Qualitative and quantitative aspects of drinking water supply in Sardinia, Italy. A descriptive analysis of the ordinances and public notices issued during the years 2010-2015
Articolo
Data di Pubblicazione:
2016
Citazione:
Qualitative and quantitative aspects of drinking water supply in Sardinia, Italy. A descriptive analysis of the ordinances and public notices issued during the years 2010-2015 / Dettori, Marco; Piana, Andrea Fausto; Castiglia, Paolo Giuseppino; Loria, E; Azara, Antonio Alfredo. - In: ANNALI DI IGIENE MEDICINA PREVENTIVA E DI COMUNITÀ. - ISSN 1120-9135. - 28:4(2016), pp. 296-303. [10.7416/ai.2016.2109]
Abstract:
Background.
The aim of the study is to analyze the regional district ordinances and the warnings regarding
qualitative and quantitavive drinking water abnormalities discovered by the Sardinian Municipalities and
the Water Managing Authority between 2010 and 2015 in order to describe and identify the causes leading
to an interruption or a limitation of the drinking water supply.
Methods.
We carefully reviewed all ordinances and warnings of non-potable water and service interruption
published between 2010 and 2015 by the websites of 377 Sardinian Municipalities and by the main regional
newspapers, the Water Managing Authority and the Regional Health Trusts.
Results.
From 2010 to 2015, 738 warnings/ordinances regarding drinking water supply limitation or
interruption were issued. The warnings involved more than half (n. 191, 50.7%) of the 377 Sardinian
Municipalities. Considering that these Municipalities included the main Sardinian cities we estimated that
80.3% of the population was affected by the issue. During the 6 years we observed a progressive increase
of Municipalities involved beginning with 25 and reaching up 110 in 2014. The initial 29 warnings rose to
256 in 2014 along with an increased number of abnormal values, parameters and standards of the drinking
water. Regarding the ordinances issued by the 191 Mayors we noticed that the legal limits were exceeded in
23 cases. Among those, we underline the abnormal levels of chlorites and trihalomethanes (22% of cases),
the turbidity, the abnormal concentration of total chemical substances and the abnormal level of coliforms,
Escherichia coli, manganese, aluminum, nitrites and iron.
Conclusions.
According to our observations, the Sardinian drinking water supply system is affected by a
major inconvenience and the data suggest that qualitative abnormalities are mainly due to water purification
treatments used in addition to the poor water supply network in existence.
Considering these results, a cooperation between all Authorities involved would be desirable in order to
analyze official data and provide a careful evaluation of population exposure and real risks related to the
level of every parameter considered
The aim of the study is to analyze the regional district ordinances and the warnings regarding
qualitative and quantitavive drinking water abnormalities discovered by the Sardinian Municipalities and
the Water Managing Authority between 2010 and 2015 in order to describe and identify the causes leading
to an interruption or a limitation of the drinking water supply.
Methods.
We carefully reviewed all ordinances and warnings of non-potable water and service interruption
published between 2010 and 2015 by the websites of 377 Sardinian Municipalities and by the main regional
newspapers, the Water Managing Authority and the Regional Health Trusts.
Results.
From 2010 to 2015, 738 warnings/ordinances regarding drinking water supply limitation or
interruption were issued. The warnings involved more than half (n. 191, 50.7%) of the 377 Sardinian
Municipalities. Considering that these Municipalities included the main Sardinian cities we estimated that
80.3% of the population was affected by the issue. During the 6 years we observed a progressive increase
of Municipalities involved beginning with 25 and reaching up 110 in 2014. The initial 29 warnings rose to
256 in 2014 along with an increased number of abnormal values, parameters and standards of the drinking
water. Regarding the ordinances issued by the 191 Mayors we noticed that the legal limits were exceeded in
23 cases. Among those, we underline the abnormal levels of chlorites and trihalomethanes (22% of cases),
the turbidity, the abnormal concentration of total chemical substances and the abnormal level of coliforms,
Escherichia coli, manganese, aluminum, nitrites and iron.
Conclusions.
According to our observations, the Sardinian drinking water supply system is affected by a
major inconvenience and the data suggest that qualitative abnormalities are mainly due to water purification
treatments used in addition to the poor water supply network in existence.
Considering these results, a cooperation between all Authorities involved would be desirable in order to
analyze official data and provide a careful evaluation of population exposure and real risks related to the
level of every parameter considered
Tipologia CRIS:
1.1 Articolo in rivista
Keywords:
Drinking water supply, disinfection by-products, water for human consumption, non-potable water ordinance, derogation
Elenco autori:
Dettori, Marco; Piana, Andrea Fausto; Castiglia, Paolo Giuseppino; Loria, E; Azara, Antonio Alfredo
Link alla scheda completa:
Pubblicato in: