Occurrence and Public Health Significance of Invertebrates in Drinking Water Systems

Although recent studies suggest contamination by bacteria and nitrate in private drinking water systems is of increasing concern, data describing contaminants associated with the corrosion of onsite plumbing are scarce. This study reports on the analysis of 2,146 samples submitted by private system homeowners. Almost 20% of first draw samples submitted contained lead concentrations above the United States Environmental Protection Agency action level of 15 μg/L, suggesting that corrosion may be a significant public health problem. Correlations between lead, copper, and zinc suggested brass components as a likely lead source, and dug/bored wells had significantly higher lead concentrations as compared to drilled wells. A random subset of samples selected to quantify particulate lead indicated that, on average, 47% of lead in the first draws was in the particulate form, although the occurrence was highly variable. While flushing the tap reduced lead below 15 μg/L for most systems, some systems experienced an increase, perhaps attributable to particulate lead or lead-bearing components upstream of the faucet (e.g., valves, pumps). Results suggest that without including a focus on private as well as municipal systems it will be very difficult to meet the existing national public health goal to eliminate elevated blood lead levels in children.

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A qualitative study of the experiences and information needs of public health inspectors that inspect small drinking water systems in Ontario, Canada

Environmental Health Review ◽

10.5864/d2019-022 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 62 (3) ◽

pp. 92-96

Author(s):

Wendy Pons ◽

Andria Jones-Bitton ◽

Steven Lam ◽

Scott A. McEwen ◽

Katarina Pintar ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Drinking Water ◽

Information Needs ◽

Cost Benefit ◽

Water Systems ◽

Future Research ◽

Water Safety ◽

Technical Ability ◽

The Impact ◽

Drinking Water Systems

Public health inspectors (PHIs) play an important role in enforcing the regulation and monitoring of approximately 9000 small noncommunity drinking water systems across Ontario. These small drinking water systems (SDWS) are diverse and face unique challenges. The purpose of this research was to explore PHIs’ insights and needs related to these SDWS in Ontario, Canada, to inform future policy and training initiatives to support safe drinking water. Data were collected through teleconference-conducted focus groups. Transcripts were analyzed and three major themes were found: the operator–PHI relationship, PHI training and information needs, and operational challenges. Overall, participants reported that they felt confident in their ability to inspect SDWSs. Main concerns to water safety were the technical ability of the water operator to manage their water supply and the impact of having a long time period between inspections of water systems. Future research should explore the cost-benefit of increasing inspection frequency in SDWSs and a variety of training and education initiatives for PHIs and operators of SDWSs.

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