Bottled and Well Water Quality in a Small Central Appalachian Community: Household-Level Analysis of Enteric Pathogens, Inorganic Chemicals, and Health Outcomes in Rural Southwest Virginia

Alasdair Cohen, Md Rasheduzzaman, Amanda Darling, Leigh-Anne Krometis, Marc Edwards, Teresa Brown, Tahmina Ahmed, Erin Wettstone, Suporn Pholwat, Mami Taniuchi and Elizabeth T. Rogawski McQuade
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Alasdair Cohen: Department of Population Health Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
Md Rasheduzzaman: Department of Population Health Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
Amanda Darling: Department of Population Health Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
Leigh-Anne Krometis: Department of Biological Systems Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24060, USA
Marc Edwards: Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
Teresa Brown: Department of Natural Sciences, University of Virginia’s College at Wise, Wise, VA 24293, USA
Tahmina Ahmed: Department of Engineering Systems and Environment, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
Erin Wettstone: Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
Suporn Pholwat: Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
Mami Taniuchi: Department of Engineering Systems and Environment, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
Elizabeth T. Rogawski McQuade: Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 14, 1-12

Abstract: Consumption of unsafe drinking water is associated with a substantial burden of disease globally. In the US, ~1.8 million people in rural areas lack reliable access to safe drinking water. Our objective was to characterize and assess household-level water sources, water quality, and associated health outcomes in Central Appalachia. We collected survey data and water samples (tap, source, and bottled water) from consenting households in a small rural community without utility-supplied water in southwest Virginia. Water samples were analyzed for physicochemical parameters, total coliforms, E. coli , nitrate, sulfate, metals (e.g., arsenic, cadmium, lead), and 30+ enteric pathogens. Among the 69% ( n = 9) of households that participated, all had piped well water, though 67% ( n = 6) used bottled water as their primary drinking water source. Total coliforms were detected in water samples from 44.4% ( n = 4) of homes, E. coli in one home, and enteric pathogens ( Aeromonas , Campylobacter , Enterobacter ) in 33% ( n = 3) of homes. Tap water samples from 11% ( n = 1) of homes exceeded the EPA MCL for nitrate, and 33% ( n = 3) exceeded the EPA SMCL for iron. Among the 19 individuals residing in study households, reported diarrhea was 25% more likely in homes with measured E. coli and/or specific pathogens (risk ratio = 1.25, cluster-robust standard error = 1.64, p = 0.865). Although our sample size was small, our findings suggest that a considerable number of lower-income residents without utility-supplied water in rural areas of southwest Virginia may be exposed to microbiological and/or chemical contaminants in their water, and many, if not most, rely on bottled water as their primary source of drinking water.

Keywords: drinking water; environmental health; enteric pathogens; metals; well water; bottled water; rural health; Virginia; Appalachia (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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