Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 15, 2026

Vegetated Treatment Systems for Removing Contaminants Associated with Surface Water Toxicity in Agriculture and Urban Runoff
Published on: May 15, 2017
Persistent Distress after Water Contamination
Background:
A chemical spill contaminated the public water supply of Charleston, West Virginia in January 2014 for at least a week. Psychological distress is common after disasters.
Methods:
We surveyed the exposed population to assess psychological distress during and three months after the incident. We inquired about stressors that might predict distress, adequacy of communication from public officials, and use of the water supply and perceptions of its safety three months after the incident.
Results:
Twenty six percent of interviewees had persistent symptoms of distress. Female sex, negative household experiences during the episode (especially having someone sick), and poor perception of communication increased odds of persistent distress. Households of respondents without persistent distress were significantly more likely to report drinking tap water (RR=1.95) than those with persistent distress.
Conclusions:
Distress in Charleston area residents persisted and may have resulted in continuing mistrust of the water supply.
Related Concept Videos
Contaminants and Errors
Another key consideration is determining the appropriate number of samples required to...
States of Water
Water freezes when the intermolecular forces are greater than the kinetic energy. Unlike most other substances, water is less dense in its solid state than in its liquid state. This is because each water molecule can form...
The Water Cycle
Water and Mineral Acquisition
Quality of Water
Regulation of Water Intake

