Sanitary quality of drinking water in rural areas of Guangdong province

Objective To investigate sanitary quality of drinking water in rural areas of Guangdong province.Methods 24 counties were selected randomly to monitor drinking water.Samples were taken to detect water quality during low water and high water period in 2005.14 indices including chroma,muddy degree,pH,overall rigidity,iron,manganese,arsenic,fluoride,nitrate,chloride,vitriol,oxygen consumption,total coliform and total bacteria were measured as well as environmental epidemiology data was collected at each county.Results The total population of 24 counties was(17 256 765) and the proportion of centralized water supply accounted for 55.19%(range from 25.68% to 100.00%),whereas separate water supply 44.81%.70.35% of 516 samples(range from 15% to 100% in different areas) met the level Ⅲ standard of Sanitary Standard for Drinking Water.According to the results of terminal water quality from separated and centralized supply system,54.54% and 65.99% of total bacteria met the level I standard respectively,and the difference was significant(P0.05,P0.01);Total coliforms were 48.76% and 66.50%,and the difference was significant(P0.05) whereas 33.06% and 22.4% under the standard(P0.05);Manganese were 91.06% and 96.97%(P0.05);Other items were no difference between two groups.Conclusion Microbe and coliform contamination was the main problem of drinking water in rural areas.Centralized water supply system had higher quality than separate supplied water and significant diversity of coverage and quality exited in different areas.