Hygienic assessment of the quality of water bodies and water supply systems in one of the industrial cities of the Moscow Region (Krasnoarmeysk)

Introduction. Industrial cities are subject to increased anthropogenic pressure on water bodies due to wastewater discharges, surface runoff, and infrastructure deterioration. Krasnoarmeysk (the Moscow Region) is a typical example of such a territory: water supply is sourced from the Gzhel-Assel aquifer (with naturally elevated iron content), the Vorya River is used for recreational purposes, and wastewater disposal systems are characterized by a high degree of wear.

The aim of the study was a comprehensive hygienic assessment of water quality in the system “groundwater source – drinking water of the centralized supply system – wastewater – surface water body (the Vorya River)” in Krasnoarmeysk, the Moscow Region, based on retrospective analysis of monitoring data for 2018–2024 and an in-depth screening in 2025, with identification of priority risk factors.

Materials and Methods. Samples of drinking water (five water intake units), water from the Vorya River, and wastewater were analyzed. Over the observation period, more than 100 samples were analyzed for more than 100 parameters. Regression analysis and the Mann–Kendall test were used to identify statistically significant trends.

Results. For drinking water, the main problem remains episodic exceeding of the maximum permissible concentration (MPC) for iron (32.1% of samples in 2024, maximum concentrations of 1.5–2 MPC). In the Vorya River, an increase in petroleum product content (from 0.016 to 0.024 mg/L), ethylbenzene pollution up to 2.8 MPC in recreational areas, and persistent microbial contamination (exceeding for total coliform bacteria and enterococci in 30% of samples in 2024) were recorded. In wastewater, a decrease in concentrations of suspended solids, anionic surfactants, and petroleum products was observed; however, a persistently high phosphate load (11.6–14.25 mg/dm³) remains. The identified patterns indicate to the need for modernization of water treatment systems (iron removal) for groundwater and upgrading wastewater treatment to reduce the load on the surface water body.

Limitations. The research is limited to the characterization of waters within a single city.

Conclusion. Based on retrospective analysis (2018–2024) and in-depth screening (2025): drinking water meets standards, but requires iron adjustments. The Vorya River is microbiologically contaminated, and an upward trend in petroleum products was identified. Wastewater creates a persistent phosphate load, a factor in eutrophication.

Compliance with ethical standards. The study does not require approval from a biomedical ethics committee.

Contributions:
Alekseeva A.V. – concept and design of the study, writing text, approval of the final version of the article;
Savostikova O.N. – writing text, editing, approval of the final version of the article;
Stratan G.S. – writing text, editing;
Alekseev M.M. – material collection and data processing;
Malysheva A.G., Yudin S.M. – editing, approval of the final version of the article.
All co‑authors are responsible for the integrity of all parts of the article.

Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Funding. The research was conducted as part of a government assignment at the Center for Strategic Planning of the Federal medical and biological agency of Russia.

Received: March 23, 2026 / Revised: July 27, 2026 / Accepted: September 15, 2026 / Published: October 20, 2026

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