2021 No https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1438463920305964?via%3Dihub Hu, Fen Asia Elementary (K-5) Middle/Jr High (6-8) Direct drinking water Elementary and middle school Children Water safety Health Results showed that the CFU, residual chlorine, COD, and turbidity of direct-drinking water in Shanghai elementary and middle schools ranged from <LOD->300 cfu/mL, <LOD-0.670 mg/L, 0.090–2.710 mg/L, and 0.100–2.050 NTU, respectively. The results of simple linear regression analysis indicated that the CFU of direct-drinking water significantly increased when water temperature was between 25 and 60 °C (β = 19.862, p = 0.030), but it was decreased at 60–100 °C (β = - 16.387, p = 0.046). Additionally, the CFU was higher in elementary schools than middle schools, which was also affected by faucet type and water treatment technology (p = 0.006, 0.012 and 0.042, respectively). The residual chlorine in direct-drinking water significantly increased when there was no toilet within 10 m (β = 0.012, p = 0.045). The COD of direct-drinking water was significantly higher in rural areas and in warm water, compared to urban areas (p = 0.033) and room temperature water (p = 0.000), respectively. The turbidity of direct-drinking water was significantly higher in urban areas and water using UF/MF technology, compared to rural areas (p = 0.030) and RO technology (p = 0.009), respectively. The results of multiple linear regressions analysis drew the same conclusions.