HYGIENIC ASSESSMENT OF THE IMPACT OF THE WAR ON THE STATE OF DRINKING WATER SUPPLY IN THE CITY OF KRYVYI RIH

Abstract

Purpose: to investigate the state of drinking water in different districts of the city of Kryvyi Rih according to basic sanitary and hygienic indicators. Materials and Methods. In the Laboratory of Ion Exchange and Adsorption of the Faculty of Chemical Technology of the National Technical University of Ukraine “Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute” in July 2025, drinking water samples from seven districts of the city of Kryvyi Rih were tested. The water was tested for nine main physicochemical quality indicators: acidity (pH), color, turbidity, total hardness, alkalinity, total iron content, manganese and nitrate concentrations, permanganate oxidation and dry residue level. Results. The results of the study of a drinking water sample obtained in the Saksagansky district caused considerable concern. The samples recorded high values of total hardness – 21.2 mg-eq/dm³ (with a norm of up to 7), as well as dry residue – 2750 mg/dm³ (with a norm of up to 1000). In addition, the iron content in the water exceeded the maximum permissible value (0.322 mg/dm³ with a norm of <0.2), which affected its color, smell and taste. Permanganate oxidation – another important indicator that signals the presence of organic impurities – reached 6.75 mg/dm³, while the norm should not exceed 5. The water looked cloudy, with increased color (26° with a norm of up to 20°). Similar results were obtained in the Pokrovsky and Dovgyntsevsky districts. The situation was even more complicated in the Ingulets and Terniv districts, where water supply is often interrupted. The tap water had an algae smell, increased turbidity and high color – up to 35°. The hardness reached 20 mg-eq/dm³, and the dry residue – over 2600 mg/dm³. The organoleptic properties raised doubts about the safety of the water even for household use. The situation was somewhat better in the Metallurgical district, where the water hardness fluctuated at 15.8 mg-eq/dm³, and the dry residue – 2200 mg/dm³. Iron was recorded within 0.25 mg/dm³, which slightly exceeded the permissible level, but significantly lower than the critical indicators of other districts. Conclusions. As a result of the study, it was found that the water in many cases does not meet modern safety standards. Therefore, local authorities face a task – not just to provide water as a resource, but to guarantee its quality as a condition for preserving the health of the local population.