Problems of providing Russian Arctic population with high quality drinking water

Abstract

Regulation of drinking water quality remains the most important area of protecting health and improving quality of life of Russian Federation population, including that living in Russian Arctic. Problems of providing Russian Arctic zone population with drinking water are discussed. We studied laboratory test findings of drinking water supplied by centralized systems in Russian Arctic populated areas and data on population provision with high quality drinking water in 2007-2018. In 2018 provision of Russian Arctic territory population with centralized water supply amounted to 95.4% and almost 100% for urban residents. However, a number of residential communities, especially in Sakha Republic (Yakutia) do not have centralized water supply sources. 89.3% of Russian arctic population was provided with drinking water complying with safety requirements (in Russian Federation it was 91.35%). Satisfactory situation with drinking water is due to the cities and urban-type communities where majority of Russian Arctic population live. The worst situation is reported on Arctic territories of Sakha Republic (Yakutia) and Nenets Autonomous District. Regional programs adopted in all Russian Arctic entities for increasing drinking water quality are aimed at improving the situation related to provision of population with high-quality drinking water.