Developing a Simple Strategy for Roadside Spring Water Disinfection in Central Appalachia

Several studies have highlighted issues of unreliable access to safe drinking water in the Appalachian region. In some cases, residents turn to roadside springs as a practical, and culturally valuable, drinking water source. However, public reliance on roadside springs for potable use can present concerns, as bacterial contamination of spring water has been documented throughout Appalachia. This study aimed to 1) develop a simple, low-cost protocol using household bleach to inactivate total coliform and E. coli in untreated roadside spring water; 2) provide educational materials at local roadside springs to inform users of this simple treatment strategy; and 3) assess spring user perceptions of the educational materials via a short survey. Laboratory scale trials emulating typical spring water collection and storage conditions investigated the use of household bleach (7.4-7.5% sodium hypochlorite) for total coliform and E. coli bacteria inactivation and free chlorine residual maintenance in spring water over time. Results showed that 2 drops (approximately 0.10 mL) of household bleach from an eyedropper per 1 gallon of spring water provided adequate total coliform and E. coli disinfection, while maintaining free chlorine levels below typical taste thresholds and providing sufficient residual over a 1-month trial period. An infographic communicating the disinfection protocol and a corresponding survey were created and distributed at roadside springs in rural regions of southwestern Virginia and southern West Virginia. The majority of spring user survey respondents (80%) reported that the infographic was generally helpful, and over half of respondents stated that they would use the bleach protocol.