Grantee Research Project Results
Predicting Drinking Water Contamination from Extreme Weather to Reduce Early Life Contaminant Exposures
EPA Grant Number: R840181Title: Predicting Drinking Water Contamination from Extreme Weather to Reduce Early Life Contaminant Exposures
Investigators: Hochard, Jacob
Current Investigators: Hochard, Jacob , Clark, Kayla , Collier, David , Curtis, Scott , Etheridge, Randall , Kruse, Jamie , Peralta, Ariane
Institution: University of Wyoming
Current Institution: University of Wyoming , East Carolina University , The Citadel
EPA Project Officer: Aja, Hayley
Project Period: December 1, 2020 through November 30, 2023
Project Amount: $799,952
RFA: Contaminated Sites, Natural Disasters, Changing Environmental Conditions and Vulnerable Communities: Research to Build Resilience (2019) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Drinking Water , Endocrine Disruptors , Human Health , Safer Chemicals , Sustainable and Healthy Communities , Children's Health
Description:
Private wells are the drinking water source for over 43 million U.S. households but remain unregulated federally and are vulnerable to contamination from environmental hazards. Over 2 million North Carolina residents use wells in areas prone to hurricanes and floods, which can increase chemical and biological contamination (e.g., pathogenic bacteria) . Households near contaminated sites, such as animal feeding operations, hazardous waste and coal ash facilities are especially vulnerable to upgradient contaminants, which can be intensified by air temperature and precipitation trends. No mechanism exists for predicting contamination events and informing a cost-effective and human health-preserving intervention. Yet, large-scale and fine-resolution datasets, from federal, state and local agencies, have the potential to capture the complex human and physico-chemical interactions that predict contamination. Developing novel quantitative approaches that synthesize large and disparate data sets is critical to guiding interventions that could be used by local health offices to prevent early life exposures that impair cognitive development.
Objective:
Researchers propose a multidisciplinary (atmospheric science, economics, ecological engineering, design, pediatrics, microbiology, soil ecology) approach to (1) predict groundwater contamination that leads to human exposures, (2) based on predictive models, engage with county health offices to notify at-risk households with a newborn and (3) assess the impact of the risk messenger on risk mitigation choices. We hypothesize: (1a) chemical concentrations and coliform bacteria in wells relates to proximity to contaminated sites during precipitation events, (1b) bacterial contamination depends on source and seasonality, (1c) homes with aging wells are more vulnerable to contaminants, (3) risk communication from an ECU pediatrician promotes households’ risk mitigation behaviors.
Approach:
Researchers will synthesize soil, hydrological, meteorological and built infrastructure data alongside a statewide database of private well testing to predict contamination events using econometric and machine learning techniques. Households with a birth in the current year’s vital statistics, that are likely to have a contaminated well, will receive an alert and option for water testing from their county health office. The messenger of the alert will be assigned randomly as an ECU pediatrician or a county health official. Findings from new water tests will be used to groundtruth and improve the model’s predictive capacity.
Expected Results:
The research will (i) identify households most likely to be exposed and vulnerable to chemical and biological contaminants during severe weather, (ii) prevent impairments to cognitive development of newborns and (iii) evaluate the effectiveness of local public health offices partnering with university medical clinicians to communicate health risks.
Publications and Presentations:
Publications have been submitted on this project: View all 3 publications for this projectJournal Articles:
Journal Articles have been submitted on this project: View all 3 journal articles for this projectSupplemental Keywords:
Community-based risk management, averting behavior.Progress and Final Reports:
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.