A Risk Assessment of the Tap Drinking Water Quality in a Water Distribution System Based on Consumer Complaints

Abstract

The clean drinking water is still the single major factor adversely influencing the general health and life expectancy of a population in many developing countries. In China, with the economical development, the quality of drinking water is currently receiving more and more attentions, the newest drinking water standards (2006) for municipal (unbottled) water was defined a quality of water that is safe and acceptable to the consumer. To ensure the safety of water supply quality, there is water quality monitor system in water supply areas. However, because water distribution system data for real cities contains sensitive information, it is necessary and understandable for it to remain confidential. Unfortunately, this poses a constraint on the research community, as results and methods cannot be shared and publicized. In China, if the consumers are not satisfied the drinking water quality, he can complaint to the water supply corporation, which must be responsible for the consumer satisfaction. And now many local residents constantly complain is not about the disagreeable drinking water taste, but about water color, high hardness, etc. The results of consumer complaints are also directly reflecting the water quality in distribution system. The goal of this study is to evaluate the water quality variations throughout the urban distribution system on their perceptions of tap water quality based on the consumer complaints. The records of consumer complaints are from Juan. 2008 to May 2009, total 400 records in Zhenjiang city. The analysis of consumer complaints include two parts: the first is the change trend in different period, and the reasons of complaints. Second, that is the key point, is the spatial characteristic of consumer perception in the water distribution systems, which will be more useful to analysis the total water quality assessment of distribution systems. According to the results, the risk areas will be divided in water supply area.