Determination of the microbial risk degree to health of the population provided with centralized water supply

Introduction. Modern methodological approaches make it possible to assess the risk of waterborne bacterial intestinal infections, taking into account both the sanitary and hygienic conditions of water used by the population and the level of communal improvement of the territory.

The purpose of the study was to assess the degree of epidemic danger of bacterial intestinal infections associated with the conditions of centralized drinking and household water supply, using the example of the subjects of the Northwestern Federal District.

Materials and methods. The study tested the data of the federal statistical observation form No. 18 “Information on the sanitary condition of the subject”, the federal information fund of social and hygienic monitoring, and the Unified Interdepartmental Information and Statistical System. We analyzed the materials for 2022 in eleven subjects of the Northwestern Federal District. Method MR 2.1.10.0031-11 was taken as the basis for microbial risk assessment.

Results. The Republic of Karelia, Vologda, Arkhangelsk, and Novgorod regions are characterized by an average degree of microbial risk in terms of the proportion of drinking water samples in the distribution network, in which generalized coliform bacteria were found; Novgorod region and the Republic of Karelia have a high degree of risk for E. coli. The lowest number of population provided with centralized water supply, corresponding to a high degree of microbial risk, was found in the Nenets Autonomous Okrug. This region is also characterized by the lowest average daily water consumption per capita.

Limitations. The study tested the data on the subjects of the North-Western Federal District in 2022, the quality of drinking water was assessed only according to the results of laboratory studies conducted by the Federal Service for Supervision in Protection of the Rights of Consumer and Man Wellbeing.

Conclusion. Most regions of the Russian North-West are characterized by an average degree of microbial risk, except for St. Petersburg, where a low degree of risk is established. The use of an alternative variant of risk ranking by 5 degrees (low, slightly increased, increased, significantly increased, high) showed that in the Republic of Karelia, Arkhangelsk and Vologda regions, and Nenets Autonomous Okrug, there is a significantly elevated degree of microbial risk.

Compliance with ethical standards: the study does not require the submission of the opinion of the biomedical ethics committee or other documents.

Contribution:
Kovshov A.A. — design of the study, writing the text, editing;
Novikova Yu.A. — collection and systematization of material, design of the study, editing;
Fedorov V.N. — collection and systematization of materials, participation in the preparation of texts of the article;
Tikhonova N.A. — collection and systematization of material, participation in the preparation of texts of the article;
Myasnikov I.O. — participation in the interpretation of the results and the preparation of the text of the article;
Buzinov R.V. — the concept of the study, editing.
All authors are responsible for the integrity of all parts of the manuscript and approval of the manuscript final version

Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Acknowledgement. The study was carried out as part of the research work No. 121031300059-9 and had no sponsorship.

Received: April 28, 2023 / Accepted: June 7, 2023 / Published: October 9, 2023