Objective In order to establish an integrated index which is suitable for evaluation of drinking water quality from the perspective of health impact assessment, and to examine the overall quality of drinking water in Shanghai in 2007.
Methods The candidate indices were classified into five categories according to their health impacts, and each integrated index values were calculated by using Nemerow index and minimum operator, meanwhile the health-based weighting coefficients were determined by the Delphi expert consultant method, and lastly then integrated index of overall quality of drinking water in Shanghai in 2007 was evaluated and analyzed.
Results An integrated index assessment system for drinking water was established. There was no significant difference in drinking water quality between urban and suburban areas in Shanghai in 2007. Although the drinking water quality in 2007 all meet the national standard for drinking water quality, compared with other quarters, the first quarter had the worse drinking water quality which showed significant statistic difference. Tap water supplied by municipal water plants was the best one among the whole different supply waters. And also the Yangtze River was the best water resource for drinking water in Shanghai.
Conclusion The integrated index set in this study can be used to evaluate the drinking water quality in Shanghai and is worth promoting and expanding. Generally, the drinking water in Shanghai is good and meets the related national standards.
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