Objective  To examine current situation of drinking water safety and its main impact factors in rural schools in Hunan province for providing evidences to develop effective measures on improving drinking water safety in the schools by governmental agencies.

  Methods  We conducted monitoring surveys on drinking water quality in 83 schools randomly selected in 18 counties or districts in Hunan province from May to October 2016. National Standard Test Method for Drinking Water (GB5750-2006) and Standard for Drinking Water Hygiene (GB 5749-2006) were adopted in detection and evaluation of drinking water quality.

  Results  For all schools surveyed, the overall qualification rate of drinking water quality was 40.96% and the unqualification rate was 59.04%, with the qualification rate of 100% for toxicological indicators, 85.5% for sensory properties and general chemical indicators, 69.4% for microbial indicators, and 45.2% for disinfection indicators. The location and grade of the schools showed no obvious influence on the qualification rate of drinking water quality; however, the status of economic development and the way of drinking water supply had obvious influence on the qualification rate. The results of binary logistic regression analyses showed that the degree of economic development was positively correlated with the qualification rate and the centralized water supply was superior to the small centralized water supply and the decentralized water supply in drinking water quality.

  Conclusion  The qualification rate of drinking water quality in rural schools, especially in those located in economically underdeveloped regions or with decentralized water supply, in Hunan province needs to be improved.