BACKGROUND: An estimated 13.5 million households in the United States rely on private wells as their primary source of drinking water. Under the Safe Water Drinking Act, private wells are not regulated. In coastal Georgia, a rapidly growing region in the USA, one in every six households is on private wells. Aging water infrastructure is known to be a reservoir for pathogen growth through biofilm formation, offering microorganisms nutrients for survival and protection from environmental stressors such as disinfectants and high temperatures. The purpose of this project is to identify emerging waterborne pathogens in private wells in rural Georgia and define barriers and facilitators for community water stewardship behaviors.

METHODS: Seasonal changes in temperature and precipitation on nitrates and emerging microbial contaminants (Legionella pneumophila and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) in private wells and tap water were assessed weekly in a rural community. Nitrate analyses were performed using a colorimetric method, and USEPA approved defined substrate technology method was used to quantify bacteria. A total of 81 households were surveyed for their water testing practices.

RESULTS: Nitrate concentrations were above the maximum contaminant level (10 mg/L) in 7% of the samples. L. pneumophila was detected in 60% of the samples while P. aeruginosa was detected in 30%. As the temperature increases, the concentration of bacteria increases (p<0.001). No chlorine residual was detected in any of the samples. Survey results showed that only 34% had tested their water prior to this study. These results suggest high levels of waterborne pathogen occurrence in well water and household distribution systems especially during warm temperatures.

CONCLUSION: Emerging contaminants of concern in private wells are a growing challenge in the climate change era. Targeted public health promotion and educational campaigns focusing on encouraging testing, treatment, and maintenance behaviors are urgently needed to protect public health among rural communities.