HYGIENIC ASSESSMENT OF DRINKING-WATER QUALITY AND ITS POTENTIAL HEALTH IMPLICATIONS IN THE KHOREZM REGION, UZBEKISTAN: A STUDY PROTOCOL

Abstract

Background: Safe drinking water is fundamental to public health. In arid settings, groundwater mineralization, agricultural activity, ageing distribution networks and limited sanitation protection of decentralized supplies may affect water quality. The Khorezm region of Uzbekistan has environmental and hydrogeological conditions that warrant systematic assessment of drinking-water safety. Objective: This protocol describes a cross-sectional environmental health study designed to characterize physicochemical, microbiological and organoleptic quality of drinking water in the Khanka and Urgench districts and to explore associations with routinely recorded childhood morbidity. Methods: The study will collect 120 water samples from centralized supplies, shallow groundwater wells and artesian wells during four seasons. Planned analyses include pH, total dissolved solids, hardness, calcium, magnesium, nitrate, nitrite, ammonium, chloride, sulfate, fluoride, iron, selected metals, turbidity, colour, odour, taste, heterotrophic plate count, total coliforms, thermotolerant coliforms, Escherichia coli and enterococci. Results will be compared with applicable national requirements and WHO guideline values. Aggregate morbidity data among children aged 0–14 years will be analyzed using descriptive statistics and correlation analyses. Discussion: The study will provide locally relevant evidence for water-safety planning, sanitary protection of water sources and priority monitoring. No empirical results are reported in this protocol; results will be disseminated only after laboratory quality assurance and statistical analysis are completed