Returning Individual Tap Water Testing Results to Research Study Participants after a Wildfire Disaster.

Julie Von Behren,Peggy Reynolds,Daniela Morales,Gina Solomon,Michelle Wong,Paul B English

doi:10.3390/ijerph19020907

Abstract

After the devastating wildfire that destroyed most of the town of Paradise, California in 2018, volatile organic compounds were found in water distribution pipes. Approximately 11 months after the fire, we collected tap water samples from 136 homes that were still standing and tested for over 100 chemicals. Each participant received a customized report showing the laboratory findings from their sample. Our goal was to communicate individual water results and chemical information rapidly in a way that was understandable, scientifically accurate, and useful to participants. On the basis of this process, we developed a framework to illustrate considerations and priorities that draw from best practices of previous environmental results return research and crisis communication, while also addressing challenges specific to the disaster context. We also conducted a follow-up survey on participants’ perceptions of the results return process. In general, participants found the results return communications to be understandable, and they felt less worried about their drinking water quality after receiving the information. Over one-third of the participants reported taking some kind of action around their water usage habits after receiving their results. Communication with participants is a critical element of environmental disaster research, and it is important to have a strategy to communicate results that achieves the goals of timeliness, clarity, and scientific accuracy, ultimately empowering people toward actions that can reduce exposure.

Highlights

Introduction published maps and institutional affilOn 8 November 2018, the Camp Fire in California burned 18,804 homes and buildings and caused the deaths of 85 people
We developed a proposed set of principles for individual results return in environmental disaster research, according to existing best practices and our field experience
According to our review of the existing literature and our experience conducting individual results return in the aftermath of a major disaster, we identified some prioriconsiderations and priorities drawn from previous environmental health results return ties within environmental disaster research that overlap with, or differ from, individual and crisis communication literature, addressing additional challenges spe results return in traditional research

Summary

Introduction

Introduction published maps and institutional affilOn 8 November 2018, the Camp Fire in California burned 18,804 homes and buildings and caused the deaths of 85 people. Due to previously reported chemical contamination in a drinking water system after the 2017 Tubbs Fire in northern California, a state agency and local water utilities tested water samples for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) [1]. VOCs were found within the water distribution pipes, with the highest concentrations—up to about 1000 times the maximum contaminant level (MCL) for benzene—in service lines to homes. The water utility in Paradise issued a “do not drink/do not use” advisory about 1 month after the fire, just as some residents were returning to their homes that were still standing [2]. Multiple media outlets covered the discovery of drinking water contamination, with attention from local, statewide, and even national news [3,4,5]. There was a high level of community concern, with iations

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