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A pilot study on the feasibility of testing residential tap water in North Carolina: implications for environmental justice and health

Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology volume 31, pages 972–978 (2021)Cite this article

Abstract

Background

In 2015 alone, community water systems serving about 21 million Americans violated the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s (US-EPA) water quality standards. While water at community treatment and distribution centers is regularly monitored and tested, little is known about pollutants in the water systems at the household level.

Aims

This pilot study assessed the feasibility of (1) testing for the presence and concentration of 14 contaminants and physicochemical parameters in household tap water in a low-income neighborhood and (2) using community engagement for recruitment and citizen science approaches to data collection.

Methods

We used a multistage approach that included geo-mapping to delineate testing sites, community engagement for recruitment and citizen science approaches to increase the response rate. We used a 14-in-one dipstick test designed to measure trace amounts of heavy metals, non-metallic elements, and physicochemical water properties in drinking water in a sample of 70 homes.

Results

In 50%, 25%, and 7% of water samples tested, the concentration of mercury, lead, and chromium, respectively, were higher than US-EPA drinking water standards. Citizen science approaches were effective for increasing response rates and low-income household participation in water quality testing.

Significance

The overlap between poverty, older homes, and high concentrations of potentially toxic metals in drinking water presents concerns for community health. Our pilot community engagement and citizen science approaches are likely scalable and would be of benefit to both the scientific community and to municipalities with constrained budgets. Future studies may examine the role of the principles of environmental justice in the distribution and prevalence of toxic elements in drinking water.

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Fig. 1: Research scheme of this study.
Fig. 2: Poverty & median year of house built in selected North Carolinian neighborhood.
Fig. 3: Participant’s photo of water test strip.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank all study participants and research team members. We would also like to thank the University of North Carolina’s Child and Family Research Network (CFRN) for supporting this project.

Funding

This pilot study was funded by the University of North Carolina’s Child and Family Research Network (CFRN). CFRN supported the Project Coordinators, the costs of collecting water samples, testing the water samples, and providing filters to families whose tap water indicated potentially harmful contaminants and characteristics.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Public Health Education, University of North Carolina – Greensboro, Greensboro, USA

    Love Odetola & Sharon Morrison

  2. Department of Sociology, University of North Carolina – Greensboro, Greensboro, USA

    Stephen Sills

  3. Center for Housing & Community Studies, University of North Carolina – Greensboro, Greensboro, USA

    Stephen Sills

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  1. Love Odetola
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Contributions

LO co-designed the work that led to manuscript submission, collected the data, interpreted the results, and drafted the manuscript. SS conceived the work that led to submission and played an important role in acquiring and interpreting the data. SM conceived the work that led to submission and played an important role in interpreting the results. All authors read and made revisions to the article and are accountable for all aspects of the work.

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Correspondence to Love Odetola.

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Odetola, L., Sills, S. & Morrison, S. A pilot study on the feasibility of testing residential tap water in North Carolina: implications for environmental justice and health. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol 31, 972–978 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41370-021-00352-2

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