“First alert” for Drinking Water Quality: Commercial Water Quality Testing Kits for Community-Engaged Research

Abstract

Groundwater is a crucial source of drinking water worldwide. The 2022 UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) report highlighted a gap in groundwater monitoring data worldwide. One way to fill this gap is through community-engaged research (CEnR). This research identifies factors contributing to the success of CEnR programs and evaluates the practicability of tools for water quality monitoring. Specifically, we assessed the accuracy and applicability of commercial water test kits for measuring the primary standards regulated by the US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA). We evaluated the testing principle of the commercial test kits and classified them into all-inone and combination test kit groups. We determined that combination test kits are more accurate and reliable compared with all-in-one tests and identified the most suitable kits for CEnR programs groundwater testing involving private well owners. Additionally, we discussed the importance of data quality considerations, interactions between researchers and communities, and training to ensure program success.