PROTECTING PRIVATE WELL USERS’ HEALTH: RESULTS FROM A MINNESOTA SURVEY OF HOUSEHOLDS WITH ELEVATED ARSENIC IN THEIR PRIVATE DRINKING WATER WELLS

Twenty-one percent of Minnesotans (1.2 million people) get their drinking water from a private well. Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) estimates about 40 percent of private drinking water wells in Minnesota have naturally-occurring arsenic in the water, and nearly 11 percent (125,000 people) have concentrations of arsenic above the amount allowed in public water systems (10 micrograms per liter [µg/L]). Drinking water with arsenic in it can lead to long-term adverse health effects. Unlike people on a public water system, private well users (PWUs) are responsible for ensuring their water is safe to drink.

In 2016, MDH surveyed 798 households with private drinking water wells that had arsenic concentrations above 10 µg/L to find out if they took any action to reduce their exposure to arsenic and learn about their general well stewardship practices and preferences. The survey found about one-third of the households had not taken any action to reduce their arsenic exposure, and over 80 percent did not test their water at the frequency MDH recommends. Survey responses highlight various barriers and challenges that prevent or discourage PWUs from testing and treating their water. Demographic and socio-economic factors were found to be important predictors of behavior and preferences. The results also show the important role local partners play in protecting the health of PWUs.

MDH is using the survey results to develop more effective outreach to PWUs. This presentation will discuss the main findings from the survey and how this information can be used to protect PWUs’ from naturally-occurring and human-made contaminants in groundwater.