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Private Wells and Rural Health: Groundwater Contaminants of Emerging Concern

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Abstract

Purpose of Review

Approximately 12% of the population in the US and Canada rely on federally unregulated private wells, which are common in rural areas and may be susceptible to microbiological and chemical contamination. This review identifies and summarizes recent findings on contaminants of emerging concern in well water across the US and Canada.

Recent Findings

Private well water quality modeling is complicated by the substantial variability in contamination sources, well construction, well depth, and the hydrogeology of the environment surrounding the well. Temporal variation in contaminant levels in wells suggests the need for monitoring efforts with greater spatial and temporal coverage.

Summary

More extensive private well monitoring will help identify wells at greater risk of contamination, and in turn, public health efforts can focus on education and outreach to improve monitoring, maintaining, and treating private wells in these communities. Community interventions need to be coupled with stricter regulations and financing mechanisms that can support and protect private well owners.

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  1. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Public Health, Temple University, 1301 Cecil B. Moore Avenue, Ritter Annex – 9th Floor, Philadelphia, PA, 19122, USA

    Debbie Lee & Heather M. Murphy

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Lee, D., Murphy, H.M. Private Wells and Rural Health: Groundwater Contaminants of Emerging Concern. Curr Envir Health Rpt 7, 129–139 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40572-020-00267-4

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