Comprehensive assessment of rural drinking water quality in a western China city, 2022

Objective  To evaluate the status of rural drinking water quality and its influencing factors in a western China city.

Methods  The monitoring data of rural drinking water quality in a western China city in 2022 were collected, and the comprehensive water quality index (WQI)was used to evaluate and analyze the drinking water quality.

Results  The M(P₂₅, P₇₅) value of the comprehensive water quality index of rural drinking water in the western China city in 2022 was 0.85 (0.65, 1.04), with an overall excellent and good rate for water quality of 72.2%. The WQI value and the excellent and good rate of water quality of groundwater were better than those of surface water, and the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). The WQI value and the excellent and good rate of water quality of large-scale water supply plants (daily water supply ≥1 000 m³) were better than those of small-scale water supply plants (daily water supply < 1 000 m³), the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05); The WQI value and the excellent and good rate of water quality of disinfected water samples were better than those of undisinfected water samples, the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). This region had eight main unqualified indicators, which included one microbiological indicator, three toxicological indicators, and four general chemical indicators.

Conclusion  The rural drinking water quality in the western China city in 2022 is generally good. The type of water sources, the scale of water supply, and whether it is disinfected are essential factors affecting the quality and excellent and good rate of rural drinking water in the city.