Drinking water quality: results from the data analysis in Lombardy region

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Abstract Background Ensuring access to safe and quality drinking water is an essential aspect of public health, as well as a fundamental human right as an extension of the right to life affirmed by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Previously in Lombardy, the reporting of water sampling control activities was prepared only by the local health authorities (LHAs). Recently, however, the activation of a data centralization information system allows the monitoring of the whole regional territory and the elaboration of a periodic report. Methods The data relating to the analytical checks on drinking water in the Lombardy Region were extracted from the regional database for 2014, 2015 and 2016 and grouped by ’Chemical’, ’Microbiological’ and ’Indicators’ parameters. The analysis focused on the number and analytical compliance of all the samples performed. All the results considered both the overall regional data and each LHA. Results From a quantitative point of view, the activity of entering the sampling data seems to progressively improve, remaining rather heterogeneous among the various LHAs. From a qualitative point of view drinking water in Lombardy is to be considered good overall: both the chemical and microbiological non-compliant samples in Lombardy are lower than 10% for the years 2014 and 2015 and lower than 5% in 2016 thus indicating an apparently improving trend. Conclusions For a better evaluation of the numerical appropriateness of the controls carried out, an update of the registry system of the supply areas and a more uniform LHA programming is necessary. For a better assessment of the quality of water destined for human consumption oriented to the conformity of parameters, it is necessary to adopt an analytical judgment system on individual parameters instead of on the entire sample. A further improvement will be the inclusion in the database of the data of the aqueduct managers included in the Water Safety Plans (WSPs). Key messages Water quality assessment and its control activity reporting is an essential aspect in public health prevention. It is essential to strive for continuous improvement in the data collection method to better monitor potential risks and to evaluate the best future safe water supply strategies.