Archives of

1. Introduction
Earth’s water generally includes all the water that exists in different forms on the earth and in the atmosphere [1]. Water makes up about 56% of the body weight of living beings and is undoubtedly considered a vital combination for all creatures on earth [2]. Access to safe drinking water sources is an important issue in many countries of the world. Based on reported of the World Health Organization (WHO), 1.1 billion people in the world do not have access to safe drinking water every year, and about 08% of children’s deaths due to digestive diseases such as diarrhea occur after consuming contaminated drinking water [3,4].
From this point of view, the physical, chemical and microbial properties of water are very important in ensuring the health and safety of drinking water and the level of satisfaction of consumers. Physical parameters are those characteristics of water that can be recognized by the senses of sight, touch, taste and smell [2,5].
Water resources play an important role in biological, ecological, social balance, economic growth and industrial development. Khuzestan province due to having huge water resources of the rivers Karun, Arvand, Dar and Karkheh, some of these rivers are also the communication route of the neighboring countries [6,7]. These sources play a very important role in the transfer of petroleum products and the export and import of commercial and agricultural goods [6,7]. The Karun River is the longest and most abundant river in the country, which has a strategic position in the western
and southwestern regions of Iran due to the existence of
numerous industrial centers, agricultural lands and large
cities on its outskirts, and the optimal monitoring of its
water quality is a national necessity [7].
According to the layers and layers of the earth and
the composition of the tributaries, the presence of salt
water in the river, as well as the transport of sediments
and other soluble salts, reduces the quality of water. The
direct and unfiltered discharge of all kinds of sewage from
agricultural lands, industrial effluents and domestic urban
sewage and villages in the plain of Khuzestan causes an
increase in all kinds of physical or chemical and biological
pollution of the water of the Karun River due to the direct
and unfiltered discharge of these effluents [8-11].
Considering the importance of the subject of the
present study was performed with the aim of determining
the critical points Ahvaz drinking water in Ahvaz at
southwest of Iran in the year 2019 to 2022 (3 years).
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. The study area
This descriptive-cross-sectional study was conducted
in Ahvaz drinking water, located in southwest Iran in
2022 (Figure 1). Ahvaz is located at 31 degrees and 30
minutes of latitude north and 48 degrees and 65 minutes
of longitude east, in the plains of Khuzestan, at a height of
12 meters above sea level [12,13].
2.2. Method, data collection and statistical analysis
This study was conducted a cross-sectional descriptive
study to investigating and determining the critical points
Ahvaz drinking water in Ahvaz at southwest of Iran in the
year 2019 to 2022.
The tools used in this study included a reviewing the
articles and library studies, the required information is
gathered. In this study, using the qualitative results of
the central laboratory of the deputy health department of
Jundishapur Ahvaz University of Medical Sciences (West
and East Health Center), Ahvaz, during the years 2021
to 2022, the quality of drinking water in this city will be
investigated and discussed. Finally, the collected data on
the physical and chemical quality and bacteriology of
Ahvaz drinking water will be analyzed using statistical
analysis.
2.3. Statistical analysis of data
In the section of the cross-sectional study, central
indices, dispersion, frequency, percentages and analysis
of variance were used to identify the difference between
different variables related to the physical, chemical and
bacteriological quality of Ahvaz drinking water. The
normality of the data was checked through the Shapiro-
Wilk test, then the one-way analysis of variance test,
and to ensure the normality of the data, a parametric
test was used to compare the averages in different
Figure 1. The location of the study areas
Mahmodian et al
194 Arch Hyg Sci. Volume 12, Number 4, 2023
stations. Sperman’s correlation test was used to check the
correlation between the data. Comparison of averages in
different stations was done using ANOVA test. The data
analyzed were used to SPSS version 16 statistical software.
3. Results
The findings obtained from the study in the form of
various tables and charts in the general section of the
determining the critical points Ahvaz drinking water.
Table 1 shows the results of the causes of the city’s
drinking water crisis in the east and west regions of
Ahvaz during the years 2019 to 2022. Table 1 displays
the flooding of roads, sewage over flow, flooding of
roads, broken water pipe, absence of manhole door,
unstandardized turbidity, no chlorine, unstandardized
chlorine, unstandardized sample. In total, there is a
significant difference in the occurrence of causes of crisis
in the water network between the east and west regions of
Ahvaz, and the east region includes a higher percentage
of the causes of crisis (Table 1).
In total, there is a significant difference in the
occurrence of crisis causes in the water network between
the east and west regions of Ahvaz, and the east region
(86.4% percent of crisis cases) has a higher percentage of
crisis causes than the west region of Ahvaz (13.6% from
crisis cases) is included (Table 1).
Figure 2 shows the comparison of the causes of the
city’s drinking water crisis in the east and west regions of
Ahvaz during the years 2019 to 2022. Flooding of roads,
sewage over flow, flooding of roads, broken water pipe,
absence of manhole door, unstandardized turbidity,
no chlorine, unstandardized chlorine, unstandardized
sample showed in Figure 2. The results show that out of
the total of 1098 crisis cases recorded in Ahvaz drinking
water distribution network, 949 of cases occurred in the
eastern region and 149 of cases occurred in the western
region of Ahvaz (Figure 2).
4. Discussion
The current study is a descriptive analytical study that was
Table 1. The causes of the city’s drinking water crisis in the east and west regions of Ahvaz during the years 2019 to 2022
Region
Total Test statistics (P value)
East of Ahvaz West of Ahvaz
Reason of crisis
Flooding of roads
Count 5 0 5 187.98 ( < 0.001)
% Within reason 100.0% 0.0% 100.0%
% Of total 0.5% 0.0% 0.5%
Sewage over flow
Count 195 72 267
% Within reason 73.0% 27.0% 100.0%
% Of total 17.8% 6.6% 24.3%
Broken water pipe
Count 110 62 172
% Within reason 64.0% 36.0% 100.0%
% Of total 10.0% 5.6% 15.7%
Absence of manhole door
Count 21 1 22
% Within reason 95.5% 4.5% 100.0%
% Of total 1.9% 0.1% 2.0%
Unstandardized turbidity
Count 182 8 190
% Within reason 95.8% 4.2% 100.0%
% Of total 16.6% 0.7% 17.3%
No chlorine
Count 218 5 223
% Within reason 97.8% 2.2% 100.0%
% Of total 19.9% 0.5% 20.3%
Unstandardized chlorine
Count 120 1 121
% Within reason 99.2% 0.8% 100.0%
% Of total 10.9% 0.1% 11.0%
Unstandardized sample
Count 98 0 98
% Within reason 100.0% 0.0% 100.0%
% Of total 8.9% 0.0% 8.9%
Total
Count 949 149 1098
% Within reason 86.4% 13.6% 100.0%
% Of total 86.4% 13.6% 100.0%
Arch Hyg Sci. Volume 12, Number 4, 2023 195
Critical points Ahvaz drinking water
conducted with the aim of investigating and determining
the critical points Ahvaz drinking water in southwest of
Iran 2019 to 2022.
In total, 24.3% of the causes of the crisis were sewage
over flows, out of 100% of cases sewage overflows, 73% of
cases occurred in the eastern region of Ahvaz (Table 1).
Also, based on result 0.5% of the causes of the crisis were
flooding of roads, from 100% of cases flooding of roads,
100% of cases occurred in the eastern region of Ahvaz
(Table 1).
Result showed that 15.7% of the causes of the crisis
were broken water pipe, out of 100% of cases broken
water pipe, 64% of cases occurred in the eastern region
of Ahvaz (Table 1). According to the result absence of
manhole door had 2% of the total cases that 95.5% of cases
occurred in the eastern region of Ahvaz (Table 1). 17.3%
of the causes of the crisis were unstandardized turbidity,
out of 100% of cases unstandardized turbidity, 95.8% of
cases occurred in the eastern region of Ahvaz (Table 1).
Result showed the 20.3% of the total of cases occurred
due to no chlorine that 97.8% of cases occurred in the
eastern region of Ahvaz. Unstandardized chlorine was
included 11 percent of the total cases that 99.2% of cases
occurred in the eastern region of Ahvaz (Table 1).
Figure 2 showed the number of cases in the eastern and
western regions of Ahvaz between 2019 and 2021. Out
of 190 cases, the cause of the crisis is due to unfavorable
turbidity in 8 cases in the western region and 182 cases in
the eastern region (Figure 2). Of the 121 cases, the cause
of the crisis is caused by undesirable chlorine, 1 case in
the west region and 120 cases in the east region (Figure 2).
Out of 172 cases, the cause of the crisis is due to broken
water pipes, 62 cases are in the west region and 110 cases
are in the east region (Figure 2). Out of 22 cases, the
cause of the crisis is due to the lack of sewage overflow
in 1 case in the western region and 21 cases in the eastern
region (Figure 2). Out of 267 cases, the cause of the crisis
is due to sewage overflow, 72 cases in the West region
and 195 cases in the East region (Figure 2). Of the 5 cases,
the cause of the crisis is caused by the flooding of roads,
0 cases in the western region and 5 cases in the eastern
region (Figure 2).
According to the studies and the obtained results,
despite the establishment of the sewage treatment plant
in East Ahvaz for several years, the said treatment plant
is still not in operation, and it does not cover all urban
areas in terms of collection, transmission and treatment
in Ahvaz drinking water. Non-implementation of the
comprehensive sewerage plan in some urban areas
and the existence of frequent overflows of sewage,
followed by numerous public complaints. Also, the
long implementation process of some water and sewage
improvement projects, street digging and creating
accident-prone areas. Many people’s complaints about
the turbidity of the water in some areas (muddy water).
Based on result this study in spite of the problems
mentioned, but quality of Ahvaz drinking water is within
the recommended range and compared to the standards
Figure 2. Comparison of the causes of the city’s drinking water crisis in the east and west regions of Ahvaz during the years 2019 to 2022
Mahmodian et al
196 Arch Hyg Sci. Volume 12, Number 4, 2023
of Iran and the World Health Organization, it has a
relatively favorable quality.
Critical elements drinking water distribution networks
in Tuindorp in Utrecht (the Netherlands) identifying
by Meijer et al [14]. They reported that the most critical
elements of a drinking water distribution networks were
deterioration of this ageing due to an increased leakage
and contamination risk [14]. In line with the present study,
Babanejad et al investigated the quality of drinking water
in the distribution network of Getab city in Mazandaran
province (Iran) [2]. The results showed that in 0.06% of
the samples, faecal coliform and in 6% of them, the plate
count of heterotrophic bacteria was positive [2].
Kalantari et al. studied quantitative and qualitative
drinking water resources of the villages in Qom province
by use of four stability indexes (corrosion and scaling
potential) [5]. The results illustrate that Qom village
water according to the Langelier index equals 1.62
( ± 0.11), according to The Ryznar stability index (RSI)
equals 10.5 ( ± 0.17), based on aggressive index equals
12.035 ( ± 0.14) and based on Pokurious index equals 9.92
( ± 0.13) respectively [5]. Comparison of four indexes
showed that water conditions in all villages of Qom is in
corrosive range [5].
Also, Izanloo et al in Qom province, Iran assessment
risk the critical points in the water safety plan based on
the characterization and validity of microbial indicator
control [15]. They reported that in 30 points, the critical
points were determined based on the fecal contamination
indicators using the DotMapper software. Based on the
risk assessment model and semi-quantitative method, the
urban water distribution network was considered highrisk
[15].
Hazards’ critical control points in water supply systems
investigated by Tsitsifli and Kanakoudis [16]. Based on
reported they pumps, valves, pipes and various tanks are
the main agents a drinking water supply system [16].
Einollahipeer et al. investigated some parameters that
determine the quality of drinking water in the Sistan
region and compared them with the existing standards
[17]. The results of their study showed that none of the
measured factors showed significant differences among
different stations. Based on the results reported in this
study, the amount of physical and chemical factors has
the same distribution and do not originate from point
sources [17].
The objectives of the drinking water safety program
are to ensure the quality of drinking water based on risk
management, which include prevention of contamination
of the source of drinking water, water treatment to
reduce or eliminate contamination to reach standards,
prevention of re-contamination of water during storage,
distribution and consumption.
5. Conclusion
In this study, we investigating and determining the
critical points Ahvaz drinking water. According to the
results of this study quality of drinking water is suitable
for the distribution network of Ahvaz.
The results of the data analysis showed that the best way
to ensure the quality of drinking water is to implement a
comprehensive management system with the cooperation
of all relevant organizations. In the present study,
according to the obtained results, it is suggested to the
equipping the water treatment plants with equipment
should be done so that the drinking water delivered
to the consumers of Ahvaz city has a higher quality,
increasing the quantitative and qualitative executive and
management capacity of water, adapting to valid global
health standards, correct maintenance of networks and
optimal use of existing systems, monitoring and timely
control should always be considered by the authorities
and operators of water affairs.
Acknowledgments
This work was part of a funded M.S thesis of Yazdan Mahmodian, a
student at Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, and
the financial support of this study (ETRC-0212) was provided by
Environmental Technologies Research Center.
Authors’ Contribution
Conceptualization: Yazdan Mahmodian, Mohammad Javad
Mohammadi.
Data curation: Yazdan Mahmodian, Fereshteh Filban, Majid
Farhadi.
Formal analysis: Saeed Ghanbari, Farshid Ghanbari, Mohammad
Javad Mohammadi.
Funding acquisition: Mohammad Javad Mohammadi.
Investigation: Yazdan Mahmodian, Saeed Ghanbari, Farshid
Ghanbari, Mohammad Javad Mohammadi.
Methodology: Saeed Ghanbari, Fereshteh Filban, Majid Farhadi,
Mohammad Javad Mohammadi.
Project administration: Mohammad Javad Mohammadi.
Resources: Saeed Ghanbari, Farshid Ghanbari, Mohammad Javad
Mohammadi.
Software: Saeed Ghanbari.
Supervision: Mohammad Javad Mohammadi.
Validation: Yazdan Mahmodian, Saeed Ghanbari, Fereshteh Filban,
Majid Farhadi, Mohammad Javad Mohammadi.
Visualization: Yazdan Mahmodian, Saeed Ghanbari, Fereshteh
Filban, Majid Farhadi, Mohammad Javad Mohammadi.
Writing–original draft: Yazdan Mahmodian, Saeed Ghanbari,
Farshid Ghanbari, Fereshteh Filban, Majid Farhadi, Mohammad
Javad Mohammadi.
Writing–review & editing: Yazdan Mahmodian, Saeed Ghanbari,
Farshid Ghanbari, Fereshteh Filban, Majid Farhadi, Mohammad
Javad Mohammadi.
Competing Interests
The authors declare no competing interests.
Consent for Publication
Not applicable.
Data Availability Statement
The datasets generated during and/or analyzed during the current
Arch Hyg Sci. Volume 12, Number 4, 2023 197
Critical points Ahvaz drinking water
study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable
request.
Ethical Approval
The Ethics Committee of Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical
Sciences approved the study protocol. This study was originally
approved by the Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences
with code IR.AJUMS.REC.1402.232.
Funding
This work was part of a funded at Ahvaz Jundishapur University of
Medical Sciences (AJUMS), and the financial support of this study
(IR.AJUMS.REC.1402.232) was provided by AJUMS.
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