To learn about the arsenic status of drinking water in Urumqi City and evaluate its health risk, so as to provide scientific basis for the construction of water improvement projects in Urumqi City.

From 2018 to 2020, 687 water samples were collected at monitoring sites in 7 districts and 1 county of Urumqi City for three consecutive years, and arsenic in drinking water was detected according to "Standard Examination Methods for Drinking Water - Nonmetal Parameters" (GB/T 5750.5-2006), and the arsenic in drinking water was evaluated according to "Standards for Drinking Water" (GB/T 5749-2006). The health risk of arsenic in drinking water in Urumqi City was evaluated by using the health risk assessment model recommended by United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA).

All of 687 water samples were centralized water supply, the arsenic compliance rates in dry season (n = 342) and wet season (n = 345), surface water (n = 414) and underground water (n = 273) were 100.0%. In dry season, the carcinogenic risk of arsenic via drinking water was 8.24 × 10^-6/a. In wet season, the carcinogenic risk of arsenic via drinking water was 3.30 × 10^-6/a.

Remarkable achievements have been made in the construction of water improvement projects in Urumqi City, and the drinking water arsenic condition is good, the health risk of arsenic via drinking water is small. In the future, we should continue to strengthen the monitoring of drinking water quality, promote the construction of water improvement projects, further improve the drinking water sanitation, and put forward targeted prevention and control measures to ensure drinking water safety.

Drinking water; Water arsenic; Health risks