Grantee Research Project Results

2012 Progress Report: Water Infrastructure Sustainability and Health in Alabama’s Black Belt

EPA Grant Number: R834866
Title: Water Infrastructure Sustainability and Health in Alabama’s Black Belt
Investigators: Johnson, Pauline , Stauber, Christine , Brown, Joe , Olson, Julie
Institution: The University of Alabama at Birmingham , Georgia State University
EPA Project Officer: Packard, Benjamin H
Project Period: August 1, 2011 through September 30, 2015 (Extended to September 30, 2016)
Project Period Covered by this Report: August 1, 2011 through September 30,2012
Project Amount: $598,739
RFA: Advancing Public Health Protection through Water Infrastructure Sustainability (2009) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Drinking Water , Water

Objective:

Objectives of this study are to: (1) assess public health impacts associated with rural water supply system performance and water quality across a range of small public and private utilities in rural Alabama, (2) conduct a quantitative microbial risk assessment using measured water quality exposure data, (3) identify possible transmission pathways for waterborne pathogens in rural water supply systems, and (4) identify low-cost, practicable risk mitigation strategies to protect public health.

Progress Summary:

To date, we have completed the first round of sampling in two of three counties and completed an initial survey on onsite sanitation access and function. At the conclusion of year 1, we have enrolled and initially interviewed approximately 650 of the total 900 households. Complete data for 445 households has been recorded as of the date of this writing. Based on data to date, the 7-day prevalence of highly credible gastrointestinal illness (HCGI) is approximately 3.9 percent in this population, based on data from 1,188 individuals. A total of 114 household-level samples were positive for Total Coliform and 7 samples were positive for E. coli. Pathogen data are not yet available. Considerable variability in pressure, turbidity, and free and total chlorine were noted across samples and systems, with most being within an acceptable range. We have not yet completed a full analysis of predictors of low chlorine or low/high pressure, or microbial water quality. Onsite sanitation data indicate a high prevalence of failure.

Future Activities:

Future activities include pathogen sampling across systems, additional rounds of surveillance among enrolled households, and analysis of health data. Quantitative microbial risk assessment models will be constructed to make use of microbial data, and together with partners, we are working with systems to pilot Water Safety Plans with systems.

Journal Articles:

No journal articles submitted with this report: View all 12 publications for this project

Supplemental Keywords:

Drinking water, health effects, sensitive populations, risk assessment

Progress and Final Reports:

Original Abstract

The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.