An economic evaluation of strategies to ensure safer drinking water in the homes of families with young children in select United States locations

Abstract

IntroductionIn the United States, safe, accessible drinking water is not equitable due to source water contamination, unreliable water treatment, or hazardous plumbing infrastructure. Drinking water free of lead, nitrates, and arsenic is vital for infant and young children’s health. MethodsResearchers conducted a study combining single-case study review methods and economic evaluation for 6 US policies or programs. Researchers used case-study findings, activity-based costing, publicly available US population data, and existing literature to create 5-year cost projections (2020–2024) for strategies to address lead, nitrates, or arsenic in drinking water from private wells or community water systems for families with low incomes and young children aged 0–5y. Researchers estimated the number of households reached and the costs by activity and payer of implementing each policy or program using case-specific geographic location and eligibility criteria. ResultsThe total number of households reached varied from 295 to 135,000 depending on water source, population of focus, and geographic location. Focused strategies reached higher proportions of families with low incomes and young children. Community water system and state-wide strategies had the broadest reach. The total annual program cost per household that received information about their water quality ranged from $75 to $2,780. Of this cost, the portion paid by the household varied from $0.12 to $1,590, not including mitigation. ConclusionsThese findings can inform local decisions about policies and programs in communities seeking to increase awareness and access to safer drinking water, particularly in homes of families with low incomes and young children.