Assessment of Drinking Water Quality in Mazandaran Province, Iran

One of the most basic human needs is access to safe and sanitary water. The effects of surface and groundwater pollution on public health are one of the most important human concerns. The basis for judging the health and potability of any water is its physical, chemical and microbial characteristics. This study aimed to evaluate the quality of urban drinking water in the eastern, western, and central regions of Mazandaran Province, Iran, and to compare it with international standards. Water samples were collected from various outlets and consumption points in three cities across different seasons and were subjected to a range of physical, chemical, and microbiological tests. The results indicated that all parameters fell within healthy limits and met the basic standards for drinking water, both in Iran and globally. However, fluoride levels were found to be below the standard, which may pose risks to oral health, and water hardness was somewhat high. In conclusion, while the drinking water in the eastern, western, and central regions of Mazandaran Province is deemed safe, ongoing monitoring is essential to maintain long-term safety and quality, particularly concerning fluoride and hardness levels.