[The origin of long-distance water supply in the central German area and its significance from a hygienic viewpoint].

By means of the climatic, hydrological and hydrogeological conditions in the middle German area the unfavorable water household also due to anthropogenic influences caused through mining and industry will be described. These conditions have, already in the first half of this century, lead to disadvantages concerning the drinking water supply for the population in this territory. Based on older ideas for improving the water supply in the middle German area the long-distance water supply system Elbaue-Ostharz was built after the 2. world war using the water supplies of the river Bode in the Harz, of the Elbaue as well as water from the Dübener Heide to overcome the bad water supply situation in middle Germany. In this connection the efforts of the public health service for improving the drinking water quality in the former country of Sachsen-Anhalt in the DDR will be described. Due to an increased connection of the population in the middle German area with local central water supplies as well as with the long-distance water supply up to 1990 92% of the population could be supplied with drinking water from central water supplies. Nevertheless it was not possible to manage all problems of drinking water quality up to 1990. These problems concerned local central water supplies due to not existing or inadequate plants for water refinement in waterworks and poor conditions of the drinking water pipe nets. Despite all an increasing improvement of the drinking water could be registered as a result of decrease in drinking water consumption, the shutting of water works with water catchments on hygienic unfavorable places, the refurbishment of water works and the further connection from communes with long-distance water supplies. At present and in future too the long-distance water supply will be necessary for the middle German area to guarantee a sufficient quantity as well as quality of drinking water for the population in this territory.