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. 2016 May 24:16:430.
doi: 10.1186/s12889-016-3039-4.

Impact of the 2012 extreme drought conditions on private well owners in the United States, a qualitative analysis

Michelle Murti  1 , Ellen Yard  2 , Rachel Kramer  3 , Dirk Haselow  4 , Mike Mettler  5 , Rocky McElvany  6 , Colleen Martin  2
Affiliations

Impact of the 2012 extreme drought conditions on private well owners in the United States, a qualitative analysis

Michelle Murti et al. BMC Public Health. .

Abstract

Background: Extreme hot and dry weather during summer 2012 resulted in some of the most devastating drought conditions in the last half-century in the United States (U.S.). While public drinking water systems have contingency plans and access to alternative resources to maintain supply for their customers during drought, little is known about the impacts of drought on private well owners, who are responsible for maintaining their own water supply. The purpose of this investigation was to explore the public health impacts of the 2012 drought on private well owners' water quality and quantity, identify their needs for planning and preparing for drought, and to explore their knowledge, attitudes, and well maintenance behaviors during drought.

Methods: In the spring of 2013, we conducted six focus group discussions with private well owners in Arkansas, Indiana, and Oklahoma.

Results: There were a total of 41 participants, two-thirds of whom were men aged 55 years or older. While participants agreed that 2012 was the worst drought in memory, few experienced direct impacts on their water quantity or quality. However, all groups had heard of areas or individuals whose wells had run dry. Participants conserved water by reducing their indoor and outdoor consumption, but they had few suggestions on additional ways to conserve, and they raised concerns about limiting water use too much. Participants wanted information on how to test their well and any water quality issues in their area.

Conclusions: This investigation identified information needs regarding drought preparedness and well management for well owners.

Keywords: Climate; Droughts; Qualitative research; Water quality; Water wells.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Locations of focus groups in relationship to areas of drought in the Contiguous U.S. (CONUS) as of August 7 2012. * * Reprinted with permission of the U.S. Drought Monitor and its partners: the National Drought Mitigation Center, the United States Department of Agriculture, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
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