Quality of Drinking Water in Rural Nantong in 2009-2013

Objectives To understand the quality of drinking water in rural Nantong and its changing trends in 2009-2013.

Methods The data were downloaded from the network of National Information System for Disease Control and Prevention of Health Hazards, and the statistical analysis was performed by using SPSS 19.0 software.

Results The qualified rates of centralized water supplies were 61.45%, 68.20%, 74.63%, 80.04% and 87.62% in 2009-2013. The qualified rates of drinking water in dry season were 67.56%, 69.50%, 75.40%, 81.50% and 79.90%, and those in wet season were 55.34%, 66.90%, 73.90%, 78.60% and 95.30% in a rising trend from 2009 to 2013 (χ²trend=17.77, P < 0.05 and χ² trend=100.78, P < 0.05). The qualified rates of treated water were 62.21%, 66.91%, 76.14%, 80.67% and 87.85%, in a rising trend gradually (χ²trend=52.96, P < 0.05). The qualified rates of peripheral water were 60.69%, 68.01%, 73.21%, 79.46% and 87.38% (χ²trend=51.41, P < 0.05). The qualified rates of surface water were 73.00%, 87.07%, 92.36%, 97.22% and 100% (χ ² trend=217.13, P < 0.05), while the qualified rates of groundwater water were 58.73%, 63.10%, 68.30%, 66.80% and 71.80% (χ ²trend=16.33, P < 0.05). The total qualified rates of drinking water in A, B, C, D, E and F counties from 2009 to 2013 (94.65%、54.30%、59.87%、76.49%、77.25% and 82.52%) were statistically significant different (χ²=252.73, P < 0.05). The qualified rates of 23 indexes detected for drinking water were higher than 90% except ammonia and chloride.

Conclusions The quality and pass rates of rural drinking water have increased in Nantong, but ammonia and chloride remained the major reason affecting the quality of drinking water in rural areas.