Use of the Community-Owned and Managed Research Approach to Build Community-Based Surveillance Infrastructure

Introduction. Many low-income communities of color in NC lack safe water and sanitation services as a result of exclusionary planning practices. Community-owned and managed research methods can be used to collect data to assess compliance with existing environmental and public health statutes.

Methods. Community monitor (CM) training sessions, household water and sewer service surveys, and drinking water and surface water tests of fecal pollution were completed at private (target) and regulated public (referent) service households in three low-income African-American communities in Mebane, NC.

Results. CMs collected survey data showing a mixture of failing private wells and septic systems and regulated public drinking water and sewer lines. Septic system failure ranged from 11-18%. Higher turbidity levels were observed in private wells compared to regulated public drinking water (p<0.0001). There was little evidence of differences in surface water fecal pollution at target and referent sites. Drinking water and surface water fecal pollution levels exceeded limits protecting health at target and referent households.

Conclusions. COMR methods built community capacity to document private and regulated public drinking water and sewer service failures. Drinking and surface water fecal contamination suggests a need for provision of improved water and sewer services to protect health in these underserved and marginalized EJ communities. This training approach may be useful for other community-based environmental justice organizations working to address the lack of basic amenities or other built environment issues.