engleski

"Drinking Water in Rural Settings on Three Adriatic Islands”

The aim of this research was to analyse and compare drinking water supply systems of the three Adriatic islands: Mljet, Vis and Lastovo. The availability and quality of drinking water was observed as a health determinant, indicator of quality of life, and element of sustainable development in specific rural area. There are three sources of water on the islands: water from municipal water supply system, local water supply systems and household cisterns. Sanitary analyses were carried out for all categories. Further, natural sources of the drinking water were analysed: water springs, rain and mixtures of rain and municipal water in the private cisterns. Samples are compared by source, by water production capacity, number of users, and islands. Common problem for all islands is water shortage, especially during summer months. Existing local water supply systems that are sanitary controlled, and managed by municipality showed acceptable quality of drinking water. Most of the household water cisterns were poorly maintained, and water analyses showed microbiological contamination while the chemical contamination is not significant. The results point small possibility of developing public water supply on all islands. There is no need to exclude neither of existing models of drinking water supply. The problem could be solved through the interventions on both levels: chlorination and better mantainment of local water supply systems and cisterns. These corrections could improve quality of drinking water as well as quality of life and future development of this area.

drinking water; Adriatic islands;

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