Water is one of the most important elements of the environment, it is necessary for human life. Water used by the population to meet physiological and hygienic needs should have favorable microbiological, chemical and organoleptic properties.
Fulfillment of these conditions in organizing water supply and various types of water use is an important element of the life quality and ensuring health of population.
This section is devoted to the risk factors for health in different types of water use and preventive measures for risk management in drinking water use.
1. Risk factors for health in water use.
1.1. Insufficient water quantity.
1.2. Inappropriate water quality.
1.2.1. Risk factors of biological nature.
1.2.2. The risk profile of radiation exposure.
1.2.3. Risk factors of chemical nature.
1.2.4. Health risk in adverse organoleptic properties of water. 1.1. Insufficient water quantity.
The level of water availability can characterize public health risk due to the inability to provide adequate sanitary conditions of living (personal hygiene, cleaning, cooking, and laundry) (Table 2.1).
Table 2.1. Risk associated with the drinking water supply level
| | Likely volumes of water collected | Public health risk from poor hygiene |
| More than 1 km / more than 30 min | Very low - 5 liters per capita per day | |
| Within 1 km / within 30 min | 20 liters per capita per day | |
| Water provided with one tap at least | 50 liters per capita per day | |
| Supply of water with multiple taps within the house | Average 100-200 liters per capita per day | |
The amount of water of drinking quality is determined not only by physiological needs, which in temperate climates do not exceed 2 L/day per person, but the water flow to maintain optimum health conditions of life, respect for the technological operation of catering and food industry, the implementation of recreational activities, spa treatments, sports in swimming pools. Consequently, the total demand for safe drinking water depends on many factors, the most important among which is social infrastructure.
1.2. Inappropriate water quality.
The exposure routes of risk factors of different nature to the human body: