MITIGATING ARSENIC EXPOSURE FROM MAINE'S PRIVATE DRINKING WATER WELLS BY TARGETING BEHAVIORAL FACTORS THROUGH COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Naturally occurring arsenic (As) in the groundwater of New England has led to often unsafe levels in private wells, which are the owner’s responsibility to have tested and treated. Beginning in 2006 the Columbia University Superfund Research Program (SRP) tested 1,428 domestic well water samples in 17 towns encompassing 1,500 km² in central Maine and found that the percentage of domestic wells exceeding EPA Maximum Contaminant Levels for As, Rn, U and Mn are 31%, 29%, 4% and 4%, respectively (Yang, 2010). Preliminary analysis of survey data from 439 of those households reveals that 39.9% use some kind of treatment or filtration system on their well water. The most common treatment systems among households were sediment filter (22.8%), water softener (10%), and reverse osmosis (4.3%). The most common water quality problems reported by households were sediment (21.6%), hard water (12.8%), iron or manganese (8.7%), sulfur odor (5.2%), and arsenic (4.8%). Between 2012 and 2017, the Community Engagement Component of the Columbia SRP seeks to determine and reduce barriers for arsenic testing and treatment with the goal of doubling testing and treatment rates in central Maine compared to baseline. At present there is a lack of understanding of the behavioral factors that motivate the owners of private wells for testing and treatment. To this end, a baseline household survey will be implemented in January 2013 to measure behavioral factors using an integrated model of health and social psychology theories, the RANAS (Risk, Attitude, Norm, Ability, Self-Regulation) model. Results from the baseline survey will be reported and are expected to identify the psychological conditions that are necessary for adopting the target behaviors, e.g. testing and treatment. This improved understanding will be used to design behavior change interventions at community level.