Sanitary, Hygienic and Epidemiological Aspects of Recreational Water Use of the Population of the Upper Don River Basin

Abstract

Introduction: The problem of safe recreational water use is closely related to conditions of surface water bodies (rivers, reservoirs, lakes, and ponds) experiencing a significant anthropogenic load and their water quality. The purpose of the study was to assess safety of recreational water use of the population based on the results of testing water quality in the bodies of water of the Upper Don River basin. Materials and methods: In 2015–2019, surface water samples were taken at 73 water quality checkpoints of 26 water bodies and tested for chemical, microbiological and parasitological indicators. Test results were then used to assess hazards related to recreational water use of the population. Results: It was found that in 26 of 73 surveyed recreation areas (35.6 %) water quality failed to meet recreational water quality criteria. Poor microbiological water quality indicators were established at 21 of 73 sites (26.7 %) with the proportion of water samples with high thermotolerant and total coliform counts varying from 1.5 to 75.0 %. Risks of epidemic hazard posed by recreational water use were assessed to be the highest in three recreation areas (4.1 %) and moderate – in 18 areas (24.7 %). Conclusions: The estimated reliability of differences in the long-term incidence rates of infectious diseases probably related to microbiological surface water quality indicators (by Student’s t-test) confirmed the hypothesized association between poor microbiological water quality parameters and high incidence rates of acute intestinal infections and bacillary (Flexner) dysentery (p < 0.05). The findings demonstrate the necessity of implementing measures to ensure health and epidemic safety of recreational water use of the population.