Disparities in drinking water compliance: Implications for incorporating equity into regulatory practices

Allaire, Maura; Acquah, Sarah

doi:10.1002/aws2.1274

Cited by 6 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 60 publications

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“…This is similar to studies that rely on SDWA violations or levels of other contaminants as a proxy for contamination, as researchers are often unable to directly measure PFAS exposure through drinking water consumption. 6 – 10 , 55 , 56 , 58 , 59 As a consequence of our approach, we are unable to interpret PFAS detections in drinking water as definite “exposure” to PFAS for several reasons.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

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Quantifying Disparities in Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Levels in Drinking Water from Overburdened Communities in New Jersey, 2019–2021

Mueller,

Salvatore,

Brown

et al. 2024

Environ Health Perspect

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Background: Policymakers have become increasingly concerned regarding the widespread exposure and toxicity of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). While concerns exist about unequal distribution of PFAS contamination in drinking water, research is lacking. Objectives: We assess the scope of PFAS contamination in drinking water in New Jersey (NJ), the first US state to develop regulatory levels for PFAS in drinking water. We test for inequities in PFAS concentrations by community sociodemographic characteristics. Methods: We use PFAS testing data for community water systems (CWS) ( ) from the NJ Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) from 2019 to 2021 and demographic data at the block group level from the US Census to estimate the demographics of the NJ population served by CWS. We use difference in means tests to determine whether CWSs serving “overburdened communities” (OBCs) have a statistically significant difference in likelihood of PFAS detections. OBCs are defined by the NJDEP to be census block groups in which: a ) at least 35% of the households qualify as low-income, b ) at least 40% of the residents identify as people of color, or c ) at least 40% of the households have limited English proficiency. We calculate statewide summary statistics to approximate the relative proportions of sociodemographic groups that are served by CWSs with PFAS detections. Results: We find that 63% of all CWSs tested by NJDEP from 2019 to 2021 had PFAS detections in public drinking water, collectively serving 84% of NJ’s population receiving water from CWSs. Additionally, CWSs serving OBCs had a statistically significant higher likelihood of PFAS detection and a higher likelihood of exposure above state MCLs. We also find that a larger proportion of people of color lived in CWS service areas with PFAS detections compared to the non-Hispanic white population. Discussion: These findings quantitatively identify disparities in PFAS contamination of drinking water by CWS service area and highlight the extent of PFAS drinking water contamination and the importance of PFAS remediation efforts for protecting environmental health and justice. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP12787

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

“… 1 – 5 Previous research on other contaminants in drinking water have focused on community water system (CWS) compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), while fewer studies use contaminant concentrations, to show disparities by the racial and/or ethnic composition of the served population. 6 – 10 …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quantifying Disparities in Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Levels in Drinking Water from Overburdened Communities in New Jersey, 2019–2021

Mueller,

Salvatore,

Brown

et al. 2024

Environ Health Perspect

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“…There is growing recognition that certain populations historically have been excluded or under-represented in water resource research. Underserved populations, therefore, have experienced a disproportionate hazard from poor water quality (Allaire & Acquah, 2022 ; Munene & Hall, 2019 ; Ravalli et al, 2022 ; Scanlon et al, 2022 ; Schaider et al, 2019 ). Four variables were chosen to represent historical disparity in the context of basin prioritization focused on geogenic constituents.…”

Section: Approachmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prioritizing water availability study settings to address geogenic contaminants and related societal factors

Erickson,

Brown,

Tomaszewski

et al. 2024

Environ Monit Assess

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Water availability for human and ecological uses depends on both water quantity and water quality. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is developing strategies for prioritizing regional-scale and watershed basin-scale studies of water availability across the nation. Previous USGS ranking processes for basin-scale studies incorporated primarily water quantity factors but are now considering additional water quality factors. This study presents a ranking based on the potential impacts of geogenic constituents on water quality and consideration of societal factors related to water quality. High-concentration geogenic constituents, including trace elements and radionuclides, are among the most prevalent contaminants limiting water availability in the USA and globally. Geogenic constituents commonly occur in groundwater because of subsurface water–rock interactions, and their distributions are controlled by complex geochemical processes. Geogenic constituent mobility can also be affected by human activities (e.g., mining, energy production, irrigation, and pumping). Societal factors and relations to drinking water sources and water quality information are often overlooked when evaluating research priorities. Sociodemographic characteristics, data gaps resulting from historical data-collection disparities, and infrastructure condition/age are examples of factors to consider regarding environmental justice. This paper presents approaches for ranking and prioritizing potential basin-scale study areas across the contiguous USA by considering a suite of conventional physical and geochemical variables related to geogenic constituents, with and without considering variables related to societal factors. Simultaneous consideration of societal and conventional factors could provide decision makers with more diverse, interdisciplinary tools to increase equity and reduce bias in prioritizing focused research areas and future water availability studies.

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“…Huber-Stearns et al (2015) found that PWS incentives are often geared to land owner type, so understanding local context was important for a program's implementation. Expansion of training and assistance could address many of these issues (Allaire & Acquah, 2022).…”

Section: Building Cws Capacity For Collaborationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Collaboration for source water protection in the United States: Community water systems engagement in nitrate pollution reduction

Rauh

Hughes

2023

WIREs Water

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Contaminated source water for cities contributes to negative human health impacts and rising water treatment costs. Nutrient pollution is the primary source of surface water quality impairment in the United States and agriculture is the largest source of nutrient pollution (specifically nitrogen or nitrate) entering waterways. Solutions to source water contamination have historically centered on nutrient removal at the drinking water plant, which often requires additional investment. Pollution prevention through watershed management may be more cost‐effective in some contexts and has greater co‐benefits, and some drinking water managers and agricultural stakeholders have collaborated to create successful prevention programs. However, drinking water managers must balance several service requirements and regulatory standards, and may lack the resources or capacity needed to effectively engage in or initiate regional collaborations. This paper serves as an introduction to nutrient contamination of source waters and protection measures in the United States and provides a discussion of watershed‐scale collaboration, particularly the engagement of municipal drinking water managers.This article is categorized under: Human Water > Water Governance Water and Life > Conservation, Management, and Awareness Science of Water > Water Quality

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Disparities in drinking water compliance: Implications for incorporating equity into regulatory practices

Cited by 6 publications

References 60 publications

Quantifying Disparities in Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Levels in Drinking Water from Overburdened Communities in New Jersey, 2019–2021

Quantifying Disparities in Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Levels in Drinking Water from Overburdened Communities in New Jersey, 2019–2021

Prioritizing water availability study settings to address geogenic contaminants and related societal factors

Collaboration for source water protection in the United States: Community water systems engagement in nitrate pollution reduction

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