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Understanding and Improving Enforcement and Compliance with Drinking Water Standards

Author

Listed:
  • Christine J. Kirchhoff

    (University of Connecticut)

  • Julia A. Flagg

    (Connecticut College)

  • Yan Zhuang

    (Connecticut College)

  • Berdakh Utemuratov

    (University of Connecticut)

Abstract

The quality of public drinking water poses a critical risk to public health, yet U.S. public water systems (PWSs) frequently produce water that violates drinking water standards. The causes of such violations and the effects of enforcement actions on reducing those violations remain poorly understood. We use a ten-year database of water quality violations across 2487 Connecticut (CT) water systems to test a novel analytical model that investigates drivers of water quality violations and explores the effects of enforcement actions by the state drinking water program (DWP) on the durations of violations. PWS characteristics associated with increased violations in CT include: state-ownership, groundwater dependence, and rural location. Non-transient, non-community (NTNC) systems committed fewer violations overall, but their violations lasted significantly longer than those committed by other PWS types. PWSs respond differently to formal versus informal enforcement actions, with informal enforcement actions (i.e. a letter and technical assistance) curbing duration of violations more effectively than the comparatively punitive, formal enforcement actions. Lastly, we find the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s enforcement targeting tool (ETT) somewhat helpful for restoring PWS compliance in combination with informal enforcement action, but our analysis suggests the ETT is less effective in isolation. We demonstrate a novel analytical model that provides actionable information to state DWPs charged with enforcing drinking water standards to protect the quality of public water supplies.

Suggested Citation

  • Christine J. Kirchhoff & Julia A. Flagg & Yan Zhuang & Berdakh Utemuratov, 2019. "Understanding and Improving Enforcement and Compliance with Drinking Water Standards," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 33(5), pages 1647-1663, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:waterr:v:33:y:2019:i:5:d:10.1007_s11269-019-2189-4
    DOI: 10.1007/s11269-019-2189-4
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. A. G. S. Reddy, 2023. "A review on violation of drinking water specifications in water supply and research publications," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 25(2), pages 1084-1100, February.
    2. Dobbin, Kristin B. & Fencl, Amanda L., 2021. "Institutional diversity and safe drinking water provision in the United States," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 73(C).
    3. Jesse L. Barnes & Anjala S. Krishen & Han-fen Hu, 2021. "Untapped Knowledge about Water Reuse: the Roles of Direct and Indirect Educational Messaging," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 35(8), pages 2601-2615, June.

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