Sanitary condition and improvement of the city of Cherepovets in the 1920s

We pay attention to the relevant and poorly studied topic of sanitary condition and improvement problems of the small Russian city in the first decade of Soviet regime. The aim of the study is to identify the changes that have occurred in the sanitary condition of the provincial city under the influence of modernization processes. In this case, the sanitary condition is considered as a set of indicators characterizing technologies and practices of water supply and waste disposal, condition and pollution of city streets, squares, yards and reservoirs. The analysis of the sanitary state and the degree of well-being of the dynamically developing governorate city with a population of just over 18 thousand people allowed filling the gap of the urban environment daily history of the early Soviet period and identifying the key factors of exacerbation of sanitary problems. As a result, it was found that Cherepovets, as well as more large Soviet cities were characterized by pollution problems of the urban area and water basins, which had a significant impact on the sanitary situation. The deterioration of housing conditions and reduced material well-being compared to the previous period also had a negative impact on the sanitary situation in the city. We should note the efforts of the city authorities and a number of representatives of the city community aimed at health education of the population and addressing issues related to the urban environment improvement.

urban environment, sanitary condition, everyday practice, improvement, traditions, innovations