scholarly journals Comparative Analysis of Water Quality Disparities in the United States in Relation to Heavy Metals and Biological Contaminants

Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 967
Author(s):  
Kaleh Karim ◽  
Sujata Guha ◽  
Ryan Beni
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Water Quality ◽  
Drinking Water ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
The United States ◽  
Total Coliform ◽  
Water Contaminants ◽  
Biological Contaminants ◽  
Household Incomes

Drinking water quality can be compromised by heavy metals, such as copper and lead. If consumed raw, water can pose a health burden to the general population. In this study, the roles of heavy metals and biological contaminants have been explored in determining the quality of drinking water available to consumers of various socioeconomic backgrounds in the United States. In an effort to gain an understanding of possible social disparities in drinking water, a quantitative analysis was conducted to examine whether vulnerable populations are disproportionately impacted by drinking water contaminants. Our data indicated that states with middle-average household incomes were statistically more susceptible to higher levels of lead in drinking water. The states with higher-average household incomes demonstrated lower copper levels compared to those with lower incomes, although a direct correlation was not present. No statistical significance was observed in the total coliform and turbidity levels in correlation to the average household incomes. In general, more violations in water quality were prevalent in middle-income states when compared to the states with lower-average household incomes.

scholarly journals Drinking water quality and risk for human health in Pelengana commune, Segou, Mali

2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 609-621
Author(s):  
Amadou Toure ◽  
Duan Wenbiao ◽  
Zakaria Keita ◽  
Abdramane Dembele ◽  
Elsamoal Elzak Abdalla Elzaki
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Water Quality ◽  
Drinking Water ◽  
Water Samples ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The United States ◽  
Total Coliform ◽  
Water Sources ◽  
Drinking Water Quality ◽  
World Health

Abstract Water is an indispensable commodity for the survival of all living beings and for their well-being. The objective of this work is to evaluate the level of pollution of different drinking water sources consumed and its link with health in Pelengana commune, Mali. Samples of water were taken from various sources, namely, hand pumps, boreholes, dug wells, and shallow wells for physical, chemical, heavy metals, and bacteriological analyses, using American Public Health Association (APHA) Standard Techniques. Results revealed that the nitrate-nitrogen (NO3−N) values of the water samples from the different water sources had concentrations exceeding the United States Environmental Protection Agency's (US-EPA) regulation of 10 mg/L, as well as World Health Organization Guideline for Drinking Water Quality (WHO GDWQ) (11 mg/L). The same applies to heavy metals such as Cd, Pb, and Fe, in which, concentrations exceed their allowable limits in certain locations. Moreover, apart from water samples from some different boreholes, total coliform, and Escherichia coli have been detected in all selected water sources, which indicates fecal contamination. In all, there is a pressing need to stop the consumption of drinking water from contaminated sources and to effect appropriate treatment.

Development of communication networks and water quality early warning detection systems at drinking water utilities in the Ohio river valley basin

2005 ◽  
Vol 52 (9) ◽  
pp. 235-242
Author(s):  
J.G. Schulte ◽  
A.H. Vicory
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Water Quality ◽  
Drinking Water ◽  
Early Warning ◽  
The United States ◽  
River Valley ◽  
Water Utilities ◽  
Ohio River ◽  
Source Water ◽  
Ohio River Valley

Source water quality is of major concern to all drinking water utilities. The accidental introduction of contaminants to their source water is a constant threat to utilities withdrawing water from navigable or industrialized rivers. The events of 11 September, 2001 in the United States have heightened concern for drinking water utility security as their source water and finished water may be targets for terrorist acts. Efforts are underway in several parts of the United States to strengthen early warning capabilities. This paper will focus on those efforts in the Ohio River Valley Basin.

scholarly journals Detecting community response to water quality violations using bottled water sales

2019 ◽  
Vol 116 (42) ◽  
pp. 20917-20922
Author(s):  
Maura Allaire ◽  
Taylor Mackay ◽  
Shuyan Zheng ◽  
Upmanu Lall
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Water Quality ◽  
Drinking Water ◽  
Health Risk ◽  
The United States ◽  
Bottled Water ◽  
Water Contaminants ◽  
Averting Behavior ◽  
National Analysis ◽  
Public Notification

Drinking-water contaminants pose a risk to public health. When confronted with elevated levels of contaminants, individuals can take actions to reduce exposure. Yet, few studies address averting behavior due to impaired water, particularly in high-income countries. This is a problem of national interest, given that 9 million to 45 million people have been affected by water quality violations in each of the past 34 years. No national analysis has focused on the extent to which communities reduce exposure to contaminated drinking water. Here, we present an assessment that sheds light on how communities across the United States respond to violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act, using consumer purchases of bottled water. This study provides insight into how averting behavior differs across violation types and community demographics. We estimate the change in sales due to water quality violations, using a panel dataset of weekly sales and violation records in 2,151 counties from 2006 to 2015. Critical findings show that violations which pose an immediate health risk are associated with a 14% increase in bottled water sales. Generally, greater averting action is taken against contaminants that might pose a greater perceived health risk and that require more immediate public notification. Rural, low-income communities do not take significant averting action for elevated levels of nitrate, yet experience a higher prevalence of nitrate violations. Findings can inform improvements in public notification and targeting of technical assistance from state regulators and public health agencies in order to reduce community exposure to contaminants.

scholarly journals Hydrogeochemical Studies of Groundwater In Industrial And Agricultural Area Of Gokul Shirgaon MIDC Region, Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 228-236
Author(s):  
Tejashri V. Patil
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Water Quality ◽  
Drinking Water ◽  
Natural Resources ◽  
Quality Index ◽  
The United States ◽  
Biological Parameters ◽  
Total Water ◽  
Physical Chemical

Abstract: Groundwater is one of the earth’s most widely distributed and most important natural resources. Groundwater exists, wherever water penetrates beneath the surface. The rocks beneath the surface are permeable enough to transmit water, and at places, the rate of infiltration is so sufficient that the rocks are saturated to an appreciable thickness. This water may be fresh or brackish in quality. As the fresh water constitutes very little quantity of the total water available, we must think as to how best we can exploit it, and utilize it. With the growth of population, today in many of the places water has become a critical source. In many places it is dwindling both in quality and quantity, creating problems for the communities involved. Water Quality Index indicates the quality of drinking water by assessing physical, chemical and biological parameters of water. India had the most studies, with 177 articles, followed by China, Brazil and the United States. This four countries together published 57% of studies on WQI. Groundwater quality implies the level of concentration of different constituents of water which is ultimately described if it is suitable or not for drinking or other purpose such as irrigation. There are mainly three types of constituents or parameters for describing quality of groundwater as physiological, chemical and biological parameters. These parameters are described below: EC ,TDS, K, Na, Ca ,Mg ,TH, Co3, HCO3, Cl, SO4 ,and also we determine some trace element such as Copper (Cu) ,Lead (Pb), Manganese (Mn) ,Nickel (Ni) ,Iron (Fe), Zinc (Zn). Keywords: Gokul Shirgaon , Hydrogeochemical , GroundWater

scholarly journals Approximating Community Water System Service Areas to Explore the Demographics of SDWA Compliance in Virginia

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (24) ◽  
pp. 13254
Author(s):  
Cristina Marcillo ◽  
Leigh-Anne Krometis ◽  
Justin Krometis
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Water Quality ◽  
Drinking Water ◽  
Negative Binomial ◽  
Water System ◽  
The United States ◽  
Drinking Water Quality ◽  
Safe Drinking Water ◽  
Community Water ◽  
Service Areas

Although the United States Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) theoretically ensures drinking water quality, recent studies have questioned the reliability and equity associated with community water system (CWS) service. This study aimed to identify SDWA violation differences (i.e., monitoring and reporting (MR) and health-based (HB)) between Virginia CWSs given associated service demographics, rurality, and system characteristics. A novel geospatial methodology delineated CWS service areas at the zip code scale to connect 2000 US Census demographics with 2006–2016 SDWA violations, with significant associations determined via negative binomial regression. The proportion of Black Americans within a service area was positively associated with the likelihood of HB violations. This effort supports the need for further investigation of racial and socioeconomic disparities in access to safe drinking water within the United States in particular and offers a geospatial strategy to explore demographics in other settings where data on infrastructure extents are limited. Further interdisciplinary efforts at multiple scales are necessary to identify the entwined causes for differential risks in adverse drinking water quality exposures and would be substantially strengthened by the mapping of official CWS service boundaries.

The Environmental and Hygienic Safety of Nitrilotriacetate (NTA)

1971 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-37
Author(s):  
F.G. Flynn ◽  
P.H. Jones
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Drinking Water ◽  
The United States ◽  
Anaerobic Conditions ◽  
Water Supplies ◽  
University Of Toronto ◽  
The University ◽  
Work Done ◽  
Aerobic Biodegradability

Abstract NTA is the prime substitute for detergent phosphates and its use in large quantities, approximately 0.5 × 106 metric tons per year in Canada and the United States, is possible. This paper is a summary of the literature and of work done at the University of Toronto regarding evaluation of the environmental and hygienic safety of NTA and NTA built detergents. A large number of topics is covered, the conclusion of each being that NTA is safe to use. Such topics include: aerobic biodegradability, toxicity, mutagenicity, carcinogenicity and nitrate contribution. Areas of doubt regarding NTA are its non-degradability under anaerobic conditions and the possibility of its delivering heavy metals into drinking water supplies.

Drinking Water Microbiology Research in the United States: An Overview of the Past Decade

1988 ◽  
Vol 20 (11-12) ◽  
pp. 101-107 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donald J. Reasoner
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Water Quality ◽  
Drinking Water ◽  
Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
Heterotrophic Bacteria ◽  
The United States ◽  
Drinking Water Quality ◽  
Giardia Cyst ◽  
The Past ◽  
Treatment Research

The passage of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) in 1974 (Public Law 93-523) significantly influenced microbiological, chemical and engineering research on drinking water quality in the United States. Microbiological quality research during the past 10 years encompassed the two basic areas of treatment and distribution. Much of the treatment research focused on generation of data to support the evaluation of turbidity and coliform maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for the Interim Primary Drinking Water Standards. Major effort was also directed toward disinfection research on enteric viruses, pathogenic bacteria and the protozoan pathogen, Giardialamblia. Basic distribution system studies examined the occurrence of heterotrophic bacterial numbers and types in treated and untreated distribution waters, and coliform occurrence and colonization problems. Methodology developments bridged both treatment and distribution, and included enteric virus detection methods, injured ooliform recovery, heterotrophic bacteria enumeration, and Giardia cyst detection. Knowledge gained from the research efforts of the past deoade has resulted in new challenges and opportunities to improve drinking water quality.

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