Success Stories

Impact of funded programs

Sampling

• Coordinated with state public health and private laboratories (11 recipients) to test water samples, share, and organize test results
• Identified 210,000 private well records and entered them in digital format
• Collected 102,000 private well water quality records and entered them in digital format
• Distributed 9,060 free drinking water sample kits in private well outreach activities
• Collected and tested 26,427 well water samples and found that 4,346 serving ~11,000 people had high levels of contaminants

Education

• Created or amended 86 educational materials on private drinking water contaminants and risks from contaminants, emergency events, and natural disasters
• Conducted 484 outreach events to promote well testing and inform the public about drinking water safety
• Presented at 126 conferences and meetings to share program achievements
• Developed 193 partnerships through state and regional coalitions to reduce hazardous exposures

Making progress in communities

Arizona: Statewide well owner workshops

The Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) developed and staffed a drinking water program to respond to drinking water contaminant concerns from private well owners. ADHS also developed resources for communities and state and local agencies on well testing. These resources included emergency guidance on private wells and well maintenance tips. A new ADHS website houses these resources as well as outreach materials created for well owners in response to community concerns. In 2017, ADHS provided bilingual emergency response materials when a sewage pipeline ruptured in Santa Cruz County, Arizona.

ADHS collaborated with water quality specialists at the University of Arizona to conduct well workshops for residents. During 2016 to 2018, ADHS held workshops in eight counties for almost 600 attendees. In 2017, 94% of attendees said the workshops met their expectations. To expand outreach, ADHS used USB drives to share its tools at workshops, at community health fairs, and with new well owners registered with the Arizona Department of Water Resources.

Connecticut: Testing recommendations

CDC supported the Connecticut Department of Public Health (CT DPH) to collaborate with local health departments and collect 674 private well samples. Seven percent of the samples exceeded the maximum contaminant level (MCL) for arsenic or uranium. In 2016, the program supported CT DPH to share the sampling results with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). USGS found a higher percentage of sample results from some bedrock types exceeded the MCL for arsenic or uranium. USGS also found isolated cases of very high arsenic and uranium in bedrock usually associated with low levels of contamination.

CT DPH used the USGS findings to reaffirm messaging that the state's 322,600 private well owners should get their water tested. From September 2015 to August 2018, CT DPH hosted private well water fairs across Connecticut and collected 700 additional samples from private wells. CT DPH continued working with USGS to incorporate new data and refine the bedrock mapping to show the prevalence of arsenic and uranium in private wells.

Delta County (CO): Regional database for well contaminants

Under the leadership of the Delta County Colorado Health Department, the West Central Public Health Partnership (WCPHP) developed a comprehensive database of groundwater quality information collected throughout the six counties in the partnership region. Before this project, there was no comprehensive regional approach to private drinking water quality in this region.

Property owners and other interested parties can now access and use the groundwater quality information through a user-friendly interactive website. WCPHP proactively identified areas where there is a high potential for contamination (e.g., arsenic) in the aquifer and alerted well owners to the health hazards.

CDC's support helped provide incentive and motivation to increase well testing among well owners that do not have the resources to sample their well water.

Gaston County (NC): Modernized data services

The Gaston County (North Carolina) Department of Health and Human Services (GCDHHS) Healthy Wells Program used its funding to partner with faculty and students from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNCC). The project focused on creating an electronic, geocoded database for 8,087 private wells from data in paper permits. The partners developed an application to facilitate downloading and synchronizing of coordinates. Well owners can now enter permit information and microbial and chemical test results in the public database. UNCC students also developed and distributed ~1,500 brochures to promote private well testing and sampled 706 wells for total coliform and E. coli.

GCDHHS partnered with the state public health laboratory to electronically share test results of inorganic contaminants in new county wells. These achievements improved the Healthy Wells Program's services to protect private well users in Gaston County.

Indiana: Private well water program

The Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) collaborated with 60 state and local environmental public health officials to collect nearly 700 water quality tests from individual wells in selected communities. These interactions with community households allowed ISDH to educate well owners about contamination and provide technical assistance on safe drinking water interventions.

The program empowered ISDH to improve local environmental public health capacity and increase collaboration between state and local agencies to serve communities who have no other drinking water protection available. Through the program, ISDH was able to accomplish the following:

• Hosted five interns
• Organized three workshops
• Developed six support networks to address groundwater contamination
• Responded to environmental emergencies that affect private water supplies in nine counties
• Attended 35 professional development and outreach events
• Presented at 18 education events

La Crosse County (WI): Laboratory testing capacity and services for well owners

La Crosse County Health Department (LCCHD) in Wisconsin

• Supported certification of laboratory staff to test for lead and arsenic
• Reduced testing prices in La Crosse and partner counties
• Created a water quality lab in Vernon County, Wisconsin

These activities connected residents to needed safe water services in the state's western region. LCCHD also collaborated with five counties in western Wisconsin to improve the health of residents consuming well water. These counties reviewed program data and gaps, recommended changes, developed outreach resources, and educated and empowered private well owners to test their well water.

To overcome transportation barriers, LCCHD staff visited communities outside of their laboratory service area to provide education and sampling materials and collect water samples. Communities responded positively to these services. Western Wisconsin county partners hope to establish regular on-site collections to sustain these sampling services.

Louisiana: Education and outreach

Louisiana's Private Well Initiative (PWI) launched the Louisiana Well Owners Network for Louisiana residents. The network connects private well owners with licensed well professionals and certified laboratories to guide residents on how to protect and maintain their well. The network also houses a mapping tool for viewing water quality data of area aquifers.

PWI established strong partnerships with state, federal, and nonprofit agencies such as the following:

• Louisiana Flood Plain Management Association/Disaster Response Team for outreach to flood-impacted well owners
• Louisiana Department of Health's Bureau of Family Health to educate well owners with infants about nitrates and health
• Louisiana Groundwater Association and Rural Water Association to educate licensed well professionals during continuing education events
• Public health units, federally qualified health centers, rural health clinics, and traveling nurses to deliver outreach materials to healthcare providers and patients

CDC support made collaborations and services delivery possible.

Madison County (NY): Solutions for contaminated wells

The Madison County Department of Health (MCDOH) in New York assessed and tested individual water systems assessments. The purpose was to identify areas in the county where contaminants could be present. MCDOH sampled more than 400 water systems and found 39% of individual water supplies tested positive for total coliform bacteria. Staff assessed drilled wells and their respective well cap type and found that drilled wells with sanitary well caps were 67% less likely to be contaminated by bacteria than drilled wells with an unsanitary well cap. MCDOH provided well disinfection guidelines and information on well drillers who perform disinfection services to households with positive bacteria results. As a result, 40% of households disinfected their well, 61% replaced their well cap, and 35% requested resampling. The well cap data can be found on MCDOH's Private Individual Water Testing Services page along with an interactive map of where contaminants could be present.

Michigan: Well maintenance and testing outreach

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) identified gaps in well owner knowledge and private drinking water programs across the state.

Using the Michigan Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey, MDHHS recruited and offered well owners a water test kit. MDHHS followed up with 69 well owners to evaluate their experience with the effectiveness, accessibility, and quality of local and state resources for well water testing. Survey results revealed the need for well owner outreach, so MDHHS updated coliform bacteria and nitrate fact sheets and developed fact sheets on well maintenance and testing.

MDHHS also interviewed staff from local health departments, nongovernmental organizations, and the Department of Environmental Quality to understand local ordinances and identify gaps in private well and onsite wastewater programs.

MDHHS created a website and interactive mapping platform. Public officials, local health departments, and the public can use the platform to find resources and learn best practices and recommendations for private wells.

Missouri: Well-owner education and support

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (MDHSS) offers water sampling through local public health agencies in all 115 counties. In 2015, the extent of local agency participation in drinking water activities was largely unknown. MDHSS assessed safe these activities statewide and established a sustainable private drinking water program (PDWP).

The assessment revealed the need for education and training, so MDHSS collaborated with the State Public Health Laboratory to fine-tune user-friendly laboratory request forms, water sampling instructions, and disinfection recommendations. As part of the program, MDHSS conducts county well surveys to understand water quality issues and learn how to help the public with private drinking water issues. PDWP developed a website to house new educational materials for local agencies and well owners.

Learning from CDC and other recipients was beneficial in developing PDWP.

New Jersey: Private well professional network

New Jersey's Private Well Program formed the Private Well Consortium. Professionals from diverse state and local institutions and private industry convene to discuss effective ways to reduce hazardous drinking water exposures for private well owners. The New Jersey Private Well Program has hosted the consortium since 2015, and attendance is growing every year.

Meetings consist of presentations plus an hour of open discussion. Presentations have included updates on

• New Jersey Private Well Program outreach and testing events
• Private well water research in New Jersey from Columbia and Rutgers University
• New Jersey's Private Well Testing Act and new maximum contaminant levels
• Radioactive hazards associated with water treatment tanks

A subcommittee also addresses policy options for certification of water treatment professionals. The subcommittee also provides input from stakeholders representing industry and occupational perspectives.

New Mexico: Well-tagging campaign

The New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) advanced well tagging through their private well program. Well tagging can help link water-quality information, well geographic coordinates, and owner name to specific wells. Well tagging can also help standardize a private well database and simplify disaster preparedness and response for events that could affect private well water quality. Metal identification tags have been required for new wells drilled in New Mexico since June 2017. CDC funding made it possible for NMDOH to purchase well tags and encourage owners to tag wells drilled before June 2017.

New York: Vulnerable well mapping

The New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) enhanced the process of identifying private wells in the state. They created an inventory of private wells using GIS partner maps to show well locations in specific vulnerable areas, such as in Karst geographical zones near concentrated animal feeding operations and wells in 100- and 500-year flood zones. The new maps make it possible to identify locations of vulnerable wells and to implement NYSDOH's new Private Well Sampling Pilot Program.

The Private Well Sampling Pilot Program combines qualitative interview data and quantitative well sampling data to better inform staff about the resources well users need. This pilot program informs future outreach materials for well owners and aims to increase stewardship of wells.

NYSDOH staff are working on a media campaign to encourage well users and their families to routinely test their water.

North Carolina: Well testing data

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology (OEE) houses the Private Well and Health Program (PWHP). PWHP improved the efficiency of private well data collection and management. It also helped strengthen a partnership with the State Laboratory of Public Health to regularly share private well water data electronically. This allowed PWHP to electronically manage statewide well water data instead of receiving PDF reports. PWHP received results spanning 2010 to 2018 from wells sampled in North Carolina.

In addition, staff from OEE and PWHP collaborated to connect with 19 local health departments to facilitate gathering new well water results not conducted with the State Laboratory of Public Health.

Oregon: Domestic well program improvements

The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) improved the efficiency of its program for domestic well stewardship and water security. The program awards annual grants to local public health authorities for these efforts. In 2018, six agencies expressed interest in the grant, but only one applied. To learn about application barriers, the program collaborated with OHA evaluators to assess past recipients and agencies who expressed interest but did not apply. The assessment identified several limiting factors, and the program used the findings to improve the application process. The program identified several opportunities:

• Posting the grant announcement earlier to avoid winter holidays
• Increasing the application period from 8 to 12 weeks
• Extending the project period from 1 to 2 years
• Increasing funding and providing additional funding in year 2 for follow-up and evaluation

Tacoma Pierce County (WA): Testing and mapping improvements

The Tacoma Pierce County Health Department in Washington improved the efficiency and sustainability of its Safe Drinking Water Program. The program has regulatory authority over small water systems and individual wells. The Public Health Foundation helped the program design a quality improvement plan to improve water testing rates. Plan implementation, staff education, and staff outreach efforts increased compliance with bacterial testing from below 70% to almost 80% since 2015.

Previously, the program only worked with individual well owners during the drilling process. The additional support helped the program expand to offer water testing for individual wells. Program staff contacted ~600 well owners in high-risk areas to start individual well testing for arsenic, total coliform and E. coli, and nitrate. The program also worked on a database to map and delineate areas with water quality concerns.

Tennessee: Water testing and collaborations

The Tennessee Department of Health (TDH) provided education and outreach to private well and spring owners in the state. In partnership with Communities Unlimited, Inc., TDH offered water quality testing to homeowners. By August 2018, TDH and partners collected 229 water samples from 95 wells and 60 springs, interpreted test results, and made recommendations for follow-up actions when contaminants exceeded safe levels.

TDH added personnel to fill program gaps and build collaboration with environmental health and epidemiology programs. This strengthened TDH's relationship with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, which is the state water regulatory agency. Improved relationships with partners and additional personnel provide the public health expertise to support waterborne outbreak investigations and prevent exposure to waterborne contaminants.

Vermont: Well testing expansion

The Vermont Department of Health (VDH) improved outreach and education to well owners. This led to more private wells being tested. In summer 2017, VDH conducted an outreach campaign (slogan, online and printed informational materials, and publication of 12 VDH-authored articles in the state's largest newspaper). The campaign led to a 100% increase in purchases of well test kits compared to previous years. VDH also supported well testing for 54 homeowners and more than 300 family childcare homes. VDH scheduled sampling for an additional 60 wells in collaboration with the Department of Environmental Conservation, town planners, and RCAP Solutions. During sampling, VDH will educate well owners about the risks of septic system failure and well water contamination.

VDH also created a database and established electronic sharing of water test results from private and public laboratories. VDH uses this information to target well outreach throughout the state.

West Virginia: Groundwater contamination assessment

The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (WVDHHR) assessed groundwater contamination in north-central and southeastern West Virginia. WVDHHR collaborated with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to complete 3 years of private water well sampling for 62 analytes from 90 private water wells in geographic areas of interest.

The sampling data will allow WVDHHR to assess water quality for newly drilled water wells and existing private wells. WVDHHR is working on an interactive web portal that will organize mapping and sampling data to help the public identify potential groundwater hazards. The web portal will include descriptions of the types and prevalence of contaminants. USGS plans to incorporate the groundwater data from this program with existing data to develop a comprehensive analysis of groundwater contamination in West Virginia's southern coal field.