Impact of the 2012 extreme drought conditions on private well owners in the United States, a qualitative analysis

Abstract

BackgroundExtreme hot and dry weather during summer 2012 resulted in some of the most devastating drought conditions in the last half-century in the United States (U.S.). While public drinking water systems have contingency plans and access to alternative resources to maintain supply for their customers during drought, little is known about the impacts of drought on private well owners, who are responsible for maintaining their own water supply. The purpose of this investigation was to explore the public health impacts of the 2012 drought on private well owners’ water quality and quantity, identify their needs for planning and preparing for drought, and to explore their knowledge, attitudes, and well maintenance behaviors during drought.MethodsIn the spring of 2013, we conducted six focus group discussions with private well owners in Arkansas, Indiana, and Oklahoma.ResultsThere were a total of 41 participants, two-thirds of whom were men aged 55 years or older. While participants agreed that 2012 was the worst drought in memory, few experienced direct impacts on their water quantity or quality. However, all groups had heard of areas or individuals whose wells had run dry. Participants conserved water by reducing their indoor and outdoor consumption, but they had few suggestions on additional ways to conserve, and they raised concerns about limiting water use too much. Participants wanted information on how to test their well and any water quality issues in their area.ConclusionsThis investigation identified information needs regarding drought preparedness and well management for well owners.

Description of calls from private well owners to a national well water hotline, 2013

“…The National Ground Water Association recommends well owners test their water at least annually for coliforms, nitrates and local contaminants of concern (National Groundwater Association website). Similar to our findings, other recent studies have also demonstrated a gap in knowledge among well owners about well maintenance and water testing (Jones et al, 2005; Jones et al, 2006; Liukkonen et al, 2009; Murti et al, n.d.). In a study of focus groups (15 participants across three focus groups) and surveys of 246 residents conducted in Ontario, Canada, the majority of participants reported confidence in knowing that their well water was safe although testing was infrequent (Jones et al, 2005; Jones et al, 2006).…”

“…The Extension Great Lakes Regional Water Program found that 67% of private well owners in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan believed their untreated well water was either safe or very safe, one-half were unworried about possible health risks associated with private wells, and one-half reported not testing their well because they had been drinking it for years with no ill effects (Liukkonen et al, 2009). These findings were also corroborated by focus groups conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention among well owners in drought-impacted communities in Arkansas, Indiana, and Oklahoma in 2013 (Murti et al, 2015). Within those groups, only one-half of the participants had ever tested their water and few reported doing routine water testing (Murti et al, 2015).…”

“…These findings were also corroborated by focus groups conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention among well owners in drought-impacted communities in Arkansas, Indiana, and Oklahoma in 2013 (Murti et al, 2015). Within those groups, only one-half of the participants had ever tested their water and few reported doing routine water testing (Murti et al, 2015). Additional work is needed to determine if, among well owners who called wellcare®, low well maintenance activities represent a lack of knowledge on the part of well owners, a lack of motivation to act on available recommendations, or a lack of belief that routine water testing is important.…”

“…However, regional assessments of the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of private well owners and their water testing practices (Kreutzwiser et al, 2011; Jones et al, 2005; Jones et al, 2006; Liukkonen et al, 2009; Murti et al, Under review; Flanagan et al, 2015; Imgrund et al, 2011; Schubert et al, 1999) have demonstrated a gap in knowledge among well owners about the importance of well maintenance and water testing.…”

Groundwater Citizenship and Water Supply Awareness: Investigating Water‐Related Infrastructure and Well Ownership

“…In this study, well owners' mean age is 57, compared to 46 for non−well owners. Recent focus groups of well owners in the Midwest and South also reported that most well owners are older (Murti et al ), so this sample's age distribution mirrors previous demographic assessments. Well owners have slightly more education (roughly half have a bachelor's or graduate degree as opposed to 38 percent of non–well owners).…”