Current problems of delivering high quality drinking water
to the population of St. Petersburg

Summary

The results of studies carried out by the experts of SUE «Vodokanal of St. Petersburg» and Centre for hygiene and epidemiology within the frames of Work program of water quality process inspection for the purpose of public health monitoring are presented. Monitoring the quality of drinking water delivered to the population of St. Petersburg and its surroundings is carried out for 86 parameters in 174 control points at every stage of water treatment with regularity from daily to monthly. Analytical drinking water quality control was carried out with the use of advanced methods and equipment. To evaluate the efficiency of the measures for delivering epidemiologically safe drinking water to the population an «infectious hepatitis» morbidity rate was introduced. The results of social-hygienic monitoring show sustainable long-term improvement of water quality parameters and the tendency for population morbidity decrease. The following measures for ensuring safe drinking water supply have been developed: introduction of UV drinking water disinfection; use of two-stage drinking water disinfection with the combination of physical and chemical methods; conversion to disinfection with sodium hypochlorite and ammonia sulphate; introduction of water source quality biomonitoring and sorbent dosing systems; construction of an advanced water treatment line. The comprehensive approach to drinking water quality monitoring allowed to develop the Concept of delivering physiologically adequate drinking water to the St. Petersburg population and give an objective estimate of the water supply services with account of the assessment of consumer’s risk and full-value of water.

Key words

potable water , sanitary-epidemiologic inspection , monitoring system , physiological full value of water

Estimation of water quality in decentralized water supply sources of Vladimir

Summary

The effect of drinking water chlorination on its organoleptic properties posing a threat to the public health is considered. The water sanitary measurements, the compliance with the requirements to its physiologic adequacy, integral toxicity of the water in the decentralized water supply sources of Vladimir were studied. It was stated that water in all three investigated objects used by the population as alternative drinking water sources was physiologically adequate in relation to the concentration of macroelements and complied with the sanitary chemical requirements of SanPiN 2.1.4.1074-01. As for the concentration of microelements (fluorine and iodine) water in all the investigated objects was not physiologically adequate and did not meet the sanitary and hygienic requirements. The concentration of fluorine in the investigated sources of decentralized water supply and in drinking water of the Nerlinskii water intake varied from 0.1 to 0.3 mg/dm3 what was much less than the lowest limit of the physiologic adequacy and MPC. Iodine in the investigated sources was not detected. In some springs and wells of Vladimir nitrates were detected in concentrations much higher than the MPCs for drinking water. Water in two springs in Vladimir showed hypotoxicity for small crustaceans Daphnia magna Sr. what evidenced the presence in them of trace concentrations of toxic substances hazardous to health.

Key words

potable water , toxicity , physiological full value of water , decentralized water supply source , sanitary chemical indicators