Linking access to private drinking water system treatment, demographics, and water quality in southwest Virginia

Private drinking water supplies (e.g. household wells) are non-regulated drinking water systems typically concentrated in rural areas. Previous research suggests that water quality issues in homes served by these systems are common, but limited efforts to link these issues to user sociodemographics render the design of interventions difficult. The work aims to link user demographics to the presence of in-home treatment for homes on private water supplies in Virginia. Between 2020 and 2024, water quality samples and paired surveys detailing user demographics were collected from six southwest Virginia counties. The most common contaminants observed, according to municipal health-based standards, were lead, copper, Escherichia coli, and coliform. Other common contaminants associated with water aesthetics and municipal guidance levels were aluminum, sodium, pH, iron, and manganese. Thirty-five percent of homes had no treatment device prior to consumption, while 43% only used aesthetic-based treatment devices. Forty-four percent of households with income <$52,000 indicated no treatment devices present, and 47% of homes with some or graduated high school education reported no treatment. Results support the hypothesis that households with lesser educational attainment and lower income are less likely to have access to treatment, which limits the system's ability to remove contaminants.