Approximately 25% of private wells in the United States that are used for drinking water contain contaminants that are known to increase the risk of chronic diseases. Arsenic and nitrate are the most frequently detected contaminants in well water. Homeowners are responsible for maintaining the quality of the drinking water provided by their private wells.
About 23% of Oregonians use private wells as their primary source of water. Until 2021, no programs existed in Oregon that provided well owners with well water treatment options, assisted with decision-making or provided counsel to overcome barriers to treatment.
In response, the Oregon State University Be Well Program leveraged the trusted relationships of Cooperative Extension Service community educators in local communities to educate, assist and motivate well owners to make decisions and set actionable steps to mitigate water contamination.
OSU conducted a four-year study on private water wells throughout the state to learn about the chemical contaminants in well water, the health of those who drink well water, and how Oregonians are maintaining their wells.
OSU Extension served as home health navigator to deliver individualized feedback, positive reinforcement and decision-making skills, among other things. The study participants received a free well water test from a certified lab in Oregon that measured arsenic, nitrate and lead. They also completed several questionnaires.
For the tests that showed higher than legal standards, the participants received either information on the maintenance of wells and treatment of well water, or researchers spoke with them directly on the maintenance of wells and treatment of well water.
The primary outcomes for the study included adoption of treatment to reduce exposure to arsenic, nitrate or lead in water which included switching to bottled water. A secondary outcome included increased health literacy scores and risk perception.
The researchers collected data through a regional survey of 2,170 well owners about their perception of treatment options and their relative costs. Over 30% of the sample experienced contaminated well water and 18% had water change color or taste, yet 75% hadn’t tested or treated their water.
The project resulted in three OSU Extension publications:
Funding was provided by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS grant #R01 ES031669), an institute of the National Institutes of Health, as well as funding from the Celia Strickland Austin and G. Kenneth Austin III Endowed Professor in Public Health at Oregon State University.