Effect of Types of Water Source and Their Surrounding Environment in Rural Watersupplies on Some Inorganic Chemical Contaminants in Drinking-water

Objective  To explore the relationship between the water source type of rural watersupplies and their surroundings with some inorganic chemical contaminants in drinking-water, to analyze the impact of major water source types and their surroundings on chemical contaminants in drinking-water, and to propose measures for the prevention of drinking-water being contaminated in rural areas.

Methods  The relationship of water source types and surrounding environment with some chemical contaminants in drinking water was analyzed by mathematical statistics, including pare-samples t test and one-way analysis of variance.

Results  Total hardness and the contaminations of nitrate and fluoride were more serious in well water than that in surface water and spring water. The contaminations of manganese, ammonia-nitrogen and fluoride in motor-pumped well water were higher than those in other types of well water. The contaminations of iron or manganese, ammonia-nitrogen and fluoride in water from closed well, mouth of well above the ground, well with a house and deep well were more serious, but the contamination of nitrate was less. The type of contamination was various from different water sources.

Conclusion  There was a significant influence of water source types and their surrounding environment on chemical contaminants in drinking water in rural areas; the implementation of protecting measures must be based on different local conditions, focusing on the difference of water source types and their surrounding environment, to prevent contamination in drinking water and protect the safety of drinking water and human health.