Study of drinking water in I.R.I army units

The study was performed because of importance of supplying and distribution of safe drinking and also easy spreading of water-borne diseases in garrisons، which persons are in close contact. Methods and Materials: The study was performed in 2004 on 172 major I. R. Army Units. Required data were collected using questionnaires. Collected data were analyzed using SPSS 11. 5. The most studied units were belonging to army (72. 1%) and the Join HQ (0. 6%). Results showed that “deep well” is the most common water resource (35. 5%) and “piped water and water container” that Contain water of deep well is the least one (1. 2%). About 30. 3% of units do not apply any disinfection. To determine water quality، 18. 7% do not perform any examination، while remained 81. 3% use one of the microbial or chemical tests or pH metery or combination of methods. Military units are located out of city limits، and there is no access to piped water، so water source، disinfection and monitoring is magnified. Water resources are safe in most units: piped water or water container that is from piped water، deep well and spring، which have high quality. Only 1. 7% uses semi-deep well water. 30% of units do not perform disinfection، which have piped water. But high percentage of units that use manual chlorination is noticeable. Operators are not skilled and are not aware of exact chlorine doses. About 18. 1 percent do not perform any exam on water، and also 20% do not perform microbial tests. Although it is possible that their water source be piped water، but these tests are quality confirmation tools and must be performed in all point of use، as it is done in cities by Health Centers. Finally، drinking water condition in I. R. Army Units is good، because there is no reports of water borne outbreaks during past years، but it''s connection to piped water network is recommended.