Providing the population with high-quality drinking water is one of the most priority problems of today. This problem concerns both centralized and decentralized water supply. It should be noted that the armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine caused the destruction of water supply networks in some settlements, and the number of the population consuming water from decentralized sources has increased. According to statistics, 75% of the rural population of Ukraine consumes water from decentralized water supply sources, namely from public and individual, located on the territories of private estates, wells (tubular or mine). Accordingly, this may be an additional factor in increasing the number of poisonings with poor-quality water. In accordance with the decision of the extraordinary meeting of the regional commission on technogenic and environmental safety and emergencies of the Kharkiv region dated January 16, 2025, the Main Department of the State Service for Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection in the Kharkiv region emphasizes that the non-compliance of drinking water with sanitary and epidemiological requirements is the main reason for the increase in the incidence of infectious diseases among the population, as well as diseases associated with chemical water pollution, in particular, water-nitrate methemoglobinemia.
And, first of all, this applies to nitrates. Water-nitrate methemoglobinemia is a disease caused by a significant increase in the content of methemoglobin in the blood, which is formed as a result of the toxic effect of nitrates on hemoglobin, which leads to impaired oxygen transport by the blood and oxygen starvation of tissues (hypoxia).
High-risk groups include children under 3 years of age and infants who are formula-fed with formulas prepared with water with a high nitrate concentration (over 50 mg/l), the elderly, people with anemia and cardiovascular diseases. Nitrate poisoning is also possible through juice made from early vegetables with a high nitrate content.
In order to prevent children from developing water-nitrate methemoglobinemia, we recommend that you follow these measures:
- do not use drinking water from wells and boreholes in which the nitrate content exceeds the regulatory indicators. For cooking and drinking purposes for children under 3 years of age, use drinking water that is clean from nitrates, confirmed by a laboratory, or packaged/bottled table water;
- comply with hygiene requirements when installing and operating wells (insulating the walls of the well, installing a clay castle around it, fencing, canopy, cover, common bucket, etc.);
- According to sanitary requirements, wells must be cleaned at least once a year, namely: pump out the water, clean the walls with metal brushes from plaque and the bottom from sediment, unnecessary things that could accidentally get into the well, with subsequent disinfection. After that, the water must be pumped out again and the well must be used after the next filling;
- It is important to remember that within a radius of 50 m from wells, it is not allowed to wash vehicles, water animals, arrange reservoirs for waterfowl, and conduct other activities that may lead to soil and water pollution;
- Well locations should be located in an uncontaminated and protected area, which is upstream of groundwater, at a distance of at least 30 m from highways with heavy traffic and at least 50 m (for individual wells - at least 20 m) from toilets, cesspools, sewage structures and networks, fertilizer and pesticide warehouses, and livestock holding areas;
- Water contaminated with nitrates can only be used for laundry, dishwashing, cleaning, etc.;
- At the first clinical manifestations of poisoning in children (diarrhea, cyanosis of the skin, suffocation, rapid heartbeat, convulsions), immediately seek qualified medical help.
It should be remembered that nitrates are quite stable chemical compounds that are not destroyed by boiling, settling, or disinfection. Water contaminated with nitrates, even in very high concentrations, is clean, transparent, without a specific odor or impurities, and tastes normal.
You can only find out if the water you are consuming is of good quality by having it tested in a laboratory.
We draw special attention to the need for residents of areas where flooding of water supply sources often occurs, in particular those who use water from these sources to prepare food for children under 3 years old, to the need to have information about water quality in order to prevent poisoning of children.