Investigation on Direct Drinking Water Quality at Dongcheng District Schools in Beijing

Objectives To investigate the quality of direct drinking water in schools at Dongcheng district, Beijing, and analyze sanitary indicators in order to provide scientific data for making policy decisions and health management.

Methods Referring to 76 reports for testing the quality of direct drinking water in schools in 2008-2013, twenty-four schools in Dongcheng district were selected; water samples from one direct drinking water fountain and a municipal water tap in each school were collected.

Results The quality of direct drinking water in schools at Dongcheng district was generally good, the qualified rate of all indicators was 92%; the unqualified indicators were total bacteria counts and turbidity. The content of copper in direct drinking water was higher and the total hardness in direct drinking water was lower than municipal tap water. Compared with the thermal switch, the water softener could greatly reduce the content of chlorides, total hardness, fluoride, sulfate, aluminum and dissolved solids from municipal tap water, and the water quality was further purified.

Conclusions Compared with municipal tap water, the quality of water from direct drinking water fountain in schools was generally good. In direct drinking water, the total hardness was decreased, and the concentration of copper was increased.