The article is devoted to the problems of studying the quality of drinking water from decentralized water supply sources of rural settlements. The preparatory stage of the study included: creation of a cartographic basis of the settlement; field reconnaissance routes; express analysis of drinking water quality; creation of situational plans of wells locations, and the basis for the ecological passport of the source of decentralized individual water supply (well). The relevance of the study is due to the deterioration of the quality of water as a source of domestic water supply. This is especially true for the rural population. There is a need to conduct an inventory and certification of wells in accordance with European standards and requirements, as well as modern technical and information capabilities. The ecological passport of a natural object is a system of diagnostic characteristics that allow one to get an idea of its condition and develop ways to improve it. In the process of researching the issue of certification of drinking water sources, we analyzed the accounting systems of these facilities in Canada and Germany. Our sample environmental passport was developed based on a study of groundwater in the village of Poromiv, Volyn region of Ukraine. The quality of drinking water is influenced by both the natural factors – geological structure and climate, and the intensive economic development of the surrounding area. The sample consisted of 40 wells. We used theoretical research methods: analysis, synthesis, abstraction and idealization. Such approaches implied the search for relationships between topological, hydrological and chemical parameters of individual observation points, as well as the ability to build idealized regression models to delineate areas for certification and detailed research. The formation of the information database was carried out using the methods of empirical knowledge. In particular, visual observations have identified potential sources of contamination (private farms – livestock sites, latrine pits, farmland, and infrastructure). They can affect the condition and quality of water in wells. With the help of a level meter, pH-meter, TDS meter and rapid tests for nitrates, the measurements of qualitative indicators that determine the overall hydrochemical state of groundwater were carried out. The general observations revealed non-compliance with the norms of placement of these objects. In particular, in many cases the norms of distance from sheds (more than 20 m) and cesspools (more than 50 m) relative to wells were violated. In addition, there is a general tendency to neglect the rules of formation of cesspools and manures, which contributes to the ingress of pollutants into the soil and subsequently into groundwater. In general, the accounting of wells and their diagnostic characteristics was developed in the form of a database in the ArcGIS environment and a passport of a separate source of water supply. It is proposed to add a situational plan with the location of the water supply source for the main polluting objects to the general technical characteristics. The number of indicators in the passport table can be adjusted depending on the potential sources of pollution and the abilities to monitor the water quality of a particular water user. The purpose of forming documentation of this type is to account and record the problems arising in the arrangement, location and operation of the well for their further solution. This will be the basis for identifying areas vulnerable to nitrate contamination. We identified a number of violations in the location of water supply sources in relation to economic facilities and structures within the study area, which was reflected in the increase of general hydrochemical indicators. Relationships between building density and quantitative values of pH, mineralization and nitrate content were recorded.
The final step of the research is to identify problematic sources of decentralized water supply from the viewpoint of population ecological well-being, as well as to develop proposals for the community and individual owners to improve the quality of drinking water.
Keywords: well, water supply, ecological passport, sources of pollution.
Household’s Willingness to Pay for Improved Water Supply Services in Mettu Town: An Assessment
