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Millions of people across the US use well water, but very few test it often enough to make sure it’s safe
Gabriel Lade, Macalester College
About 23 million U.S. households depend on private wells as their primary drinking water source. These homeowners are entirely responsible for ensuring that the water from their wells is safe for human consumption.
Multiple studies show that, at best, half of private well owners are testing with any frequency, and very few households test once or more yearly, as public health officials recommend. Even in Iowa, which has some of the strongest state-level policies for protecting private well users, state funds for free private water quality testing regularly go unspent.
Is the water these households are drinking safe? There’s not much systematic evidence, but the risks may be large.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency still relies on a 15-year-old study showing that among 2,000 households, 1 in 5 households’ well water contained at least one contaminant at levels above the thresholds that public water systems must meet. While other researchers have studied this issue, most rely on limited data or data collected over decades to draw conclusions.
I’m an economist studying energy and agriculture issues. In a recent study, I worked with colleagues at Iowa State University, the University of Massachusetts Amherst and Cornell University to understand drinking water-related behaviors and perceptions of households that use private wells. We focused on rural Iowa, where runoff from agricultural production regularly contaminates public and private drinking water sources.
We found that few households followed public health guidance on testing their well water, but a simple intervention – sending them basic information about drinking water hazards and easy-to-use testing materials – increased testing rates. The burden of dealing with contamination, however, falls largely on individual households.
Nitrate risks
We focused on nitrate, one of the main well water pollutants in rural areas. Major sources include chemical fertilizers, animal waste and human sewage.
Drinking water that contains nitrate can harm human health. Using contaminated water to prepare infant formula can cause “blue baby syndrome,” a condition in which infants’ hands and lips turn bluish because nitrate interferes with oxygen transport in the babies’ blood. Severe cases can cause lethargy, seizures and even death. The EPA limits nitrate levels in public water systems to 10 milligrams per liter to prevent this effect.
Studies have also found that for people of all ages, drinking water with low nitrate concentrations over long periods of time is strongly associated with chronic health diseases, including colorectal cancer and thyroid disease, as well as neural tube defects in developing fetuses.
Nitrate pollution is pervasive across the continental U.S. Fortunately, it is relatively easy to determine whether water contains unsafe nitrate concentrations. Test strips, similar to those used in swimming pools, are cheap and readily available.
The water’s fine … or not
Mailing lists of households with private wells are hard to come by, so for our study we digitized over 22,000 addresses using maps from 14 Iowa counties. We targeted counties where public water systems had struggled to meet EPA safety standards for nitrate in drinking water, and where private wells that had been tested over the past 20 years showed nitrate concentrations at concerning levels.
We received responses from over half of the households we surveyed. Of those, just over 8,100 (37%) used private wells.
Although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends testing annually for nitrate, just 9% of these households had tested their water quality in the past year.
More concerning, 40% of this group used their wells for drinking water, had not tested it in the past year, and did not filter the water or use other sources such as bottled water. They were drinking straight from the tap without knowing whether their water was safe.
Our survey also showed that, despite living in high-risk areas, 77% of households classified their well water quality as “good” or “great.” This may be driven by a “not in my backyard” mentality. Households in our survey were more likely to agree with the statement that nitrate is a problem in the state of Iowa than to perceive nitrates as a problem in their local area.
Climate change is likely to worsen nitrate contamination in well water. In regions including the Great Lakes basin, increases in heavy rainfall are projected to carry rising amounts of nutrients from farmlands into waterways and groundwater. https://www.youtube.com/embed/yDaaIo3JBNw?wmode=transparent&start=0 Nitrate contamination is often thought of as a rural problem, but in California it also has shown up in urban areas.
Providing information and tools helps
To see whether education and access to testing materials could change views about well water, we sent a mailer containing a nitrate test strip, information about risks associated with nitrate in drinking water, and contact information for a free water quality testing program run by the state of Iowa to a random 50% of respondents from our first survey. We then resurveyed all households, whether or not they received the mailer.
Over 40% of households that received test strips reported that they had tested their water, compared with 24% of those that did not receive the mailer. The number of respondents who reported using Iowa’s free testing program also increased, from 10% to 13%, a small but statistically meaningful impact.
Less encouragingly, households that received the mailer were no more likely to report filtering or avoiding their water than those that did not receive the mailer.
Households bear the burden
Our results show that lack of information makes people less likely to test their well water for nitrate or other contaminants. At least for nitrate, helping households overcome this barrier is cheap. We asked respondents about their willingness to pay for the program and found that the average household was willing to pay as much as US$13 for a program that would cost the state roughly $5 to implement.
However, we could not determine whether our outreach decreased households’ exposure to contaminated drinking water. It’s also not clear whether people would be as willing to test their well water in states such as Wisconsin or Oregon, where testing would cost them up to a few hundred dollars.
As of 2024, just 24 states offered well water testing kits for at least one contaminant that were free or cost $100 or less. And while most states offer information about well water safety, some simply post a brochure online.
The upshot is that rural households are bearing the costs associated with unsafe well water, either through health care burdens or spending for treatment and testing. Policymakers have been slow to address the main source of this problem: nitrate pollution from agriculture.
In one exception, state agencies in southeastern Minnesota are providing free well water quality testing and offering a few households filtration systems in cases where their wells are laden with nitrate from local agricultural sources. However, this effort began only after environmental advocates petitioned the EPA.
If state and federal agencies tracked more systematically the costs to households of dealing with contaminated water, the scale of the burden would be clearer. Government agencies could use this information in cost-benefit assessments of conservation programs.
On a broader scale, I agree with experts who have called for rethinking agricultural policies that encourage expanding crops associated with high nutrient pollution, such as corn. More restoration of wetlands and prairies, which filter nutrients from surface water, could also help. Finally, while the Environmental Protection Agency can’t force well owners to test or treat their water, it could provide better support for households when pollutants turn up in their drinking water.
Gabriel Lade, Associate Professor of Economics, Macalester College
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
STM Daily News is a vibrant news blog dedicated to sharing the brighter side of human experiences. Emphasizing positive, uplifting stories, the site focuses on delivering inspiring, informative, and well-researched content. With a commitment to accurate, fair, and responsible journalism, STM Daily News aims to foster a community of readers passionate about positive change and engaged in meaningful conversations. Join the movement and explore stories that celebrate the positive impacts shaping our world.
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SKITTLES POP’d delivers a crispy, crunchy twist on the iconic SKITTLES Original fruity flavors and new SKITTLES Sour Flavors
SKITTLES®
NEWARK, N.J., /PRNewswire/ — Today, SKITTLES® is unveiling its latest innovation that features a crispy and crunchy twist on the brand’s classic candy. SKITTLES POP’d blends a unique, crispy texture, with the iconic Original fruity flavors and new Sour flavors to deliver a taste experience for fans like never before.
“At Mars, we’re constantly looking for innovative ways to deliver new experiences to our fans, based on flavor profiles and texture trends that we know consumers are seeking,” said Ro Cheng, Marketing Vice President, Mars Wrigley North America. “SKITTLES POP’d trades SKITTLES’ traditionally chewy lentils for a crispy, crunchy texture that we know our fans are really going to enjoy.”
The latest innovation from SKITTLES will be available in two 5.5oz pack varieties, including SKITTLES POP’d Original, which features the classic flavors Strawberry, Lemon, Lime, Orange and Grape. Fans can also try SKITTLES POP’d Sour, which features brand new flavors including Sour Lemonade, Sour Blue Raspberry, Sour Strawberry, Sour Watermelon and Sour Cherry.
Want to be among the first to get your hands on SKITTLES POP’d? Beginning October 21, SKITTLES POP’d will be available through TikTok Shop, while supplies last, offering fans early access before it hits shelves. Fans can visit skittles.com/popd today and sign up to be notified when SKITTLES POP’d goes live on SKITTLES TikTok Shop. SKITTLES POP’d will begin hitting shelves at other select retailers later this fall and be available nationwide beginning in early 2025.
For more information about SKITTLES POP’d, and to keep up with the brand’s future product and innovations news, check out SKITTLES on X (Formerly Twitter), Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.
ABOUT MARS, INCORPORATED
Mars, Incorporated is driven by the belief that the world we want tomorrow starts with how we do business today. As a global, family-owned business, Mars is transforming, innovating, and evolving to make a positive impact on the world.
Across our diverse and expanding portfolio of quality confectionery, food, and pet care products and services, we employ 140,000+ dedicated Associates. With more than $47 billion in annual sales, we produce some of the world’s best-loved brands including Ben’s Original™, CESAR®, Cocoavia®, DOVE®, EXTRA®, KIND®, M&M’s®, SNICKERS®, PEDIGREE®, ROYAL CANIN®, and WHISKAS®. We are creating a better world for pets through our global network of pet hospitals and diagnostic services – including AniCura, BANFIELD™, BLUEPEARL™, Linnaeus and VCA™ – using cutting edge technology to develop breakthrough programs in genetic health screening and DNA testing. For more information about Mars, please visit www.mars.com. Join us on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.
SOURCE Mars, Incorporated
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Dive into the Latest Episode of STM Daily News: Weekend Wrap Up – October 20, 2024
The latest Weekend Wrap Up covers social media shifts, transportation innovations, senior pickleball mentoring, a Halloween comet, and a poignant personal story, highlighting community resilience and advancements.
Weekend Wrap Up
We are thrilled to bring you the latest episode of our special Weekend Wrap Up edition, released October 20, 2024. Our host, Rod Washington, has once again curated a fascinating lineup of stories that capture the essence of the week.
Elon Musk's Bluesky Buzz, Pickleball Craze, & Halloween Comet | STM Podcast – STM Daily News Podcast
Whether you’re a regular subscriber or joining us for the first time, this episode offers a thought-provoking mix of digital shifts, transportation innovation, sports insights, celestial wonders, and heartfelt stories. Here’s a sneak peek at what’s inside:
Elon Musk Sparks Twitter Exodus: Bluesky Surges as Social Media Shifts
In a world where social media trends evolve at breakneck speed, Elon Musk’s latest actions have triggered a considerable exodus from Twitter. Enter Bluesky, the platform that’s gaining serious traction as users look for a fresh start in the digital arena. This segment explores what this shift means for online communities and the communication landscape as we know it.
Riding the Rails to the Future: Brightline West’s Game-Changing Announcement
All aboard for a high-speed revolution! Brightline West has announced a groundbreaking development in sustainable transportation that could redefine how we travel across the West Coast. Discover how this leap in rail technology promises not only to shorten travel times but also contribute significantly to eco-friendly commuting.
Spotlights on the Court: Seniors Teaching Pickleball
Join Mike “Sleeves” Sliwa, host of Sleeves’ Senior Pickleball Report, as he discusses how seniors are stepping onto the court to share their skills with younger players. Pickleball is more than just a game—it’s becoming a bridge across generations, fostering a mentoring spirit in sports. Don’t miss this heartwarming story of community and growth.
https://stmdailynews.com/what-pro-pickleball-could-learn-from-senior-pro-players-and-organizations/
Look Up! The Halloween Comet is Coming
Get ready to gaze at the stars because the Halloween comet is set to light up our skies this week. This rare cosmic event is something you don’t want to miss, and we’ve got all the details you need to know on how to witness this celestial phenomenon from the comfort of your backyard.
https://stmdailynews.com/science
A Touching Personal Story: An Incident that Changed a Family in 1978
We close the episode with a moving personal blog post that highlights a tragic incident from 1978. This compelling narrative serves as a poignant reminder of life’s fragility and the strength of the human spirit. It’s a story that resonates deeply, encouraging us to appreciate the moments we share with those we love. https://stmdailynews.com/a-cautionary-tale-unfolds-across-generations/
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We invite you to listen to the full episode for in-depth discussions and insights on these topics. As always, you can dive deeper into each story by visiting our website. Don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter to get the latest updates delivered straight to your inbox!
We hope you find this week’s wrap-up as engaging and informative as we did putting it together. Your feedback is invaluable, so feel free to reach out and share your thoughts with us.
Happy listening, and stay curious!
Check out the podcast website for more episodes: https://stories-this-moment.castos.com/
STM Daily News is a vibrant news blog dedicated to sharing the brighter side of human experiences. Emphasizing positive, uplifting stories, the site focuses on delivering inspiring, informative, and well-researched content.
With a commitment to accurate, fair, and responsible journalism, STM Daily News aims to foster a community of readers passionate about positive change and engaged in meaningful conversations.
Join the movement and explore stories that celebrate the positive impacts shaping our world.
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In a move that has caused an exodus of users from Twitter, now rebranded as X, Elon Musk has made a controversial change to the platform’s blocking feature that many are calling a major blunder. Users have expressed outrage after discovering that blocking someone will now allow the blocked individual to still view posts and profiles, effectively undermining a crucial tool for preventing harassment.
BlueSky, the social media platform positioned as a competitor to X (formerly Twitter), faced significant downtime following a mass withdrawal of users from Elon Musk’s site. This incident highlights the ongoing struggle for dominance in the social media landscape, compounded by controversial decisions made by Musk that have prompted users to seek alternatives. For a deeper analysis of this development, you can read the full article in The Independent here.
This decision has sparked a significant backlash, leading to a surge in users flocking to Bluesky, the social media platform founded by former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey. Following the announcement of Musk’s changes, Bluesky reported a staggering influx of over half a million new users in less than 24 hours, so much so that the platform briefly experienced an outage due to the overwhelming sign-ups.
Bluesky has seized the opportunity to highlight Musk’s misstep, emphasizing its commitment to online safety by reassuring users that if they choose to block someone, that person cannot view their content. This stark contrast to X’s new policy is resonating with users looking for a safer online environment.
Historically, Twitter has seen waves of user migration under Musk’s leadership, especially during controversial incidents like the platform’s ban in Brazil, which resulted in Bluesky gaining over three million users almost overnight. This latest change to the blocking feature appears to be another catalyst for an ongoing decline in X’s user base.
Critics of Musk’s decision argue that the new blocking system places vulnerable users at greater risk, stripping them of a necessary tool to shield themselves from harassment and abuse. While some may view blocking as a means to control interactions on the platform, many users see it as a vital way to protect their personal space online.
As the backlash against Musk’s leadership continues to mount, it’s clear that his decisions are not only alienating current users but also inadvertently boosting competitors like Bluesky, which is positioning itself as a more user-friendly alternative. The rise of Bluesky amidst Musk’s blunders could signify a significant shift in the social media landscape, as users seek safer and more respectful online spaces.
Related links:
https://www.the-independent.com/tech/bluesky-x-twitter-elon-musk-block-b2630894.html
https://futurism.com/half-million-users-join-twitter-competitor
STM Daily News is a vibrant news blog dedicated to sharing the brighter side of human experiences. Emphasizing positive, uplifting stories, the site focuses on delivering inspiring, informative, and well-researched content. With a commitment to accurate, fair, and responsible journalism, STM Daily News aims to foster a community of readers passionate about positive change and engaged in meaningful conversations. Join the movement and explore stories that celebrate the positive impacts shaping our world.
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