Drinking water challenges at the nexus of corroding infrastructure, policy, public health and climate change

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Louisiana faces risks of an oncoming water crisis that will be intensified by both man-made and natural threats. Climate models predict an increase in the frequency and magnitude of storms, precipitation, and flooding in Louisiana in the upcoming decades; while gaps in regulatory oversight and enforcement, weaknesses public health recommendations, and corrosion of drinking water infrastructure threatens delivery of clean water to vulnerable communities. METHODS: Results are presented from several independent investigations of private well or small community water systems throughout Louisiana. RESULTS:Several cases of private, small or rural water systems were uncovered which pose public health threats, despite the fact that they have historically complied with regulatory requirements, or conformed to public health recommendations for water system maintenance. In New Orleans, while water lead levels met regulatory requirements, prevailing recommendations for reducing exposures through flushing and partial line replacements were not only inconsistently effective, but could also inadvertently increase exposures. In Louisiana, an estimated 400 water systems have excess iron, a largely unregulated nutrient; but monitoring of two compliant systems with high iron revealed conditions which can impact public health, including mobilization of trace inorganics like lead, depletion of free chlorine residual, interference with disinfection, and propagation of water pathogens. Finally, monitoring of wells in the aftermath of historical floods, revealed water pathogen contamination, despite shock chlorination, and failures in pathogen detection using conventional water testing practices. CONCLUSIONS:The facts presented, support the need to address vulnerabilities in water regulations, oversight, infrastructure, testing, treatment, and exposure reduction strategies. Ultimately, vulnerable communities that are served by private wells or small rural water systems need low­cost autonomous water treatment solutions in order to prepare for threats they will inevitably face from anticipated climate impacts and infrastructure failures. KEYWORDS: Drinking water, climate change, iron, lead, water pathogens, infrastructure