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Targeted private well outreach following a change in drinking water standard: Arsenic and the New Jersey Private Well Testing Act
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2023
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Source: J Public Health Manag Pract. 29(1):E29-E36
[PDF-420.62 KB]
Details:
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Alternative Title:J Public Health Manag Pract
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Personal Author:
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Description:Context:
When the New Jersey Private Well Testing Act (PWTA) became effective in 2002, the maximum contaminant level (MCL) for arsenic in the United States was 50 micrograms per liter (μg/L). In 2006, the federal and New Jersey MCLs were lowered to 10 μg/L and 5 μg/L, respectively.
Objective:
To notify and provide free arsenic water testing for homeowners who had a PWTA arsenic result that passed for the MCL in 2006 or earlier but would exceed under the more health protective MCL enacted in 2006, which is still in effect as of this publication date.
Design:
About 1 200 homeowners with PWTA arsenic results between 5–50 μg/L were offered free arsenic water testing. Over 400 homeowners requested tests and 292 returned samples.
Setting:
New Jersey, United States
Participants:
Homeowners with a passing PWTA arsenic result before 2006 that would have failed under the NJ arsenic MCL enacted in 2006
Main Outcome Measures:
Return rate of testing kits; number of tests exceeding arsenic MCL; and participant survey results
Results:
Untreated well water samples (n=279) were collected and 62.4% exceeded the NJ MCL. Treated well water samples (n=102) were collected and 11.8% exceeded the current NJ MCL. In all, about 40% of drinking water samples from the tap, including those with or without arsenic treatment, exceeded the NJ MCL. A survey of participants (n=69) found that although many (67%) respondents reported that they at least had some idea that wells in their area are vulnerable to naturally occurring contaminants, such as arsenic, many (68%) reported they had little or no idea that the NJ arsenic MCL had been lowered from 50 μg/L to 5 μg/L in 2006.
Conclusions:
This effort further illuminates the necessity and significance of public health outreach for private well water users, especially after drinking water standards change.
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Source:
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Pubmed ID:36070573
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Pubmed Central ID:PMC9712494
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