EVOLUTION AND SOCIO-HYGIENIC IMPORTANCE OF DRINKING WATER CONSUMPTION

Introduction. Drinking water is essential for life and ecosystems, and population growth and urbanization are increasing the demand for water, energy and food, with agriculture being the largest consumer of fresh water. The use of fertilisers and pesticides threatens the quality of groundwater, which is crucial to the Sustainable Development Goals. In Europe, millions of people do not have access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation, which leads to infectious diseases and exposure to non-infectious agents. In the Republic of Moldova, 65% of total water consumption comes from groundwater, which presents problems of chemical and microbiological non-compliance, requiring more efficient energy and land use policies. Material and methods. This study is a narrative synthesis that analyzes legislative acts and scientific achievements in the field of water and health. The information was extracted from databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar and Scopus, using keywords in Romanian and English. The analyzed documents include scientific papers, normative acts and publications about the health of the population, focusing on the legislation of the Republic of Moldova and international regulations. The analysis identified trends, gaps and recommendations for the future, assessing the alignment of national regulations with international ones and the impact on public health. Results. Law no. 182 of 19 December 2019 of the Republic of Moldova defines drinking water as water intended for human consumption, including water used in the food industry, excluding natural and medicinal mineral water. Similarly, Law no. 458 of 8 July 2002 in Romania defines drinking water as water used for human consumption and in the food industry, with exceptions approved by the authorities. Historically, water treatment has evolved from ancient methods to modern filtration and purification technologies. The Republic of Moldova has adopted multiple international conventions on water protection, contributing to the improvement of national legislation. Currently, access to drinking water and sanitation in Moldova is uneven, affecting especially rural and poor households. In Romania, water resources are limited and their use must be managed carefully. Although tap water is generally safe, bottled water consumption is growing in Europe, influenced by negative perceptions and media reports about tap water quality. A United Nations study suggests that bottled water funds could provide universal access to drinking water and reduce plastic pollution. Conclusions. In the Republic of Moldova, the problem of access to quality drinking water persists, requiring informing and educating the population about water quality and pollution sources, as well as the implementation of governmental decisions and programs in the water and health sectors.