 35.55%, 47.45% and 47.86%, respectively. The water quality was improved (χ²=33.86, P=0) and the rate of water treatment and disinfection was increased year by year (χ²=114.89, P=0;χ²=72.64, P=0). The rate of water treatment and disinfection was positively correlated with the condition of water quality (r=0.97, P=0;r=0.86, P=0); and the qualified rate of water quality was negatively correlated with the incidence of intestinal infectious diseases (r=-0.83, P=0.04).

Conclusions The water quality in rural drinking water safety projects was improved year by year, but the qualified rate of drinking water was still low. Water quality could be improved by water treatment and disinfection.Improving water quality might be the most effective measures to reduce the intestinal infectious diseases in rural residents.